AI is taking over, but sometimes it really makes some wild predictions. So, we asked 3 different AI models to predict what the Kentucky football season would look like after Will Stein completes year 1 in Lexington. ChatGPT and Gemini were feeling the Cats a lot more than Grok.
ChatGPT buys into the schedule hype
ChatGPT started out by saying, "This is a tough schedule, and Kentucky isn’t walking into it with much margin for error." That's fair; it is a brutal schedule with games against Alabama and Texas A&M to start things off in the SEC.
Here is a game-by-game breakdown:
Final prediction: 5–7 (ceiling 6–6, floor 4–8)
Wins:
Youngstown State
South Alabama
Vanderbilt
Florida
Louisville
Losses:
Alabama
Texas A&M
South Carolina
LSU
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Missouri
This model narrowed it down to 4 key games that will define the season. The swing games (South Carolina, Florida, Missouri, Louisville) are huge, and Kentucky probably needs to go 3–1 in those just to reach a bowl. I don’t see that consistency.
Again, a lot of that will ride on how just much the culture has changed in that Kentucky football locker room. Will Stein is doing his best to breed competition, and Gemini sees that.
Gemini has a different take
Gemini is a little more favorable than ChatGPT, saying, "Kentucky will be a 'tough out' for everyone, but the schedule is too top-heavy to predict a 8- or 9-win season in Year 1 of a rebuild. Kentucky will go to a bowl game, but it’ll be a grind to get there."
Wins:
Youngstown State
South Alabama
South Carolina
Vanderbilt
Florida
Louisville
Losses:
Alabama
Texas A&M
LSU
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Missouri
Splitting it right down the middle would be pretty good for Will Stein in year 1. But what did Grok have to say?
Grok gave a more detailed answer
Grok started with a big, long diatribe on why it won't be better and could be worse than expected. Remember, Vegas is saying 4.5 wins right now.
"This is Year 1 of a major rebuild with low returning production, a first-time head coach (even if Stein was a hot coordinator hire), and a murderous schedule. Kentucky is underdogs in probably 9-10 games. Winning 6+ would require multiple upsets against teams with more continuity and talent. Portal-heavy teams often start slow due to chemistry issues. They have two clear non-conference wins (Youngstown State + South Alabama), a favorable home game vs. Vanderbilt, and a realistic shot at South Carolina on the road. The transfer influx (especially on the lines and skill positions) gives them more talent than the 2025 roster had. Early SEC projections rank Kentucky near the bottom (around 13th-15th in the conference). Win totals in discussions hover around 4-5. A 4-8 or 5-7 record would be a respectable transition year — not a disaster, but not bowl-worthy unless they overachieve. This is an early April projection (pre-spring game, pre-fall camp). Things can shift with injuries, portal additions, or how quickly the new staff installs schemes. But based on the brutal slate, roster flux, and recent program trajectory, expecting a winning record in 2026 would be overly optimistic.
"
Grok would go on to give Kentucky a projected record of 4-8 overall (2-6 SEC). With the model saying the most likely range of finishes ranges somewhere between 3-9 and 5-7.
Wins:
Youngstown State
South Alabama
South Carolina
Vanderbilt
That would be a disaster for Stein to only get to 3 or 4 wins. Let's hope Gemini is more accurate than the rest and we get back to bowling.