Kentucky · SECKentucky turns to South Alabama after Texas A&M upset
The Wildcats received 98 AP Top 25 votes after their 31-21 win and host the Jaguars Sept. 26.
SEP 21, 2026
After a top-10 upset of Texas A&M on Saturday, Sept. 19, Kentucky turns to South Alabama for a Sept. 26 home game with an AP Top 25 spot within reach.
The 31-21 victory in College Station moved Kentucky to 2-1. The Wildcats received 98 AP Top 25 votes and rank 27th among teams receiving votes, according to On3.
South Alabama is Kentucky’s final non-Power Four opponent before the schedule turns to South Carolina, LSU and Oklahoma. A win could carry the Texas A&M momentum into that SEC-heavy stretch and strengthen Kentucky’s case for a place in the rankings; a flat performance would put that momentum at risk.
The Jaguars are 2-1 in Sun Belt play, with wins over Southeastern Louisiana and Ohio and a 28-24 loss at Tulane, according to On3.
01 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
Kentucky’s ranking case is moving faster than its season rebuild. The Wildcats finished 5-7 in 2025, so a win Sept. 26 would put them at 3-1 and three victories from surpassing last year’s total. That opportunity comes before the schedule compresses: Kentucky plays at South Carolina on Oct. 3, hosts LSU on Oct. 10, visits Oklahoma on Oct. 17 and hosts Vanderbilt on Oct. 24 — four SEC games in 22 days.
The volatility is as important as the upset. Kentucky’s first three games produced a 32-point win over Youngstown State, a 28-point loss to Alabama and a 10-point win at Texas A&M. South Alabama offers the last result before that four-game run to show which version carries forward.
02 · The Open QuestionsQuestions to Be Answered
What will Kentucky’s lineup look like against South Alabama?
Stein’s Tuesday noon press conference is the first scheduled checkpoint for any lineup changes after College Station. The Sept. 26 game is Kentucky’s final chance to establish its preferred group before four SEC games in 22 days, beginning Oct. 3 at South Carolina. Any lineup details Stein provides will frame the expectation; the opening snap against the Jaguars will settle which group actually starts.
Who will start at quarterback for South Alabama in Lexington?
South Alabama has not named its Sept. 26 starter, leaving Kentucky without a publicly identified matchup at the position. The Jaguars’ 28-24 loss at Tulane shows the Lexington visit is not their first road test. The starter on the first offensive series — and whether another quarterback rotates into the game — will provide the answer Kentucky’s defense must handle.