Youngstown State at Kentucky - 2026 Matchup Preview
Youngstown State logo Youngstown State Penguins at Kentucky WildcatsKentucky logo
Saturday, September 5th 2026 (12:00 PM EDT)
Commonwealth Stadium - Lexington, KY

 
Penguins (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach ( - )
Avg Score : 24 - 41 (24 - 41 on Road)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)
Our Line: Kentucky -5  (SP+ UK -2)
UK Win prob: 63% | Cover: 48%
Wildcats (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach Will Stein (0 - 0)
Avg Score : 23 - 26 (32 - 23 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 5 - 7 (#84)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)
 
Youngstown State's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/5 Youngstown State at Kentucky+5

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Youngstown State's Schedule
Kentucky's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/5 Kentucky vs Youngstown State-26
Sat 9/12 Kentucky vs Alabama+12.5
Sat 9/19 Kentucky at Texas A&M+23
Sat 9/26 Kentucky vs South Alabama-17
Sat 10/3 Kentucky at South Carolina+9
Sat 10/10 Kentucky vs LSU+12
Sat 10/17 Kentucky at Oklahoma+20
Sat 10/24 Kentucky vs Vanderbilt+11.5
BYE WEEK
Sat 11/7 Kentucky at Tennessee+15.5
Sat 11/14 Kentucky vs Florida+4
Sat 11/21 Kentucky at Missouri+17
Sat 11/28 Kentucky vs Louisville+5.5

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Kentucky's Schedule
Important Stats (2025)
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
YSU0%240%000%000%410%0%0000
UK#115 (.08)42% (81)2345% (53)3.05 (51)13940% (96)2023.84 (57)#85 (.18)44% (97)26.444% (84)45% (112)3.98 (99)411.81.2
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
YSU0%0%000%000%0%0%0000
UK0%0%000%000%0%0%0000



Overall Stats 2025
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
YSU Offense124240%00000000%0%0%0%0%
UK Defense1226.422.643.7%3.981.2 - - - - - 52%46%44%45%15%.18
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
YSU Defense141410%00 - - - - - 0%0%0%0%0%
UK Offense122331.741.6%3.841.8203411392023.951%47%45%40%18%.08

Additional Stats 2025
 Teams                  GamesPossession Time1st Downs PG3rd Down %4th Down %Penalties PGPenalty Yds PGOff TO PGDef TO PGTFL PGSacks PGD/ST TDsAvg Field Pos
Youngstown State10:000NAN%0%0000000100
Kentucky1230:3819.740%52%4.9411.81.25.82.1029.6
Run Game Stats (2026)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
YSU Offense10%0%000000%0%0
UK Defense1252% (94)44% (84) - - - - .09 (63)2.89 (71)68% (44)10% (57)0.9 (41)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
YSU Defense10%0% - - - - 00%0%0
UK Offense1251% (52)45% (53)35.9139.33.919 (70).06 (98)3.05 (51)70% (84)11% (111)0.82 (124)

Pass Game Stats (2026)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
YSU Offense10%0%000000000%0%0%0
UK Defense1246% (37)45% (112) - - - - - - 12 (38).31 (99)1.5 (64)30% (91)31% (85).31 (76)5% (110)2 (53)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
YSU Defense10%0% - - - - - - 000%0%0%0
UK Offense1247% (85)40% (96)19.130.6201.96.610.615 (128)14 (60).19 (101)1.6 (59)31% (62)26% (113).02 (134)7% (95)1.7 (131)

Youngstown State's Power Ratings
Youngstown State's Power Rating: NR
Youngstown State's Offense Rating: NR
Youngstown State's Defense Rating: NR
2026 Talent Rating: NR
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% NR
Youngstown State's 2026 Expected Record: -
Youngstown State's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: NR
Youngstown State's Offense SP+ Rating: NR
Youngstown State's Defense SP+ Rating: NR

Average Talent
Average MVFC Talent Rating is 0
Average Power Five Talent: 883.28
Average FBS Talent: 705.75

Power Ratings Matchup
Youngstown State:    Kentucky: 5.19

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Youngstown State:    Kentucky: 1.8




Kentucky's Power Ratings
Kentucky's Power Rating: 5.19  #51
Kentucky's Offense Rating: 13.98  #42
Kentucky's Defense Rating: 15.40  #57
2026 Talent Rating: 826.00  #45
Blue Chip Ratio: 25  #23
Kentucky's 2026 Expected Record: 5.0 - 7.0
Kentucky's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: 1.8  #66
Kentucky's Offense SP+ Rating: 25.5  #80
Kentucky's Defense SP+ Rating: 23.7  #48

Average Talent
Average SEC Talent Rating is 985.38
Average Power Five Talent: 883.28
Average FBS Talent: 705.75


Youngstown State Scoring
Offense: 24 PPG
Offense on Road: 24
Defense: 41 PPG
Defense on Road: 41

Youngstown State's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record on Road: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread on Road: 0 - 0 - 0
Projected Score
Kentucky 32
Youngstown State 27

Projected Total Points: 58
Kentucky Scoring
Offense: 23 PPG
Offense at Home: 31.7
Defense: 26.4 PPG
Defense at Home: 22.6

Kentucky's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record at home: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread at home: 0 - 0 - 0


YearDateHomeScoreAwayScoreSpreadCoverTotalO/U
202209/17Kentucky31Youngstown State0Kentucky -30.0Kentucky49.5Under
TeamWinsCoversO/U
Kentucky110 Overs
Youngstown State001 Unders

WinsCoversFavsDogs
Home Teams1 - 01 - 01 - 00 - 0
Road Teams0 - 10 - 10 - 00 - 1

(#NR) YSU at (#51) UK
Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCatYSUUK
Net PPPPPPNRNR
Power RatePwrNR #51
SP+SP+NR #66
Perf GradeGradeNRNR
OffenseOffNRNR
DefenseDefNRNR
Spec TeamsSTNRNR
TalentTalNR #45
Blue ChipsBC%NR #23
Youngstown State on Offense
CategoryCat
YSU OffUK Def
PPPOffPPPNRNR
Perf GradePerfNRNR
SuccessSucNR #97
ExplosiveExpNR #57
PPAPPANR #85
PowerPwrNR #57
SP+SP+NR #48
Pts POPPONR #99
HavocHavNR #93
Youngstown State Run Game
CategoryCat
YSU OffUK Def
Run GameRunNRNR
Run SuccessRSucNR #84
Run ExplRExpNR #41
PPAExpNR #63
Run BlockR BlkNR -
OL YdsOLYNR #71
Stuff RateStuffNR #53
TackleTak - NR
Youngstown State Pass Game
CategoryCat
YSU OffUK Def
Pass GamePassNRNR
Pass SuccessPSucNR #112
Pass ExplPExlNR #64
PPAExpNR #99
Pass Rush/BlockP BlkNRNR
F7 HavocF7NR #57
DB HavocDBNR #110
Kentucky on Offense
Balanced offense, Pass: 47%, Run: 51%
CategoryCatUK OffYSU Def
PPPDefPPPNRNR
Perf GradePerfNRNR
SuccessSuc #81NR
ExplosiveExp #128NR
PPAPPA #115NR
PowerPwr #42NR
SP+SP+ #80NR
Pts POPPO #57NR
HavocHav #110NR
Kentucky Run Game
Balanced offense, Pass: 47%, Run: 51%
CategoryCat
UK OffYSU Def
Run GameRunNRNR
Run SuccessRSuc #53NR
Run ExplRExp #124NR
PPAExp #98NR
Run BlockR BlkNR -
OL YdsOLY #51NR
Stuff RateStuff #51NR
TackleTak - NR
Kentucky Pass Game
Balanced offense, Pass: 47%, Run: 51%
CategoryCatUK OffYSU Def
Pass GamePassNRNR
Pass SuccessPSuc #96NR
Pass ExplPExl #59NR
PPAExp #101NR
Pass Block/RushP BlkNRNR
F7 HavocF7 #111NR
DB HavocDB #95NR
Program Comparison
UK 5 Year Profile: Declining Below Avg P4
'26 Profile: Down to Top G5

YSU 5 Year Profile: Consistent Poor G5
'26 Profile: Remains Poor G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in Commonwealth Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°
No Matchups Past 4 Years
  
YSU's OC ()
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG

View Youngstown State's Full Roster

YSU's DC ()
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Cameron Smith665238
Cam Smith (Tr)341014
Dayne Hodge91000
Cam Smith (Tr)91100
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Cameron Smith665238
Cam Smith (Tr)91100
Cam Smith (Tr)341014
Dayne Hodge91000
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Cameron Smith665238
Cam Smith (Tr)341014
Dayne Hodge91000

UK's OC Joe Sloan (in his first season)
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Kenny Minchey (Tr)202677%196007.5
JacQai Long (Tr)61833%31001.7
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Jason Patterson5722513.929
CJ Baxter Jr.5419603.618
Kenny Minchey (Tr)784112.034
Jovantae Barnes (Tr)194512.410
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Willie Rodriguez23310113.553
Josh Kattus17195211.534
Xavier Daisy (Tr)1817719.821
DJ Miller13175213.556

View Kentucky's Full Roster

UK's DC Jay Bateman (in his first season)
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Ty Bryant762001
Jordan Castell (Tr)540020
Grant Godfrey342110
Mi'Quise Grace317462
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Mi'Quise Grace317462
Tavion Gadson284330
Lorenzo Cowan135300
Jamarrion Harkless (Tr)132340
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Terhyon Nichols181024
Grant Grayton160003
Mi'Quise Grace317462