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If you woke up this morning, grabbed your lucky blue hoodie, and started wondering what time is kentucky football game today, I’ve got some news that might be a little bit of a letdown.
Actually, it’s a total letdown if you were hoping for a kickoff.
There is no Kentucky football game today. It’s January 13, 2026. The pads are in storage, the turf at Kroger Field is likely frosted over, and the team is deep into the off-season cycle of recruiting and conditioning. The college football world is currently holding its breath for the National Championship game between Miami and Indiana on January 19, but for the Big Blue Nation, the Saturday rituals are on a long-term hiatus.
The Reality of the Off-Season
It’s easy to get confused. Between bowl season just wrapping up and the constant buzz of the transfer portal, the calendar feels like it’s always "football season." But the reality is that the Wildcats finished their 2025 campaign weeks ago.
Right now, the focus in Lexington has shifted entirely. If you're looking for Kentucky sports today, you’re looking at the hardwood, not the gridiron. The men’s basketball team is gearing up for a massive SEC showdown against LSU tomorrow, January 14, in Baton Rouge.
When Do the Cats Actually Play Again?
You’re probably looking for a date to circle. I get it. The itch for SEC football never really goes away.
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The 2026 season is going to be a weird one—in a good way. We’re moving into a massive shift for the program. For the first time, Kentucky will navigate a nine-game SEC conference schedule. That’s a lot of high-stakes hitting.
Mark your calendars for September 5, 2026.
That’s the official kickoff. Kentucky will host Youngstown State at Kroger Field to start the era of the new head coach, Will Stein. Stein is taking over the reins, and there’s a lot of chatter about whether his offensive mind can finally break the glass ceiling in the SEC East—or what used to be the East, before the divisions went out the window.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Schedule Highlights
If you’re already planning your tailgates, here is what the early part of the 2026 season looks like. Note that times aren't set yet (TV networks love to wait until the last second), but the matchups are locked:
- Sept. 5: vs. Youngstown State (The season opener)
- Sept. 12: vs. Alabama (Yeah, Bama comes to Lexington early this time)
- Sept. 19: at Texas A&M (A brutal early-season road test)
- Sept. 26: vs. South Alabama
Honestly, starting the season with Alabama and a trip to College Station in the first three weeks is a gauntlet. It’s the kind of schedule that either makes a season or breaks a locker room before October even hits.
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Why the Confusion Happens
Why do people keep searching for what time is kentucky football game today in the middle of January?
It’s usually the "Bowl Hangover." The 2025-26 bowl season was packed. We just saw Ole Miss edge out Georgia 39-34 in a wild Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day. When you see teams still playing in early January, it feels like everyone should be on the field.
Also, the news cycle doesn't stop. On January 12, just yesterday, Kentucky announced Justin Burke as the new tight ends coach. When news drops, fans start looking for games. It’s a natural reflex.
Making Sense of the New SEC Format
The reason the 2026 schedule looks so different is that the SEC is finally leaning into the nine-game conference model. We’re losing some of those late-season "cupcake" games in exchange for more powerhouse matchups.
Kentucky’s permanent rivals moving forward are Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee. You’ll see them every year. Everyone else? They rotate. This year, we get the pleasure (or the pain) of hosting LSU and traveling to Norman to face Oklahoma for the first time as a conference foe.
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The Oklahoma game on October 17 is already being whispered about as a potential "College GameDay" candidate, assuming both teams hold up their end of the bargain in September.
What You Should Do Instead Today
Since there’s no game to watch today, you’ve got a few options to get your UK fix:
- Check the Basketball Schedule: The Cats play LSU tomorrow at 7:00 PM EST. It’s at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. If you need a sports fix, that’s your best bet.
- Monitor the Portal: Will Stein is still active. The spring transfer window is where the 2026 roster will really take shape.
- Spring Game Prep: We’re only a few months away from the Blue-White Spring Game. That’s usually our first look at the new schemes and the quarterback battle.
So, while the answer to what time is kentucky football game today is a resounding "not today," the countdown to September is officially on.
Start looking into season tickets for the 2026 home slate. With Bama, LSU, Florida, and Louisville all coming to Kroger Field, it’s arguably the best home schedule Lexington has seen in a decade. You’ll want to be in the stands for those, not just searching for the kickoff time on your phone.
Go Cats.