The Will Stein era at Kentucky is officially off and running.
The Wildcats opened the 2026 season with a dominant 45-13 victory over Youngstown State Saturday at Kroger Field, giving Stein his first win as a head coach and giving Big Blue Nation plenty of reasons to be excited about the new era.
Kenny Minchey Puts on a Show
The biggest story of the afternoon was quarterback Kenny Minchey.
Making his first college start after transferring from Notre Dame, Minchey looked comfortable running Stein’s offense. He completed 18 of 27 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns, spreading the ball around to multiple targets.
Even more impressive, Minchey connected with four different receivers for touchdowns, showing the potential for Kentucky to have a much more explosive passing attack this season.
Freshman Kenny Darby was one of the standouts, while tight ends Mikkel Skinner and Willie Rodriguez also found the end zone.
C.J. Baxter Makes an Impact
Texas transfer C.J. Baxter also made his presence felt immediately.
Baxter scored twice on the ground, including a 15-yard touchdown on Kentucky’s opening scoring drive and another five-yard touchdown in the first half. His explosiveness gives the Wildcats another weapon alongside Minchey.
Kentucky ultimately finished with 506 yards of total offense, showing that Stein’s offensive system can produce plenty of yards even with a roster featuring more than 60 newcomers.
A New Era Begins With a Statement
Kentucky controlled the game from the start, scoring touchdowns on its first three drives and taking a 28-7 lead into halftime.
The defense wasn’t perfect, particularly in the secondary, but the Wildcats still held Youngstown State to 305 total yards and kept the Penguins from seriously threatening the outcome.
Now, the real test arrives.
Kentucky’s next game is against Alabama on September 12 at Kroger Field.
The Wildcats couldn’t have asked for a better opening to the Stein era. Minchey looked confident, the offense moved the ball and Kentucky cruised to a 45-13 victory.
The Will Stein era is officially here — and Kentucky may have something special brewing in Lexington.
