I played out Kentucky's season on 'College Football 26'—would you take this record?

Kentucky finished up the 2025 college football season over the weekend, and let me tell you, friends, it was a wild ride. I am, of course, referring to the virtual version of Kentucky Football in 2025, which played out from my couch on the new EA Sports College Football 26 video game.

I needed a football fix as fall camp begins this week, so I took control of Mark Stoops’ team in the new game, hoping to generate more excitement in the Cats by playing the upcoming season. What I found was the emotions of a real Kentucky season, complete with non-conference games that were too close for comfort, meltdowns before halftime, a comedy of costly errors, and then a surprise upset or two to keep things interesting.

If what happened in the video game is anything like what’s ahead, brace yourselves for a rollercoaster of a year, but one many fans would be satisfied with in the end. It’s right on that line of success and failure.

Here’s how it went:

Regular Season Results: 6-6 (2-6)

• Week 1: Kentucky 21, Toledo 3
• Week 2: (24) Ole Miss 35, Kentucky 0
• Week 3: Kentucky 17, Eastern Michigan 10
• Week 4: South Carolina 35, Kentucky 7
• Week 5: (4) Georgia 31, Kentucky 7
• Week 6: (1) Texas 43, Kentucky 25
• Week 7: Kentucky 24, Tennessee 17
• Week 8: Auburn 18, Kentucky 13
• Week 9: (21) Florida 45, Kentucky 42
• Week 10: Kentucky 78, Tennessee Tech 3
• Week 11: Kentucky 40, Vanderbilt 37
• Week 12: Kentucky 42, Louisville 24

Bowl Game

• Armed Forces Bowl: Kentucky 31, Navy 24

Would you take it?

Though frustrating to play out with a controller, the end result is one I’d take for the real season before it begins. Another loss to Vanderbilt and two blown fourth-quarter leads against Auburn and Florida would suck. Still, an Armed Forces Bowl trophy and wins over Tennessee and Louisville would be enough to outweigh the negatives, such as needing a late touchdown to beat Eastern Michigan at home and going 2-4 in the first half of the season. The second half was a blast. I got my money’s worth on the whole game by winning out to clinch a bowl, especially versus eight-win Louisville in the Governor’s Cup. Hopefully, my College Football 26 season with Kentucky is a preview of what’s ahead for the real-life Wildcats. I’d be happy with it.

Would you?

Remember, last year’s video game simulation was eerily accurate.