UK football 2026 schedule: Dates for Oklahoma trip, matchup with Jon Sumrall set

Will Stein’s first season as Kentucky football coach will feature one of the most difficult schedules in program history.

For the first time, the SEC will move to a nine-game conference schedule in 2026, meaning the Wildcats will play just two non-power-conference foes in the quest for bowl eligibility. The SEC had previously announced Kentucky’s opponents for next season but on Thursday unveiled the dates for the games.

Here is what you need to know about Stein’s first UK schedule:

Stein vs. Sumrall

For most of the fall, the top two candidates to be UK’s next coach if it parted ways with Mark Stoops were obvious. Stein was one, but the other — and likely most popular choice for fans — was Tulane coach Jon Sumrall, who played at Kentucky and served as an assistant coach for Stoops in Lexington. Ultimately, Kentucky’s chances of landing Sumrall appear to have been slim considering he was hired by Florida, a traditional power. While some fans complained UK moved too slowly in the decision to fire Stoops (Sumrall was hired by Florida the day before Stoops was fired), it is unlikely Sumrall would have picked the Wildcats with a Florida offer on the table anyway.

Regardless of whether Kentucky ever had a realistic shot at Sumrall, Stein will be compared to him as they both try to build SEC programs. Florida is one of Kentucky’s three fixed opponents in the new SEC schedule format, so we will continue to get annual matchups between the two programs. UK famously lost 31 straight to Florida from 1987 to 2017 but has won four of the past five meetings, including a 38-7 blowout this season that was the high point of Stoops’ final year on the job.

Sumrall will surely want to beat his alma mater to help win over any Florida fans still skeptical about his hire. Stein will look to continue to build on the momentum Stoops made in the series as evidence Kentucky can be relevant in the new-look SEC.

The first meeting between Stein and Sumrall is set for Nov. 14.

On to Oklahoma

The rematch of the 1951 Sugar Bowl, arguably the biggest win in Kentucky football history, is set for Oct. 17 when UK travels to Oklahoma for just the second time in program history.

In addition to UK’s 13-7 win over No. 1 Oklahoma in the 1951 Sugar Bowl, the two teams met in the 1980 and 1982 seasons. UK lost 29-7 in Norman in 1980 and 29-8 in Lexington in 1982. The 2026 meeting will be the first game between the two programs as SEC rivals.

Oklahoma’s first trip to Lexington since joining the SEC will come in 2028.

So much for easing into things

Stein should start his Kentucky career with a win thanks to a Week 1 matchup with FCS Youngstown State, but he will not have to wait long to see the real challenge of the new SEC schedule format.

Kentucky opens SEC play in Week 2 against Alabama. In Week 3, the Wildcats travel to Texas A&M. That’s two 2025 playoff teams in the first three weeks for the Wildcats next fall.

UK is 2-39-1 all-time against Alabama. Stein will be looking to become the first UK coach to beat the Crimson Tide since Hal Mumme in 1997. Kentucky is 1-1 all-time against Texas A&M but is 0-1 since the Aggies joined the SEC.

Kentucky football 2026 schedule

This story was originally published December 11, 2025 at 8:44 PM.

Jon Hale

Lexington Herald-Leader

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Jon Hale is the University of Kentucky football beat writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. He joined the Herald-Leader in 2022 but has covered UK athletics for more than 10 years. Hale was named the 2021 Kentucky Sportswriter of the Year. Support my work with a digital subscription