On Monday, Oct. 12, freshman wide receiver Kenny Darby and punt returner Brock Coffman both earned SEC honors after their performances against No. 10 LSU in week six. 

In Kentucky’s upset win, Darby went for 79 yards on four receptions, leading the team. His huge 35-yard gain to kick off the fourth quarter, alongside yet another impressive performance as a first-year player earned him SEC Freshman of the Week for the second time in a row.

Through six games, Darby leads the Wildcats in receptions (29), receiving yards (401) and touchdowns (3), making him one of the best wideouts in the conference as a true freshman.

Coffman, a Louisville transfer, made one of the biggest plays on Saturday, juking and maneuvering his way to a 55-yard punt return touchdown in the first quarter. This was first touchdown in his collegiate career, one he likely won’t forget for some time.

This was Kentucky’s first return touchdown since 2021, leading to Coffman being named the Co-Special Teams Player of the Week.

He has been the main returner for the Wildcats this season, but up until this game, Coffman didn’t show off much of his speed and elected to go for the fair catch often.

Will Stein and the Wildcats will face off next against the Oklahoma Sooners (3-2), hoping to get similar production out of both Darby and Coffman. Brent Venables and his team are coming off of playing in the Red River Rivalry, where they upset the No. 1 Texas Longhorns on a 47-yard game-winning field goal.

Kickoff from Memorial Stadium is set for 7:30 pm. ET and will air live on the SEC Network.

Nearly seven minutes of game time had passed. The No. 10 LSU Tigers and Lane Kiffin just went on a 14-play, 69-yard drive and finished it off with a field goal, scoring the first points of the night in Lexington.

Kentucky fans were eager to see the Wildcat offense take the field, with all knowing the implications of the team’s future if they can somehow knock down the Tigers.

On the first play of the drive, quarterback Kenny Minchey took the snap and handed the ball to running back CJ Baxter, with all that was in front of him in mere seconds was green grass.

For a moment, the coaches stopped, the crowd gasped and time stood still. Reality took over quickly – Baxter had just broke a 77-yard run.

The Big Blue Nation was in full freak-out mode, as their RB1 stood up from the chunk play like he knew he was meant to do this whole football thing.

Joe Sloan let him get the rock again, leading to his seventh touchdown on the year. Baxter spun the ball and crossed his arms, doing his best to act cool in front of 60,000+ fans at Kroger Field, but you could tell that as he jogged back over to the sideline that he had that joyous, little-kid energy about him that couldn’t believe what had just happened.

There wasn’t enough time to think really, because before he knew it, he would be punching it in again to put the Wildcats within one-point of the Tigers in overtime. He lined back up, knowing that Will Stein would elect to go for the two-point conversion just like the week prior. Minchey ran it in, and the Wildcats just officially beat the No. 10 team in the nation.

College kids, media and even the athletic director rushed the field, but Baxter stood back for a second, watching in awe. The memories flooded his mind, remembering that feeling of hitting the turf back in 2024 and tearing his ACL, LCL and PCL in his right knee. He had to completely restart his football career and undergo extensive rehabilitation, but that was all a part of God’s plan.

After the win, he became super emotional when reflecting on his journey, one that certainly had a few bumps along the way.

“We just getting started, I’m just getting started,” Baxter exclaimed. “I had an emotional moment (after the game)…I’ve been through so much. I got the game took away from me.”

He nearly began to cry, sharing the Bible verse that he had written on his eye black.

“John 13:7 says you may not understand, you may not understand now but one day you will. That’s just something, when I went through my injuries, that I didn’t understand at the time.”

Baxter admitted he didn’t have the answers, which is hard to do when life gives you a test that no amount of studying can prepare you for.

“Coming here and having that reset…I’m super thankful for it,” he continued. “I told them (Will Stein and Sloan) after the game, I was like ‘thank y’all, thank y’all for giving me another chance.’”

He was stripped of big games like this one, but he chose to remain faithful throughout.

“All the glory goes to God…I just don’t say that, I mean that. My faith was tested a bunch when I went through those injuries, and God was the one that got me through those.”

Baxter ended his time slot with the media by crediting his faith for molding him into the player, son, boyfriend and brother that he is today, knowing that everything happens for a reason.

When Baxter touches the field next, maybe he starts the game off slow, or he might just break another long run to put his team in prime position. Regardless, John 13:7 will be standing out in silver sharpie below his eyes, a representation that proves his story is far from over.

Kentucky’s relationship with the AP Poll this year hasn’t been great. Obviously Will Stein’s unit wasn’t ranked entering the season, but after earning the No. 24 slot and defeating South Carolina on the road, fans were shocked this past week to not see their team just a tad higher.

All the Cats could do was keep on winning games, not pay attention to outside noise and master the one-play focus they preach about constantly. Stein’s studs did just that.

After defeating No. 10 LSU at Kroger Field, a conference dub that had Kentucky in overtime in back-to-back matchups, the blue and white are now the No. 15 ranked team in the nation.

The Wildcats are one of nine teams ranked within the conference this week, joined by No. 1 Georgia, No. 6 Alabama, No. 7 Texas, No. 9 Ole Miss, No. 13 Missouri, No. 14 Tennessee, No. 16 Mississippi State and No. 22 LSU.

As it remains, Kentucky will only have three more ranked games this season, facing the Volunteers, the Gators and the other Tigers.

A full list of the rankings can be found below: 

1. 1. Georgia Bulldogs 
2. 2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish  
3. 3. Miami Hurricanes
4. 4. Ohio State Buckeyes  
5. 5. Indiana Hoosiers  
6. 6. Alabama Crimson Tide 
7. 7. Texas Longhorns  
8. 8. BYU Cougars  
9. 9. Ole Miss Rebels  
10. 10. Texas Tech Red Raiders s 
11. 11. Utah Utes  
12. 12. UCLA Bruins  
13. 13. Missouri Tigers
14. 14. Tennessee Volunteers  
15. 15. North Carolina Tar Heels 
16. 16. Mississippi State Bulldogs
17. 17. Iowa Hawkeyes
18. 18. Oklahoma State Cowboys
19. 19. USC Trojans
20. 20. Houston Cougars
21. 21. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
22. 22. LSU Tigers
23. 23. Boise State Broncos
24. 24. SMU Mustangs
25. 25. Northwestern Wildcats

Receiving votes: Wisconsin (92), Oregon (86), Arizona (82), Nebraska (65), Oklahoma (44), James Madison (29), Florida (9), Duke (5), New Mexico (3), Oregon State (1).