GAME PREVIEW
The University of Kentucky Wildcats kick off the season this Saturday, Sept. 5, at home against the Youngstown State Penguins, and it’ll be our first look at the program under new head football coach Will Stein.
Stein said in an interview that he has done everything he can to prepare for this weekend’s game, including putting the team through a full simulation of the pregame experience that even included a mock “Cat Walk” with fans and cheerleaders.
Stein, an offensive-minded coach with extensive knowledge of the quarterback position, will be put to the test with all eyes on new quarterback Kenny Minchey.
“There’s gonna be butterflies, if you don’t, then you’re probably not human. So that’s OK. The key is taking all fear out of it. Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t be afraid to play,” Stein said during a press conference when asked what advice he would give to Minchey.
Speaking of quarterbacks, Youngstown State has an impressive one in Beau Brungard. Brungard won the Walter Payton Award in 2025 and had more than 3,000 passing yards and 1,400 rushing yards last season. But Youngstown did lose some receivers in the offseason, giving Brungard fewer options from the pocket.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION
Overall, this game has the potential to be an offensive explosion. The interesting thing to watch will be how Kentucky, a team known for its defense under former head coach Mark Stoops, handles Brungard and the Youngstown State offense.
My final score prediction:
UK — 38
Youngstown State — 21
GAME COVERAGE
For fans who want to hear the game, Mountain Top Sports will provide coverage on WDHR 93.1 FM. If you’re one of those people who wants to see the game on TV, we also encourage you to use the audio from the radio and play it over the TV broadcast. It gives you a great way to hear some of your favorite game-day callers, such as Tom Leech. You can even pull the audio up on your smartphone or Alexa device.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Lexington. Mountain Top Sports will also provide game-day photos, written coverage and updates as available.
So be sure to stay tuned to our website and social media for all the action.
