Kentucky football has a Top 10 portal class, according to most recruiting sites. They have a head coach in Will Stein that Oregon coach Dan Lanning called "the best offensive coordinator in the nation." They have a new staff with serious recruiting chops, a top portal QB, and a great offensive line on paper. And that does mean they have to go prove it.
But what they don't have is any respect.
Just call Kentucky football the Rodney Dangerfield of the SEC.
Experts predict a terrible year for Kentucky and Will Stein
The SEC is always a hard schedule; let's get that out of the way first. Here is what Will Stein is staring down in his debut season:
- Sept. 5: Youngstown State
- Sept. 12: Alabama (SEC)
- Sept. 19: at Texas A&M (SEC)
- Sept. 26: South Alabama
- Oct. 3: at South Carolina (SEC)
- Oct. 10: LSU (SEC)
- Oct. 17: at Oklahoma (SEC)
- Oct. 24: Vanderbilt (SEC)
- Oct. 31: Open Date
- Nov. 7: at Tennessee (SEC)
- Nov. 14: Florida (SEC)
- Nov. 21: at Missouri (SEC)
- Nov. 28: Louisville
Last season, the Cats had a late 3-game winning streak that got them back to 5-5, but two straight losses ended the bowl game dreams, and effectively the Mark Stoops era. They went 4-8 the year before that.
Now, some "way too early" predictions are out, and Will Stein's Cats are being drastically disrespected.
SEC Unfiltered's Chris Phillips has Kentucky finishing next to last in the SEC again, going 4-8, with only Arkansas projected to finish worse. His partner, Cole Thompson, has Kentucky finishing with the same record, 4-8, though he has Mississippi State and Arkansas finishing below them.
Way Too Early 2026 SEC Football Record Predictions via @CPhilly19 & @MrColeThompson
— SEC Unfiltered (@SECUnfiltered) January 17, 2026
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/oR8FgRcru0
The expectation vs. reality gap
Now, I am not saying people should be writing Kentucky's name down in Atlanta or anything. But if you are spending significantly more money on players, bringing in an upgraded staff, and landing a Top 10 portal class just to finish with the same record, what was even the point? They could have just run it back with Stoops.
If Kentucky wins just four games next year, it will be a disaster of a finish for Will Stein. There is no way to sugarcoat that.
Kentucky's goal should be a bowl game every year at a minimum. The roster is better, the offensive mind is sharper, and the energy is higher. Did the experts get it right with their projections, or are they just being haters?
We'll find out in September.