The University of Kentucky athletics department is thriving right now, and for the first time in a very long time, the Wildcats are one of two schools to have their volleyball, football, men’s and women’s basketball teams ranked in the AP Poll at the same time.

Kentucky Football has given fans plenty of reasons to be excited for the future, because after defeating Oklahoma by a score of 21-13, Will Stein’s team climbed to No. 12 in the rankings.

This win improved their record to 6-1 on the season with a 4-1 record in SEC play, now tied with the Georgia Bulldogs to be No. 1 in the conference. The ranking represents an important moment for the program, with Kentucky working to establish itself as a strong contender not only in the SEC, but in the entire sport of college football. With challenging opponents coming up, Stein and his studs have a chance to prove that they belong in the national conversation.

Kentucky Volleyball adds to the list of successful teams in Lexington, with this program having countlessly proved themselves throughout the years en route to a national championship and 15 total conference titles.

With the Cats being ranked No. 4 in the country, this teams gives fans another opportunity to support the blue and white beyond just football and basketball. Competing for national recognition reinforces a broader message: Kentucky athletics is about more than a single team or one turn of a season.

Kentucky Men’s Basketball remains as one of the most recognizable programs in college basketball, entering the 2026-27 season ranked No. 23 in preseason polls. Mark Pope and his team are looking to extend a tradition that has defined the program for generations, featuring eight national championships, 17 final four appearances and countless other tournament appearances. Will this be the year the Wildcats get banner No. 9?

Kentucky Women’s Basketball has been redefined in a few short years, with the Wildcats coming in ranked at No. 14 in the preseason ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. After reaching the Sweet 16 last season, Kenny Brooks is looking to build onto their recent success.

Both men’s and women’s basketball have showcased plenty of talent over the last two years, with both carrying high expectations within the Big Blue Nation.

Having four athletic programs receive national recognition all at the same time is a meaningful accomplishment, demonstrating how a school can thrive and build an athletic culture in more than just one sport, in a quick manner that is.

For Kentucky fans, that means more opportunities to cheer, more teams to follow and more reasons to take pride as a member of the BBN. Rankings can change weekly, but the larger story is the university’s ambition to compete at the highest level in multiple ways.

That is something worth celebrating.

On Friday, Oct.16, the Kentucky Wildcats opened their season at Rupp Arena in an exhibition game against Little Rock, securing the first “unofficial” win with a final score of 69-49.

Kentucky shot 43.9% from the field and went 12-for-28 from three, making over half of its shots by time halftime had arrived.

Rupp was ready and electric for the first game back. Little Rock head coach Travis Ford, a member of “The Unforgettables,” even stated that Rupp “never gets old.”

“It doesn’t matter how many times you walk into this building,” Ford continued. “You still get goosebumps.”

To open up the game, it was obvious that the Wildcats were looking to apply defensive pressure that the team severely lacked last season.

In the first half, Kentucky grabbed 24 rebounds because of it, with seven of them coming from sophomore center Malachi Moreno. He would end his night with a near double-double, leading the charge as one of the only returning players from last year’s team.

Mark Pope showcased his team’s potential to be more competitive this season by the new aggressiveness, which directly translated to opportunities on the offensive end.

Milan Momcilovic made several plays to capitalize off of a turnover or fastbreak, leading to a game-high 16-point performance from the star transfer.

Moreno also showcased his leadership, helping new players making their debuts find their rhythm throughout the game The center spoke out earlier in the preseason about his role in recruiting, ensuring the connection between the players is clear this season.

Kentucky gave Lexington a sneak peek of their young talent as well with Braydon Hawthorne and Mason Williams, showing fans potential for real on-court success.

Hawthorne started slowly, but transformed in the second half, ending the game with seven points and a text-book block. Looking confident on what he was doing, it was obvious that he had been in the lab this offseason.

Additionally, six-foot-three freshman guard Williams, son of assistant Mo Willis, finished the game with 10 points and three assists, showing a flash of the guard depth that Pope emphasized during the summer.

After the game, Pope pointed out how Williams “has a really high ceiling,” stating that he wasn’t perfect by any means, but is in the same breath capable of being productive.

Although Kentucky secured the win, this game highlighted what they can improve on while entering the season. For example, the Wildcats had 19 turnovers throughout the game and entered a rough stretch in the second half, committing four turnovers in nine minutes.

However, with a 20-point lead to end the game and a high of a 13-0 scoring run, this was a great way to kick off the basketball season.

The Wildcats will play in their next exhibition game against Texas Tech on Friday, Oct. 23, set to tip off at 7:00 p.m. ET from inside of Rupp Arena. With the drop of the Preseason AP Top 25 Poll next week, fans may see an early ranked matchup when the Red Raiders come to town.

Kentucky’s Milan Momcilovic isn’t letting a national ranking shake his confidence as one of college basketball’s best shooters. During the Wildcats’ 2026 Media Day, the Iowa State transfer was asked about being ranked as the third best three-point shooter in the country, despite leading the nation in shooting percentage last season.

College basketball analyst Andy Katz placed him third on his list of the nation’s top shooters, behind Buffalo’s Ryan Sabol and Nebraska’s Pryce Sandfort.

Momcilovic, however, didn’t appear too concerned about the debate and was quick to let his performance speak for itself.

“I just know that was clickbait,” Momcilovic said with a smile. “I just say, look at the stats. What I did last year, it says I’m the best shooter in college basketball.”

Last season, Milan Momcilovic became the first player in CBB history to lead the nation in 3P% (48.7%) and 3P made (136) in the same season.

NCAA writer Andy Katz ranked him third going into this season…

His response: “I just know that was clickbait… Look at the stats.” pic.twitter.com/ZKKlyeyYBW— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) October 2, 2026

Momcilovic’s confidence is backed by an impressive statistical resume. During the 2025-26 season at Iowa State, he shot a nation-leading 48.7% from three-point range while averaging 16.9 points. He also connected on 136 three-pointers, setting a single-season program record for the Cyclones.

Despite his impressive numbers, the Kentucky forward acknowledged that even the best shooters still have some room for improvement. The lighthearted exchange offered a glimpse into his confidence and personality.

The 6-foot-8 forward joined Mark Pope’s Wildcats through the transfer portal, bringing an impressive shooting resume to a team looking to improve its perimeter offense. While national rankings may continue to spark debate, he made it clear his focus remains on letting his numbers speak for themselves as he prepares for his first season in Lexington.