August is the month we get football. Lets talks expectations.

Jun 23, 2026
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521
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What are you most looking forward to? For me, I just want to see an offense that knows what a TE is.

What are you worried about? Secondary and WR depth.

Breakout player? I think we see Gilmore show up to his talent level in this new offense.
 

entropy13

All-American
Apr 27, 2010
3,603
6,869
113
Are CJ Baxter and Jovantae Barnes actually fully healthy and will either or both be able to play a full season as a RB? These guys were two huge gets from the transfer portal, but if they're not reliable, it seems there'll be a big gap in capability from the rest of the RB crew. We added some JUCO guys in the offseason just to get bodies.
 

ORCAT

Heisman
Jan 6, 2003
24,715
12,076
113
Schedule is too difficult to become Bowl Eligible. Think we will be competitive and have some exciting moments to build on but fall just short of the post season at 5-7.
Kind of how I see it too. Just hoping we somehow get at least one good upset win in SEC and get to a bowl game for more exposure to future recruits/transfers.
 

L.O.D.

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2024
1,252
1,631
77
5 wins expected
6 wins and bowl eligible would be a great year this year
7 wins or more - I hope ya liked Stein when he was here cause ........ he gone.....

Thats the part that sucks he does well you know hes here 3 yesrs max - this is not a Cignetti who's in 60s Stein is a hungry kid he would go to biggest name that feeds him most if he shows alot of success here.
 

The Nightman2

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2019
1,188
1,545
113
Are CJ Baxter and Jovantae Barnes actually fully healthy and will either or both be able to play a full season as a RB? These guys were two huge gets from the transfer portal, but if they're not reliable, it seems there'll be a big gap in capability from the rest of the RB crew. We added some JUCO guys in the offseason just to get bodies.
I read somewhere Barnes was still being held out . I think Baxter is good to go.
 
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BlueVelvetFog

Heisman
Apr 12, 2016
14,507
20,089
78
5 wins expected
6 wins and bowl eligible would be a great year this year
7 wins or more - I hope ya liked Stein when he was here cause ........ he gone.....

Thats the part that sucks he does well you know hes here 3 yesrs max - this is not a Cignetti who's in 60s Stein is a hungry kid he would go to biggest name that feeds him most if he shows alot of success here.
UK is Steins destination job. He's made that quite clear.
 

JimboBBN

Heisman
Jan 26, 2016
15,138
30,351
113
Yea, the days of worrying about a coach leaving are over with Stein, hopefully. UK has said it will do whatever it takes to be top spenders, and with the new AD, Stein will have all he needs at Kentucky.

Probably too much blue tint on the glasses for me today, but I see 7-5

Losing to A&M, LSU, Tennessee, Florida, and Missouri. We will beat Alabama.
 

CB3UK

Hall of Famer
Apr 15, 2012
64,571
107,964
78
I think our defense is going to be a little more exciting than folks are thinking. Going to be a lot more aggressive, blitz, etc as opposed to Stoops bend don't break, keep the ball in front of you philosophy.

We're going to go down swinging on both sides of the ball. Going to be fun, no doubt about it.
 

Goingfor9

All-Conference
Jan 27, 2003
16,419
3,428
113
We have a first year head coach who has never run a program. Our overall talent is highly unknown and I think it’s going to be a difficult year to sit through as a fan. It’s doubtful Barney hit a home run hire on his way out. The deck is always stacked against Kentucky in the SEC. Stein doesn’t give me much confidence. I would be happy to be wrong but Kentucky isn’t where you go to cut your teeth as a head coach. Winning isn’t easy and year 1 will be a massive challenge.
 

Battle_Cat

All-Conference
Sep 1, 2002
5,218
1,548
113
Schedule is pure brutality. 6-6 would be a great start to the Stein era. Anything above that is gravy. I have a feeling Stein's team is going to sneak up and grab a couple of W's we dont expect which would allow upside to 6-6. But I am going to be realistic that 6-6 or even 5-7 is possible given the schedule for a first year system/coaches.
 
Jul 6, 2025
2,535
7,007
113
I hope to see competent planning and execution in all phases of the game as well as a fighting spirit that persists through the hard knocks. Give me that and keep recruiting at the highest level and Stein will work out great.

This is what I want to see. Last few years under stoops offensive coaching was putrid and directly cost us games. Im also fairly certain it directly lead to the team giving up at the end of the last two years.

Now we know for sure the offense will be competent at bare minimum. No worse.

I am concerned about defense because Bateman was demoted at a&m just before their defense became elite. Hopefully that was just a bad fit but that isn't a good sign. I know his talk about being aggressive plays well with the blitz baby blitz mentality of every fanbase, but you really need horses in the sec to play that style, so hopefully he will just mix it up. Otherwise he will be a better recruiting mike majors.

Schedule is insane. Just like last two years, 6 wins will definitely be a success. SEC is just crazy tough week in and out.
 
Jul 6, 2025
2,535
7,007
113
UK is Steins destination job. He's made that quite clear.

He is saying what he should. Liam coen did the same thing, both times.

I do truly believe it would take a great job to lure him away, but make no mistake that will happen if he succeeds here. Just enjoy him while he's here and hope he can elevate the program to make hiring easier.
 

BlueVelvetFog

Heisman
Apr 12, 2016
14,507
20,089
78
He is saying what he should. Liam coen did the same thing, both times.

I do truly believe it would take a great job to lure him away, but make no mistake that will happen if he succeeds here. Just enjoy him while he's here and hope he can elevate the program to make hiring easier.
If he goes, he'll go pro. Like Coen. He grew up a UK fan.
 
Last edited:
Jul 6, 2025
2,535
7,007
113
If he goes, he'll go pro. Like Coen. He grew up a UK fan.

Coen went pro because he had a brand there but he was also trying to get on with osu and god knows who else all while saying he was going to be there.

If stein gets a prestigious and/or lucrative offer he can't decline then we should all understand. That will mean he was a noticable success here which is inherently a good thing.
 

BlueVelvetFog

Heisman
Apr 12, 2016
14,507
20,089
78
Coen went pro because he had a brand there but he was also trying to get on with osu and god knows who else all while saying he was going to be there.

If stein gets a prestigious and/or lucrative offer he can't decline then we should all understand. That will mean he was a noticable success here which is inherently a good thing.
That's why I hope when other programs come calling, that we packed the Brinks truck and or whatever it means or needs to happen to keep him. He can develop a very good quality of life here. So no I will not concede understanding of why he'd leave unless Batt shoots himself in the foot
 

TheBlueMist

All-American
Feb 5, 2004
2,145
5,156
113
Expectations:
1. Better than last year.
2. Sensible clock management.
3. Optimism for the future.
4. A few pleasant surprises mixed with typical results. If we make a bowl game, I will be elated.
 

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
29,092
70,056
113
I hope we beat UT to start the Stein era off. They'll be good at its at Neyland. But would love to get that monkey off our back. Seems like once we beat UF in 2018 the flood gates opened. Would love nothing more than to start a run like that against UT. My most hated fanbase/program/school BY FAR. In every sport. They're like a trashier version of the Indiana fanbase. Just total trash at every level.
 

DudahUK

Heisman
Jul 23, 2020
8,002
12,458
113
5 wins expected
6 wins and bowl eligible would be a great year this year
7 wins or more - I hope ya liked Stein when he was here cause ........ he gone.....

Thats the part that sucks he does well you know hes here 3 yesrs max - this is not a Cignetti who's in 60s Stein is a hungry kid he would go to biggest name that feeds him most if he shows alot of success here.
I think the opposite. I could see him win big and staying for the long haul. He obviously loves this place and his folks and family are here. Dad played here, etc.
 
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