Kentucky was picked to finish 14th in the Southeastern Conference football media preseason poll. Six games into the season, the Wildcats are ranked No. 15 nationally and have emerged as one of this fall’s biggest surprises.
Coach Will Stein has led Kentucky to a 5-1 start, the program’s best since 2023, and the best start for a first-year coach in Lexington since Alpha Brumage in 1913. Stein has proven he’s not afraid to take risks, with two of those wins sealed by gutsy 2-point conversions in overtime.
The turnaround has earned Stein the title of the SEC’s top coach and Kentucky the title of the most surprising team in the SEC midseason honors from the AP.
Top offensive player: Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.
The dual three is making his final season of eligibility worth the offseason headache. Through five games, the Rebels star has completed 70.1% of his passes for 1,435 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he has scrambled for 113 yards and five scores on the ground.