Who won Kentucky football game today: The chaotic reality of the 2026 offseason

Who won Kentucky football game today: The chaotic reality of the 2026 offseason

If you are looking for a final score from a Kentucky football game today, January 15, 2026, I have to be the one to tell you: there wasn't one.

Right now, the Cats are in the thick of a wild, program-defining offseason. If you saw "Kentucky" and "win" trending on social media this morning, you're likely seeing the fallout from the Kentucky basketball team's insane 75-74 buzzer-beater win over LSU last night. Malachi Moreno hit a 17-foot jumper at the horn to cap off an 18-point comeback. It was electric. But for the football side of things? The "wins" are happening in the transfer portal and the coaching offices, not on the turf at Kroger Field.

Honestly, it's been a minute since we saw the football team in action. Their 2025 season wrapped up back on November 29 with a rough 41-0 loss to Louisville. They didn't make a bowl game this year, finishing 5-7. That’s why there’s no "game today." Instead, the program is currently being torn down and rebuilt from the studs.

Why the "Who Won" search is spiking right now

People are confused. It happens every January.

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Between the NFL playoffs, the College Football Playoff (which just saw Miami and Ole Miss battle it out), and the height of SEC basketball, the term "Kentucky game" is a bit of a moving target.

Furthermore, the program just went through a literal earthquake. Mark Stoops is out. After 13 seasons, the longest-tenured coach in the SEC was fired on December 1, 2025. In his place, Kentucky hired Will Stein, the former Oregon offensive coordinator. When a program changes leadership like that, the news cycle never stops. You might be seeing headlines about "Kentucky winning" the battle for a specific recruit or a big-time transfer, which can easily be mistaken for a game result if you're just glancing at a notification.

The real "wins" for Kentucky football this week

Since you can't watch them play today, here is what actually happened in the last 48 hours that qualifies as a victory for the BBN:

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  • The CJ Baxter Commitment: On January 11, the Cats landed former five-star running back CJ Baxter from the portal. That is a massive get.
  • The Quarterback Flip: Will Stein just secured Kenny Minchey, a Notre Dame transfer, to lead the offense in 2026. This comes after the program's previous young star, Cutter Boley, decided to enter the transfer portal.
  • Coaching Staff Wins: Stein has been filling out his staff like a man on a mission. Just days ago, he brought in Justin Burke as the Tight Ends coach and Jay Bateman as the Defensive Coordinator.

Basically, if you’re asking who won the Kentucky football game today, the answer is "the recruiting department."

What the 2026 schedule actually looks like

If you're already itching to see a real game, you’ve got a long wait. The 2026 schedule was recently released, and it’s a gauntlet. For the first time, the SEC is moving to a nine-game conference schedule.

Kentucky opens up on September 5, 2026, against Youngstown State. That’s the official start of the Will Stein era. They follow that up with a home game against Alabama on September 12. Yeah, they aren't easing into things.

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Key Dates for the 2026 Season:

  1. Sept 5: vs. Youngstown State (Season Opener)
  2. Sept 12: vs. Alabama (The first big test)
  3. Oct 17: at Oklahoma (First time playing them as an SEC foe)
  4. Nov 28: vs. Louisville (The Governor's Cup)

Sorting through the noise

It’s easy to get mixed up. If you're seeing "Kentucky vs. Florida" today, that is the UK Women's Basketball team. They play tonight at 7 p.m. ET at Memorial Coliseum. It'll be on SEC Network+.

The men’s basketball team won’t play again until they face Missouri, following that heart-stopping victory in Baton Rouge.

The football team? They are in the weight room. They are in the film room. And mostly, they are on the phone trying to make sure the "Big Blue Wall" doesn't crumble any further during this transition.

Actionable Next Steps for Fans

Since there's no game to watch, here is how you can actually stay updated on the real progress of the team today:

  • Monitor the Transfer Portal: The window is active. Watch for names like Tegra Tshabola (the Ohio State transfer who just joined) to see how the offensive line is being rebuilt.
  • Check the Spring Game Date: Usually held in April, this will be your first chance to see Will Stein’s new "Speedball" offense in person.
  • Follow the Basketball Cats: If you want that winning feeling right now, the hoops team is finally clicking under Mark Pope. Their comeback against LSU proved they've got the grit that was missing earlier in the season.

The football Cats didn't win a game today because they didn't play one. But in the world of modern college sports, the "game" never really ends; it just moves from the field to the portal.