Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey has been named as a Davey O’Brien Great 8 Quarterback of the Week after leading his team to a shocking upset over the then No. 9 Texas A&M Aggies in College Station.

The Wildcats dominated the game in such a way that when the two head coaches shook hands at the end of the game, head coach Mike Elko said bluntly, “You guys kicked our ass.”

Of course, the entire team played incredibly well, but one player in particular stood out: Minchey. He went 14/18 on passing on the day, throwing for 252 yards along with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His performance helped lead his team to a top-ten upset win at one of the most difficult places to play in all of America.

Thanks to Minchey’s impressive performance on Saturday, he received an award that only seven other starting quarterbacks around the nation received. Other QBs named alongside Minchey this week include Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss), Aidan Chiles (Northwestern), Ethan Grunkemeyer (Virginia Tech), Michael Hawkins Jr. (West Virginia), Lincoln Kienholz (Louisville), John Alan Richter (Toledo) and Keelon Russell (Alabama). (daveyo’brien.com)

Since Minchey was named to this prestigious list, it puts him in contention for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week award and also places him on the Davey O’Brien Midseason Watch List, which is given annually to the nation’s best college quarterback.

A very special list that Minchey has the opportunity to be a part of if he continues to play at a high level.

Through three games, Minchey has thrown for 699 yards and seven touchdowns, with just one interception, all while completing 65% of his passes. If he can continue to play at this level, his name will remain in the conversation for one of the best in the SEC.

Minchey and the Wildcats return to action on Saturday, Sept. 26, hosting South Alabama in their return to Kroger Field. 12:45 p.m. EST, with the game broadcast on the SEC Network.

Through the first two weeks of the NFL season, several former Wildcats have made an impact across the league. Players such as Josh Hines-Allen and Za’Darius Smith continue to make plays on defense, while some younger former Cats such as Deone Walker and Maxwell Hairston have begun to show their potential in the league.

Walker has been one of the most noticeable former Cats through the first two weeks. In week one, Walker recorded six tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss, showing the same defensive ability that made him a defensive star at Kentucky.

He followed that with another strong performance in week two. Even though it didn’t show up in the box score, the 6-foot-7 defense tackle created consistent pressure on the front end. His early play has given Buffalo another young lineman capable of competing with the best of the best.

Smith has made an impressive return to the NFL, returning after he retired five games into the 2025 season with the Philadelphia Eagles. He later explained he felt he needed to spend time with his mother after learning she was seriously ill, but returned this offseason with the Atlanta Falcons and has quickly shown that he can still make an impact.

The former Wildcat recorded two sacks and three tackles for loss in week one before adding another half-sack in week two, giving him 2.5 sacks through the first two games back in the league. Over a decade removed from his time as a Cat, he is still showing the league why he is a threat to any quarterback dropping back for a pass.

Hines-Allen is another name that has continued to show why he is one of the most successful former Wildcats in the NFL. The Jacksonville pass rusher opened his season with a dominant performance against the Cleveland Browns, recording five tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in a 34-10 win.

He added three more tackles in week two against Denver, bringing him to eight tackles and 1.5 sacks through two games. Now in his eighth NFL season, the former Kentucky standout continues to be a centerpiece of the Jaguars’ defense.

Several other former Wildcats have also found ways to contribute early in the season. Hairston has stepped into a starting role in Buffalo’s secondary, while Luke Fortner has continued to see significant snaps on the offensive line for Carolina.

On offense, Wan’Dale Robinson has remained involved in Tennessee’s passing game, while Chris Rodriguez Jr. has received carries in Jacksonville’s backfield. Ray Davis has also contributed for Buffalo, primarily on special teams and in a reserve offensive role.

While their numbers may not stand out as much as some of Kentucky’s defensive stars, each has continued to carve out a role at the next level and that’s all you can ask for.

The season is still young, but through week two, the former Cats have already given Kentucky fans plenty to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

Kentucky Football pulled off an upset over the 9th ranked team in the nation, Texas A&M, taking them down on its home turf by a score of 31-21. Following the Wildcats’ performance, head coach Will Stein commented on the victory.

“I’m not shocked… This is what Kentucky football is supposed to look like,” Stein said.

Stein is beginning to establish new standards for Kentucky under his new leadership. While the win may have caught the attention of people outside of the program, Stein’s reaction showed that Kentucky entered the matchup believing it was capable of competing with and defeating a talented Texas A&M team.

“It’s what I expect us to do, that’s how I expect us to play,” Stein said. “That is the physicality, toughness, competitiveness and grit that I expect us to play with every single Saturday.”

For the Wildcats, that mentality could become increasingly important as expectations continue to grow. Stein has emphasized building a competitive culture since taking over the program, and the victory over the Aggies offered an early example of what that approach can look like on the field.

Those expectations are only continuing to rise as Kentucky now sits sixth in the SEC. The Wildcats’ position in one of college football’s most competitive conferences adds even more significance to the win. Rather than simply pulling off an upset, Kentucky is beginning to put itself in a position to compete near the top of the conference as the season progresses.

The Wildcats will face South Alabama next this Saturday at Kroger Field, giving Kentucky another opportunity to build on its momentum and continue meeting the expectations Stein has set for the program.

Kickoff is set for 12:45 p.m. ET