Big Blue Preview: Kentucky vs. Alabama
Info to Know
| Kentucky vs. Alabama | When: Sat., Sept. 12, 3:30 p.m. ET | Where: Kroger Field, Lexington, Ky. | TV: ABC | Radio: UK Sports Network |
Preview
Kentucky opens Southeastern Conference play on Saturday, hosting No. 12 Alabama at Kroger Field (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
The Cats opened the season, and the Will Stein Era, with a 45-13 win over Youngstown State on Sept. 5. Quarterback Kenny Minchey, making his first career start after transferring from Notre Dame, threw for 301 yards and four touchdowns in the win. UK had 506 yards of total offense in the win.
Alabama beat East Carolina 48-10 in its season opener last weekend in Tuscaloosa. Quarterback Keelon Russell had a big game for the Tide, passing for 256 yards and rushing for 86 more and a touchdown.
Kentucky and Alabama have not met on the gridiron since 2020. One of UK’s most memorable victories came in 1997 when Tim Couch connected with Craig Yeast for a touchdown in overtime to lift the Cats past the Tide 40-34. Couch and Yeast will serve as honorary captains for Saturday’s game.
Cat Scratches: Stein, Cats Preparing for SEC Opener Against Alabama
Kentucky head coach Will Stein earned his first career win on Saturday as his Cats topped Youngstown State. Now, Stein will coach his first Southeastern Conference game as Kentucky hosts Alabama this weekend.
The SEC opener is obviously a big step up in competition for the Cats, but Stein and his staff are trying to keep things simple for the UK players.
“Do your job. One play at a time, one-play focus, relentless effort, play connected, play tough, play to our standard,” Stein said. “It’s about us.”
There are things that coaches and players have no say about in a particular game, and Stein wants his team to just worry about the things that they can control…Read More
Kentucky-Alabama Series History
• Kentucky will take on Alabama on Saturday in both teams’ 2026 Southeastern Conference opener.
• The Wildcats are 2-39-1 all-time versus Alabama, including 2-15 in Lexington.
• Alabama has won seven consecutive meetings in the series.
• UK’s last win the series was a 40-34 overtime victory in 1997 engineered by Tim Couch and Craig Yeast. Couch hit Yeast with a 26-yard touchdown pass for the game winning score in OT. The duo will serve as honorary captains for Saturday’s game.
• In that game, current UK defensive line coach Anwar Stewart returned a blocked field goal 68 yards for a touchdown.
• This will be the first SEC contest for first-year head coach Will Stein.
• Alabama will be making only its fourth trip to Lexington since 1980, including UK’s 40-34 overtime in victory in 1997.
By the Numbers
0
Sacks allowed by the experienced Kentucky offensive line in the season opener
5
Consecutive possessions on which Kentucky scored to open the game against Youngstown State
9
Number of different receivers who caught a pass in the win over YSU
35
Career starts for Jordan Castell, the most of any current UK player
301
Passing yards by Kenny Minchey in his first career start, last week against Youngstown State
