Much like last season, Kentucky faces one of the toughest schedules in college football. Coming off a disappointing 4-8 campaign in 2024, Mark Stoops and the Wildcats will once again navigate the same SEC slate, just with home and road games flipped.

With a relatively manageable nonconference schedule paired with a brutal run of SEC matchups, let’s break down Kentucky’s toughest games in 2025. Can the Wildcats get back to a bowl game? With just the right amount of motivation, maybe.

Simply put, Kentucky will play some of the country’s best teams in 2025. If the Wildcats manage to beat any of these teams, which is highly unlikely, Lexington will throw a party it remembers for years.

Oct. 4 at Georgia

After winning back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022, Georgia had a so-called “down year”, in which it still won the SEC. Now, Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs look poised to sit atop college football once again, entering 2025 overflowing with elite talent.

Quarterback Gunner Stockton will lead the offense, while the defense features a secondary full of ball hawks and a defensive line stacked with NFL-caliber players.

Even if this isn’t the “Georgia of old,” the Bulldogs figure to be favored in every game this year, especially when Kentucky travels to Athens. While the Wildcats consistently play Georgia tough, Stoops remains winless against the Dawgs.

Can this be the year Kentucky gets over the hump? Probably not.

Oct. 18 vs. Texas

Much like Georgia, Texas is set to be a national championship contender in 2025, with Heisman favorite Arch Manning under center. Steve Sarkisian’s squad is ranked No. 1 in ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI), giving the Longhorns the highest projected chance to win the national title.

In 2024, Kentucky played Texas much closer than many expected in Austin. This year, the iconic program visits Lexington for the first time. The only previous meeting between Texas and Kentucky came in 1951.

While the day in Lexington might be one to remember, the result on the field might not be. Let’s see if the Cats can keep it close.

Nov. 8 vs. Florida

Billy Napier’s squad was much better than most expected in 2024. This year, the Gators look to be a dark horse contender in the SEC, fueled by a potentially explosive offense led by quarterback DJ Lagway, who took the nation by storm last season as a freshman.

According to BetMGM, Lagway is +1800 to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy, with a returning core of talented players and a strong recruiting class coming in. However, a tough SEC schedule might not produce the results many in Gainesville are hoping for.

One thing many Gators fans are confident in: beating Kentucky. Can Stoops create another memorable moment at home against Florida? The odds are stacked against him. Let’s see how motivated the Stoops troops are.

Oct. 25 vs. Tennessee

What a strange offseason it has been for Josh Heupel and the Volunteers. With a quarterback departure due to, well, unforeseen circumstances, and the need to replace key players on both sides of the ball, Tennessee enters 2025 in a somewhat vulnerable position.

Still, the Volunteers remain miles ahead of the Wildcats at this point. ESPN’s Football Power Index gives Tennessee a 38.5% chance to make the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.

Much of the Vols’ success in 2025 will depend on transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar, an undeniable question mark. But history doesn’t favor Kentucky here: under Heupel, Tennessee is averaging 39.0 points per game at Kroger Field.

Can Kentucky finally slow down the Vols?

On Tuesday, the Louisville Sports Commission announced that Kentucky Wildcat legends Randall Cobb and Tayshaun Prince were elected to the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame class of 2025.

The KSHOF recognizes individuals that have made significant impacts in sports for the state of Kentucky. Other members of the class of 2025 include Louisville native, former University of Louisville gymnast, gymnastics coach, and longtime international gymnastics judge Carole Liedtke and highly accomplished female trap shooter Nora Martin Ross from Paris.

A selection committee made up of 15 sports media professionals from around Kentucky voted on the 2025 class. The KSHOF Selection Committee votes were independently tabulated by regional accounting firm Dean Dorton, one of Kentucky’s largest accounting and advisory firms, with offices in Louisville, Lexington and Raleigh, N.C.

Cobb, Prince and the remaining 2025 KSHOF class members and their families will be honored on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at Freedom Hall in Louisville.

Randall Cobb

Coming out of high school in 2008, Cobb was a three-star quarterback recruit from Alcoa, Tennessee, just south of Knoxville. Cobb was only given three offers out of high school; he chose Kentucky over nearby schools Tennessee and Middle Tennessee.

In Lexington, Cobb became the ultimate utility player due to his extreme athleticism. He is remembered as one of the most versatile athletes to ever come through Kentucky.

As a Wildcat, Cobb played wide receiver, quarterback, punt returner and kick returner during his three years at Kentucky, which allowed him to excel in the Wildcat formation. In 2011, the multipurpose star was named first-team All-America. 

Additionally, Cobb was named first-team All-SEC as a sophomore and junior. In 2010, Cobb had an SEC record-setting season where he gained 2,396 all-purpose yards.

Cobb claimed the all-time Kentucky leader honor for career touchdowns with 37 until Benny Snell Jr. broke the record at the end of the decade.

The Green Bay Packers selected Cobb with the 64th pick of the second round in the 2011 NFL Draft to play wide receiver and special teams.

As a member of the Packers, Cobb would have a successful career in Green Bay, forming a tight bond on and off the field with future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In his first career game against the New Orleans Saints, Cobb caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers and returned a kickoff for a 108-yard touchdown.

Cobb spent the first eight seasons of his NFL career in Green Bay, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2014, after achieving career highs with 91 receptions, 1,287 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns.

In 2019, the former Wildcat joined the Dallas Cowboys to catch passes from Dak Prescott for one season. A year later, Cobb inked a deal with the Houston Texans as a target for Deshaun Watson, where he played a lone season there.

Prior to the 2021 season, Rodgers requested for the Packers to reunite the Cobb-Rodgers duo. So, Green Bay traded for Cobb ahead of the season. 

After two reasons back in the green and gold, Cobb followed Rodgers in leaving Green Bay for the New York Jets. The 2023 season would be the last of Cobb’s career, as Rodgers missed the entire season with a torn achilles, he caught one touchdown that season against his former squad, the Houston Texans.

Cobb joined the SEC Network as a studio analyst in the summer of 2024, covering football around the SEC.

Tayshaun Prince

Hailing from Compton, California, Prince played four seasons at Kentucky from 1998 to 2001.

During his four-year tenure in blue, Prince averaged 13.2 points and 5.7 rebounds, as the Wildcats advanced to the Sweet 16 three times and the Elite 8 once in the NCAA Tournament each year under head coach Tubby Smith. Prince’s junior season earned him the 2000-2001 SEC Player of the Year with 16.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

In 2001, Prince led the Wildcats to an SEC Championship, beating the Ole Miss Rebels 77-55 to win the championship. Prince was awarded SEC Tournament MVP after putting up 26 points and 12 rebounds in the championship game.

Earlier in that season Prince had one of the most memorable moments in Kentucky history by nailing five consecutive 3-pointers to begin a game against North Carolina. The Wildcats went on to win 79-59 in front of Rupp Arena thanks to a 31-point, 11-rebound performance from Prince.

In his final two seasons at Kentucky, Prince was elected to First-Team All-SEC honors. Previously, Prince was named to the Second-Team All-SEC his sophomore year.

After a successful four-year collegiate career where Prince scored over 1,700 points, the Compton native entered the 2002 NBA Draft.

The Detroit Pistons selected the Kentucky guard with the 23rd pick of the first round. 

Prince would spend the bulk of his career in Detroit on a competitive Pistons squad, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in his rookie season.

In Prince’s sophomore season, the Pistons advanced to the NBA Finals with the Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers. As the Lakers boasted four future Hall of Famers.

The 2004 NBA Finals is widely recognized as one of the most challenging and improbable underdog championships in sports history, and the Pistons defeated Los Angeles in six games.

Prince was the primary defender on Bryant throughout the series, even holding Bryant to 11 points in Game 3. The Kentucky product earned the first and only NBA Championship of his career, averaging 10 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game during the Finals.

Additionally, Prince won an Olympic gold medal representing America on the “Redeem Team” at the 2008 Beijing Games.

From 2005 to 2008, Prince was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team.

After spending his first 12 seasons with the Pistons, Prince played for the Memphis Grizzlies and had brief stints with the Boston Celtics and the Pistons again until retiring as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Since 2017, Prince has been a member of the Memphis Grizzlies front office. Currently, he serves as Vice President of Basketball Affairs.

EA Sports has released College Football 26, the second installment of a once-dormant NCAA Football series.

This is only the second time in EA Sports history that the for name, image and likeness are found in their college football games, which date back to 1993 with Bill Walsh College Football.

Athletes will receive at least $1,500 for their name, image and likeness depending on their school’s size. An increase from the original $600 given for College Football 25, and each athlete will receive a Deluxe Edition of the game, according to The Athletic.

Coaches had the option to opt-in to College Football 26 for the first time in series history. 

Kentucky enters the game unranked as an 80 overall in Play Now with 80 offense, 78 defense and 78 special teams. In Dynasty mode, Kentucky was given three and a half stars out of five for program prestige.

Here’s an overview of the Wildcats player ratings according to EA Sports.

Top Rated Players by Overall:

Joshua Braun (LG) – 91

Dante Dowdell (HB) – 88

Seth McGowan (HB) – 86

David Gusta (DT) – 86

Jonquis Hardaway (CB) – 86

Josaih Hayes (DT) – 82

Quarterbacks:

Zach Calzada – 81

Cutter Boley – 73

Beau Allen – 73

Brennen Ward – 71

Ervin Barrett – 70

Halfbacks:

Dante Dowdell – 88

Seth McGowan – 86

Jamarion Wilcox – 84

Jason Patterson – 76

Tovani Mizell – 75

Reed Sperry (FB) – 68

Wide Receivers: 

Kendrick Law – 83

Ja’Mori Maclin – 81

Tony Stellato – 80

Fred Farrier II – 77

J.J. Hester – 77

Ashton Cozart – 75

Lauren Zimmerman – 70

David Washington Jr. – 69

Hardley Gilmore IV – 68

Tight Ends:

Josh Kattus – 77

Elijah Brown – 77

Henry Boyer – 76

Willie Rodriguez – 73

Alex McLaughlin – 70

Kent Goff – 68

Mycheal Smart – 66

Offensive Line:

Joshua Braun (LG) – 91

Alex Wollschlaeger (RT) – 81

Shiyazh Pete (LT) – 81

Jager Burton (C) – 79

Jalen Farmer (RG) – 78

Noah Harding (LG) – 75

Malachi Wood (RT) – 73

Evan Wibberley (C) – 73

Hayes Johnson (LT) – 72

Darrin Strey (RT) – 72

Aba Selm (RG) – 70

Rob Folger (LT) – 69

Shane Barnwell (LT) – 69

Ryan Blackburn-Gorman (LT) – 68

Cameron Jones (LT) – 68

Defensive Line:

David Gusta (DT) – 86

Josaih Hayes (DT) – 82

Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace (LE) – 80

Kahlil Saunders (RE) – 78

Brian Robinson (LE) – 75

Darwin Sanders (RE) – 74

Austin Ramsey (DT) – 74

Jerod Smith II (LE) – 74

Tavion Gadson (LT) – 74

Kalen Edwards (DT) – 74

Henry Smith-Randall (LE) – 72

Jaden Williams (RE) – 72

Steven Soles Jr. (LE) – 72

Jacob Smith (RE) – 71

Linebackers:

Alex Afari Jr (MLB) – 76

Daveren Rayner (ROLB) – 76

Kameron Olds (LOLB) – 75

Sam Greene (LOLB) – 75

Landyn Watson (MLB) – 74

Grant Godfrey (ROLB) – 68

Devin Smith (MLB) – 67

Quintavion Norman (ROLB) – 67

J.J. Levin (LOLB) – 65

Lorenzo Cowan (LOLB) – 64

Cornerbacks:

Jonquis Hardaway – 86

Jantzen Dunn – 77

Quay’sheed Scott – 76

Terhyon Nichols – 75

Jonathon Gates – 67

Kevis Thomas – 71

Ali Robinson-Gage – 71

Nasir Addison – 70

Safeties: 

Jordan Lovett (FS) – 81

Ty Bryant (SS) – 77

D.J. Maddox (SS) – 76

Cam Dooley (FS) – 74

Dyllon Williams (SS) – 70

Jaden Smith (FS) – 69

Sebastian Thompson (FS) – 68

Jackson Schultz (SS) – 63

Special Teams:

Aidan Laros (P) – 77

Jacob Kauwe (K) – 69

Prior to its July 10 official launch, EA announced the top 100 players. 

The Wildcats were represented by Braun at No. 85, as he’s one of the highest-ranked offensive lineman.

Additionally, Law was tied with Georgia wideout Zachariah Branch with the fourth-highest speed rating at a 97 overall. Former Wildcat wideout Barion Brown was tied for the top spot at 99 overall speed alongside three others.

Lastly, Laros, Kentucky’s punter made waves on social media for having zero toughness rating making him the only player in a game without any toughness.

College Football 26 is available on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S for $69.99 and will officially release worldwide on July 10.

All of the Wildcats ratings can be found here.