Update: The SEC has now announced time slot windows for the entire 2026 Kentucky Football schedule.
The entire first month of games will kick off in the afternoon, but after that, Kentucky could exclusively play night games until the regular-season finale vs. Louisville, which is also an early game.
Kentucky’s Week 5 and 7 games at South Carolina and Oklahoma are flex games that could be played in the late afternoon or night window. Week 6 at LSU and Week 8 vs. Vanderbilt will be night games.
Then in
November, Kentucky gets three straight night games at Tennessee, vs. Florida, and at Missouri. That means the Cats will play at least four straight night games, and it could rise to seven straight if those flex windows change to night kickoffs.
Better have a big pot of coffee handy once the calendar changes from September.
2026 Kentucky Football Time Windows
- Early: Noon – 1 PM ET
- Afternoon: 3:30-4:30 PM ET
- Night: 6-8 PM ET
- Flex: 3:30-4:30 PM ET or 6-8 PM ET
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The 2026 Kentucky Wildcats football schedule has been announced.
The Will Stein era will officially kick off on September 5 vs. Youngstown State in what hopes to be Stein’s first win as a collegiate head coach.
His SEC debut comes against none other than the Alabama Crimson Tide at Kroger Field in Week 2. Quite the introduction to SEC football.
Week 3 will see the Wildcats play their first road game of the season, as they’ll take on the Texas A&M Aggies.
After that brutal two-game stretch, the Cats return home to face South Alabama, followed by a road game at South Carolina.
Kentucky then plays host to Lane Kiffin and LSU in Week 6, followed by a road game at Oklahoma.
After a Week 8 home game vs. Vanderbilt, Kentucky gets a much-needed bye week.
The Cats get back to it in Week 10 at Tennessee.
Then comes a massive Week 11 showdown with Jon Sumrall and the Florida Gators coming to Kroger Field.
Kentucky hits the road in Week 12 for a date with the Missouri Tigers.
Finally, Kentucky returns home for the first Governor’s Cup of the Stein era as they host the Louisville Cardinals.
And with that, the path is set for Stein’s first season as head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats.
Let’s get this started.
2026 Kentucky Wildcats Football Schedule
Week 1: Sept. 5 vs. Youngstown State
Week 2: Sept. 12 vs. Alabama
Week 3: Sept. 19 at Texas A&M
Week 4: Sept. 26 vs. South Alabama
Week 5: Oct. 3 at South Carolina
Week 6: Oct. 10 vs. LSU
Week 7: Oct. 17 at Oklahoma
Week 8: Oct. 24 vs. Vanderbilt
Week 9: Oct. 31 BYE WEEK
Week 10: Nov. 7 at Tennessee
Week 11: Nov. 14 vs. Florida
Week 12: Nov. 21 at Missouri
Week 13: Nov. 28 vs. Louisville
