Kentucky Football Future Opponents for 2026-29 Revealed

A new era of SEC football kicks off in 2026. For the first time, a 9-game conference slate awaits each opponent. We now know what the future holds for the Kentucky football program.

When Texas and Oklahoma entered the league, Mitch Barnhart and Mark Stoops led a coalition that pushed back against a 9-game SEC slate. They won the initial battle, preserving an 8-game schedule for two seasons. That expires after this year.

Starting in 2026, each team will play three opponents annually, while rotating between the other 12 on a two-year cycle. You will see Kentucky play at every SEC venue over a 4-year cycle. Once that 4-year cycle ends, the annual opponents will be reviewed by the league.

Mark Stoops has been the Kentucky football coach since 2013 and never coached a game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Those long droughts are coming to an end.

Additionally, each SEC team must play one non-conference opponent from the Power Conference ranks. This preserves the Governor’s Cup rivalry game against Louisville. On years where the Cards come to Kroger Field, Kentucky will play five SEC road games.

We learned from On3’s Chris Low on Monday that the Cats will play South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida annually. During a televised special, the SEC Network announced every SEC football opponent from 2026-29.

2026 Kentucky Football Schedule

Florida
at South Carolina
at Tennessee
at Missouri
at Oklahoma
at Texas A&M
Alabama
LSU
Vanderbilt

Non-Conference Opponents*
9/05 Youngstown State
09/26 South Alabama
11/28 Louisville

*These games were previously reported by FBSchedules, and at least one of the MAC schools listed below will be bought out to make way for the additional SEC opponent.

2027 Kentucky Football Schedule

Georgia
at Ole Miss
at Florida
Tennessee
South Carolina
Auburn
at Arkansas
at Texas
Mississippi State

Non-Conference Opponents
9/04 Toledo
09/18 Murray State
09/25 Ball State
11/27 at Louisville

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2028 Kentucky Football Schedule

Florida
at South Carolina
at Tennessee
Missouri
at Alabama
at LSU
at Vanderbilt
Oklahoma
Texas A&M

Non-Conference Opponents
9/02 at Toledo
09/09 Kent State
09/30 Eastern Illinois
11/25 Louisville

2029 Kentucky Football Schedule

at Georgia
Ole Miss
at Florida
Tennessee
South Carolina
at Auburn
Arkansas
Texas
at Mississippi State

Non-Conference Opponents
09/01 Georgia Southern
09/08 Eastern Kentucky
11/24 at Louisville

The SEC football schedule is changing.

Here's what it will look like for Kentucky over the next four years. https://t.co/jY62YOle2y pic.twitter.com/jBUDbbFVsb

— KSR (@KSRonX) September 23, 2025