For the first time, SEC teams will play nine conference games, featuring four or five league home games in alternate years. Three SEC opponents will be played each season from 2026-29. The other six opponents will rotate, with each school slated to play all SEC teams at least twice during the four-year period.
The SEC will reconsider the annual opponents following the 2029 season.
Kentucky’s 2026 home slate features Alabama, LSU, Vanderbilt and Florida, plus non-conference games vs. Youngstown State, South Alabama and Louisville.
The schedule includes nine teams participating in this season’s playoff or bowl games.
New head coach Will Stein will make his debut September 5 at home vs. Youngstown State of the Football Championship Subdivision. Youngstown State went 8-5 last season, including a trip to the FCS Playoffs. This will be UK’s second meeting with YSU, with the prior contest taking place in 2022.
After the opener, UK takes on two teams in the upcoming College Football Playoff. On September 12, UK plays host to Alabama for the first time since 2023. On September 19, UK travels to Bryan-College Station to take on Texas A&M, first meeting with the Aggies since 2018.
Kentucky hosts a first-time opponent, South Alabama, on September 26 before traveling to South Carolina on October 3. It will be UK’s second consecutive visit to Columbia, necessitated by the new scheduling format. South Carolina, along with Tennessee and Florida, are UK’s annual opponents through 2029.
LSU returns to the schedule for the first time since 2021 when the Tigers visit Kroger Field on October 10. Kentucky will play Oklahoma for the first time as an SEC opponent on October 17 when the Wildcats visit Norman. It will be 44 years between games as the teams last met in 1982 in Lexington, with the prior matchup in Norman occurring in 1980.
Vanderbilt returns to Lexington on October 24, followed by UK’s open date on the schedule on Halloween.
Kentucky resumes action November 7 at Tennessee. For the second year in a row, Florida will come to Kroger Field as the Gators play in Lexington on November 14.
After a two-year absence, the Missouri Tigers return to the slate November 21 with the final road trip of the campaign. The regular season concludes Nov. 28 for Senior Day against instate rival Louisville.
The full schedule is as follows:
| Date | Opponent | Site |
| Sept. 5 | YOUNGSTOWN STATE | HOME |
| Sept. 12 | ALABAMA* | HOME |
| Sept. 19 | at Texas A&M* | Away |
| Sept. 26 | SOUTH ALABAMA | HOME |
| Oct. 3 | at South Carolina* | Away |
| Oct. 10 | LSU* | HOME |
| Oct. 17 | at Oklahoma* | Away |
| Oct. 24 | VANDERBILT* | HOME |
| Oct. 31 | Open Date | |
| Nov. 7 | at Tennessee* | Away |
| Nov. 14 | FLORIDA* | HOME |
| Nov. 21 | at Missouri* | Away |
| Nov. 28 | LOUISVILLE | HOME |
*SEC contest
The SEC eliminated the divisional standings beginning in 2024, sending the top two teams in the standings into the SEC Championship Game. Under the division-less format, each school will play every other school a minimum of two times in a four-year period.
Early season kickoff times will be released at a later date.
2026 Kentucky Football Season Ticket Deposits Now Open
UK Athletics is now accepting deposits for new 2026 Kentucky Football season tickets.
Important Note for Current Season Ticket Holders:
Those who had 2025 football season tickets, do not need to place a deposit for 2026. Renewal invoices will be available in your My UK Account in February 2026.
Additional details, including 2026 season pricing, will be shared in early 2026.