Tag: Kentucky

Reports: Notre Dame QB Kenny Minchey flips from Nebraska to Kentucky

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former Notre Dame backup quarterback Kenny Minchey, who had committed to Nebraska a little over 24 hours previously, instead changed his commitment to Kentucky on Monday, multiple outlets reported.

Minchey, who entered the portal Friday, had lost an offseason competition to become the Fighting Irish starting quarterback to eventual starter CJ Carr over the summer.

His playing time, as expected, was subsequently limited, though he did appear in six games, completing 20 of 26 passes for 196 yards. He added seven carries for 84 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

He only appeared in four games over the previous two seasons, preserving an additional year of eligibility in the process. He will be classified as a junior in 2026.

Minchey had originally told ESPN on Sunday that he would be joining Matt Rhule’s Nebraska program. His flip Monday was reported by ESPN, CBS Sports, and On3.

Kentucky needed a quarterback once its previous starter Cutter Boley entered the portal and found a home with Arizona State. Boley paced the Wildcats with 2,160 yards and 15 touchdowns to go along with 12 interceptions in 2025.

Nebraska will now go back into the portal to look for a replacement for Dylan Raiola, who also entered the portal this offseason after guiding Nebraska for much of the past two seasons.

Kentucky had been one of two main pursuers of hot quarterback target Sam Leavitt, formerly of Arizona State, along with LSU. The Tigers, helmed by new coach Lane Kiffin, might well be the leader to acquire Leavitt now with Kentucky acquiring Minchey and the Tigers previously missing out on Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby, who chose Texas Tech.

–Field Level Media

Report: Kentucky hiring Texas A&M’s Jay Bateman as DC

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Kentucky is hiring Texas A&M defensive coordinator Jay Bateman to fill the same role in Lexington, ESPN reported Thursday.

Bateman, 52, directed the Aggies’ defense for the past two seasons on Mike Elko’s staff and previously held coordinator duties at North Carolina, Army, Ball State, Elon and Siena.

Per the report, Bateman will remain with No. 7 Texas A&M (11-1) for the College Football Playoff. The Aggies have a first-round home game against No. 10 seed Miami (10-2) on Dec. 20 in College Station.

Bateman is one of the first hires for new Wildcats head coach Will Stein, who replaced Mark Stoops after spending the past three seasons as the offensive coordinator at Oregon.

Texas A&M will replace Bateman with associate head coach for defense Lyle Hemphill, according to the report. He has worked with Elko since their time at Duke from 2022-23.

Texas A&M ranks 19th in total defense and 41st in scoring defense this season.

Aggies offensive coordinator Collin Klein also left to become the head coach at Kansas State.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Kentucky to hire Oregon OC Will Stein

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Kentucky didn’t take long to find its replacement for the recently fired Mark Stoops, as multiple outlets reported Monday that the Wildcats are set to tab Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein as their next head coach.

Stein, 36, has Kentucky roots, having been born in Louisville to two University of Kentucky graduates before going on to quarterback the Louisville Cardinals from 2008-12.

That’s where his coaching career began as a grad assistant and then quarterbacks coach in 2013-14. His path took him through the state of Texas before he served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Dan Lanning’s Oregon Ducks the past three seasons.

Under Stein’s tutelage, the Ducks have been one of the top offenses in the nation, producing quarterbacks Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore in that time.

Per ESPN, Stein is expected to coordinate Oregon’s offense throughout its expected College Football Playoff appearance.

Stoops, 58, was relieved of duties on Sunday, following a 13-year run that provided Kentucky unprecedented football success. While he finished a modest 82-80, Stoops nevertheless elevated Kentucky to eight straight bowl games and a pair of 10-win seasons, just the third and fourth 10-plus win seasons in Kentucky history.

The Wildcats were 5-7 in 2025, their second straight losing season.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Kentucky plans to fire coach Mark Stoops

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Kentucky is set to fire coach Mark Stoops on Monday, per multiple reports.

Stoops, 58, has spent the past 13 seasons at Kentucky and is the program’s winningest coach at 82-80. He guided the Wildcats to 10-win seasons and Citrus Bowl victories in both the 2018 and 2021 seasons.

But Kentucky went 4-8 in 2024 and 5-7 in 2025, most recently taking a 41-0 drubbing at the hands of rival Louisville on Saturday.

Stoops was asked after that game if there was any possibility he would step down from his post.

“I don’t mean to be disrespectful to you,” Stoops said. “I mean, like I’m going to walk away? Are you kidding me? No, zero means zero.”

Stoops didn’t budge when a follow-up question was tossed his way.

“Zero percent chance I walk away,” Stoops said. “I’m going to be here as far as I’m concerned. Now, I can’t control what decisions that are made. If you’re asking me, I’ve said zero. Zero means zero. Zero percent chance I walk away.”

Stoops’ buyout is about $37.7 million, 75% of the salary remaining on his contract.

There is a team meeting scheduled for Monday to address the team’s coaching situation, according to multiple reports.

Kentucky is the fifth SEC team to fire its coach this year, and the move only comes after the other four — LSU, Arkansas, Auburn and Florida — already hired their replacements.

The Wildcats will be working in a thinner coaching market, with South Florida’s Alex Golesh, Tulane’s Jon Sumrall and Memphis’ Ryan Silverfield already in line to join Auburn, Florida and Arkansas, respectively. LSU hired Lane Kiffin away from Ole Miss.

–Field Level Media

Ailing Louisville braces for bowl-hungry Kentucky

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As Louisville prepares to wrap up its regular season Saturday afternoon at home against archrival Kentucky, the Cardinals will continue their fight against injuries.

Senior receiver Chris Bell is the latest addition to the medical ward for the Cardinals (7-4), who have lost their last three games. Coach Jeff Brohm announced that Bell would miss Saturday’s game against the Wildcats (5-6) after suffering a leg injury during last weekend’s 38-6 loss at SMU.

Bell ranks 12th nationally with 917 receiving yards.

The Cardinals played SMU without starting quarterback Miller Moss as well as Isaac Brown and Keyjuan Brown, their top two running backs. In addition, receiver and kick returner Caullin Lacy left the game in the third quarter with an undisclosed injury.

Louisville will try to get Moss back on the field on Saturday, but he told reporters Monday he could see more than one quarterback playing. Redshirt freshman Deuce Adams started at SMU and threw for 94 yards.

Brohm also said he wouldn’t know about the other injured players’ availability until later this week. If Isaac Brown, Keyjuan Brown and Lacy can’t play, Brohm said two of the top options likely would be walk-on back Braxton Jennings (87 yards rushing) and redshirt freshman receiver Shaun Boykins (one catch for 5 yards).

Regardless of who plays, Brohm said his team still can end the regular season on a strong note.

“They’ll get a chance to play in front of our own fans and show what we’re made of, so you can show how we can bounce back,” Brohm said. “And then you progress to postseason play, and you try to put your best performance together there and finish the season strong.”

The Wildcats, meanwhile, had been finishing the season strong until last Saturday’s 45-17 loss at Vanderbilt snapped a three-game winning streak.

Still, Kentucky would become bowl eligible with a win on Saturday.

“Very big game,” coach Mark Stoops said. “It’s important to myself, it’s important to the team, it’s important to the (Kentucky fans) and the state.”

Redshirt freshman quarterback Cutter Boley threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to Vanderbilt. It was his second-highest yardage total this season since becoming the starter against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 13.

Boley’s first career start came against Louisville at the end of last season, a game the Cardinals won 41-14 in Lexington. Boley was 6 of 15 for 48 yards for Kentucky, which leads the all-time series 20-16.

–Field Level Media

–Field Level Media

Diego Pavia sets passing record as No. 14 Vanderbilt routs Kentucky

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Diego Pavia passed for a school-record 484 yards and accounted for six touchdowns to lead No. 14 Vanderbilt to a 45-17 stomping of Kentucky on Saturday in Southeastern Conference play at Nashville, Tenn.

Pavia completed 33 of 39 passes and matched his career best of five touchdown passes in his final regular-season home game for the Commodores (9-2, 5-2 SEC). The Heisman Trophy candidate also rushed for 48 yards and a score and was intercepted once to help Vanderbilt improve its College Football Playoff at-large hopes.

Tre Richardson caught six passes for 159 yards and three scores for the Commodores. Junior Sherrill had eight catches for 115 yards and a touchdown and Richie Hoskins also had a touchdown reception as Vanderbilt rolled up 604 offensive yards.

Martel Hight intercepted two passes and Kolbey Taylor had one pick for the Commodores, who will look for the first 10-win season in program history when they play Tennessee in Knoxville on Nov. 29.

Cutter Boley completed 26 of 44 passes for 280 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Kentucky (5-6, 2-6). J.J. Hester and Fred Ferrier II had fourth-quarter scoring catches for the Wildcats, who had a three-game winning streak snapped.

Pavia broke the Vanderbilt single-game mark of 464 passing yards set by Whit Taylor against Tennessee in 1981. This marks the second time that Pavia tied the school mark of five touchdown passes. Bill Wade (1950), Jay Cutler (2005) and Johnny McCrary (2014) also threw five.

After Hight’s second interception with 9:39 remaining in the game, Pavia trotted out with his offensive teammates. Then coach Clark Lea sent Blaze Berlowitz in to replace Pavia, who received a loud ovation from the Vanderbilt fans as he walked to the sideline.

The Commodores turned the game into a rout with three third-quarter touchdowns.

Pavia tossed a 7-yard scoring pass to Sherrill with 8:55 left in the quarter before scoring on a 6-yard run to make it 38-3 with 3:14 remaining. Pavia later tossed a 32-yard touchdown pass to Hoskins to push the margin to 42 with 1:17 left in the period.

Richardson scored three first-half touchdowns as Pavia’s co-star as Vanderbilt took a 24-3 advantage.

Brock Taylor kicked a 39-yard field late in the first quarter and Pavia followed with a 71-yard scoring pass to Richardson less than two minutes into the second quarter. Richardson scored on a 15-yard catch and run to give the Commodores a 17-point lead with 4:35 left in the half.

Jacob Kauwe booted a 47-yard field goal to get the Wildcats on the board with 59 seconds left in the half. Just 21 seconds later, Richardson caught a 56-yard scoring pass from Pavia as Vanderbilt held a 21-point halftime advantage.

–Field Level Media

Diego Pavia, No. 14 Vanderbilt eager to tune out Kentucky

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Star quarterback Diego Pavia will make perhaps his final home start when No. 14 Vanderbilt takes on Kentucky on Saturday afternoon in Southeastern Conference play at Nashville, Tenn.

Barring a surprise home playoff game, this figures to be the last time the Heisman Trophy candidate plays for the Commodores in Music City. He’s sung a winning tune since his arrival in 2024, turning a 2-10 program in 2023 into a team competing for an at-large spot in the College Football Playoff this season.

“He’ll be someone who will be in conversations for the next 50 years here,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said of Pavia. “So it will be an opportunity to watch a guy that is a Heisman contender for a reason, that we believe is the best player in the country, that has earned the right to have people paying attention to him.”

The transfer from New Mexico State has thrown 41 touchdown passes — against just nine interceptions — and has 15 scores on the ground during his two seasons with Vanderbilt. He’s also become a folk hero while injecting excitement into the downtrodden program.

Pavia etched his name into program lore last season when the Commodores notched one of college football’s most stunning upsets, taking down No. 1 Alabama 40-35 for the program’s first-ever victory over a top-five team.

The magic has continued this season with victories over then-No. 11 South Carolina, then-No. 10 LSU and then-No. 15 Missouri to bolster the playoff resume.

However, the Commodores (8-2, 4-2 SEC) need to win their last two games — a visit to No. 20 Tennessee will end the regular season — and probably will need some help to land an at-large playoff spot. Five SEC teams are higher ranked.

Lea is aware that a loss to the Wildcats would end Vanderbilt’s playoff hopes.

“Everything that we want postseason-wise is out in front of us,” he said. “We’ve got to earn it, and we (do that) by winning two games. And to win two games, you can only win one this week. So we’re going to focus on Kentucky and have a sense of urgency about our craft.”

Kentucky (5-5, 2-5) has turned its season around by winning its last three games by an average of 23.3 points, including a close road win over Auburn and a home beatdown of Florida. Last weekend, the Wildcats routed FCS program Tennessee Tech 42-10.

Running back Seth McGowan, who rushed for three touchdowns against the Golden Eagles, said he is impressed with the way the team responded after four straight losses from Sept. 27 to Oct. 25.

“This team, we’ve always known our potential,” said McGowan, who has rushed for 693 yards and 12 scores this season. “We’ve always known our identity and how powerful this team is, and it’s all just everything that’s happening now is something that we’ve known since our camp. We just got to stay consistent and keep at it.”

Cutter Boley and Kendrick Law teamed often during the rout of Tennessee Tech. Boley completed 18 of 21 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown, while Law recorded career bests of 11 receptions and 124 yards.

Wildcats coach Mark Stoops said he is pleased with his team’s recent rise. But making him uncomfortable is looking on the field and seeing Pavia ready to take a snap.

“Well, it puts great pressure on the defense, and it doesn’t matter what defense it is,” Stoops said. “It doesn’t matter who you are. He makes plays, and he does it in every game he plays in. He’s going to make some plays. We just have to make ours.”

Pavia passed for 143 yards, two touchdowns and one interception and rushed for 53 yards as the Commodores notched a 20-13 road win over Kentucky last season.

–Field Level Media

Kendrick Law’s career day helps Kentucky dominate Tennessee Tech

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Kendrick Law’s career day and Seth McGowan’s three first-half touchdowns propelled Kentucky to its third straight victory with a 42-10 win over Tennessee Tech on Saturday afternoon in Lexington.

Law helped the Wildcats (5-5, 2-5 SEC) coast in a game they never trailed, catching all 11 of his targets for 124 yards, both good for career-highs. McGowan put up multiple TDs for the second straight week as he finished with 72 yards.

Wildcat QB Cutter Boley was 18-of-21 passing for 236 yards with one touchdown through the air and one on the ground.

The Golden Eagles (10-1) came into the day as the No. 5 team in the FCS and with the nation’s longest win streak at 15 games.

Tennessee Tech quarterback Kekoa Visperas completed 13 of his 21 passes for 112 yards with a touchdown and an interception to go along with 44 yards rushing. Maury Sullivan had six receptions for 63 yards.

The Golden Eagles got the first score of the second half with a 38-yard field goal from Dom LeBlanc to cut the score to 28-10.

Hardley Gilmore IV made sure to put the Golden Eagles firmly out of the game with a 45-yard catch and run to push the lead to 35-10 with 2:24 left in the third.

Dante Dowdell continued the ground game onslaught with a 19-yard scamper to cap his 87-yard day to finish off the scoring for the day with 10:37 left.

Kentucky finished with 207 yards rushing, the most Tennessee Tech has given up all year. The Golden Eagles had allowed just two teams to finish with more than 100.

The Wildcats highlighted that with two rushing TDs to start the day: a 1-yarder by McGowan and a 30-yarder by Boley for a quick 14-0 lead.

McGowan added a 4-yarder with 3:46 left in the half for a 21-0 lead.

After missing a short field goal earlier in the half, the Golden Eagles got on the board with an 8-yard catch by Brian Courtney with 1:18 to go in the half.

It was too much time for the Wildcats as McGowan scored from 1 yard out again for a 28-7 first half lead.

–Field Level Media

Kentucky steps away from SEC to face 10-0 Tennessee Tech

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What looked like a pick-me-up game for Kentucky back in August now seems more like a potential upset spot as the Wildcats host undefeated Tennessee Tech on Saturday in Lexington.

The Wildcats (4-5) have performed better of late, entering this non-conference tilt following two straight SEC wins after losing their first five.

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops is prepared for a serious fight from the Golden Eagles (10-0), who are No. 5 in the FCS national rankings.

“They know how to win. They’re obviously well coached and a good football team,” Stoops said Monday. “We have to continue to do what we’ve been doing, and that’s concentrate on us, no matter who we’re playing. Just continue to play with the effort, continue to have great weeks of practice … let’s worry about Kentucky and carry that over to the game.”

The Wildcats seemed to do just that when they put it all together last week in a 38-7 victory over Florida. They took advantage of four Florida turnovers and shut out the Gators over the last three quarters.

The rushing attack led the way for Kentucky with 233 yards and three touchdowns.

Seth McGowan gained 92 yards on 22 carries with two of the TDs, while backup Dante Dowdell picked up 104 yards on seven carries, including a 65-yard TD to ice it.

The Wildcats may have a hard time replicating that as Tennessee Tech has the No. 1 run defense in the FCS, allowing just 60.9 yards per game and 1.87 yards per carry.

The Golden Eagles have won 15 straight overall and are coming off a 21-9 win at Eastern Illinois. It was the Golden Eagles’ lowest scoring total of the season, as they lead the FCS with 45.2 points per game.

Coach Bobby Wilder knows it’ll be a tall task to knock off the Wildcats this weekend.

“You have to have a plan that everything has to happen right for you. You need turnovers, you need situations to go your way, you’ve got to be able to control the ball,” Wilder said Tuesday. “You have to somehow survive early in the game and stay in it. You can’t get yourself blown up.”

–Field Level Media

Kentucky dominates Florida for 31-point victory

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Cutter Boley passed for two scores, Seth McGowan ran for a pair and Kentucky notched its second straight win by walloping Florida 38-7 on Saturday night in Lexington, Ken.

The freshman quarterback was an efficient 18-of-23 passing for 168 yards, the two TDs with one interception for the Wildcats (4-5, 2-5 Southeastern Conference), who took a 24-7 lead at the half.

Dante Dowdell rushed for 104 yards on seven carries, including a 65-yard touchdown run. McGowan had 92 yards on 22 attempts with scores on runs of 2 and 5 yards.

DJ Lagway had a poor performance for the Gators (3-6, 2-4). The sophomore from Texas struggled by going 11 of 19 for 83 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions, prompting his benching at halftime.

Freshman backup Tramell Jones Jr. was 9 of 17 for 60 yards in relief.

Running back Jadan Baugh rushed for 64 yards on 17 carries and caught a 10-yard TD pass in the first quarter for the Gators’ lone score.

Each team committed four turnovers in the lopsided contest.

On Florida’s first possession, Kentucky was set up when defensive back Ty Bryant intercepted Lagway and returned it 17 yards. Jacob Kauwe soon booted a 39-yard field goal at 6:42 for a 3-0 edge.

In their second game under interim coach Billy Gonzales, Florida recovered a muffed punt at Kentucky’s 13. Lagway found Baugh on third down, completing a 10-yard pass with 1:12 left in the quarter.

Boley hit J.J. Hester for a 29-yard score to cap a 75-yard drive at 12:39 of the second quarter.

The theme of points off turnovers continued when Cam Dooley recovered a Florida fumble. Boley hit a receiver for paydirt again when he connected with Jason Patterson from 15 yards for a 17-7 advantage.

McGowan rushed for a short score with 1:26 left, but the teams combined for four turnovers in the final seven plays before halftime as Kentucky led by 17.

In the third, the Wildcats went 75 yards in 13 plays. McGowan capped the strong series by taking a direct snap and scampering in from 5 yards out.

The 31-7 margin represented the Wildcats’ largest lead against Florida since 1979 (31-3) when the Gators were caught in what ultimately became an 0-10-1 season.

Dowdell streaked away on a 65-yard scoring run at 12:16 in the fourth quarter for the final points.

–Field Level Media