< Previous98 n @UKFootball Toledo Rockets August 30 n 12:45 p.m. n Lexington, Ky. n Kroger Field #4 n Senior n QB#26 n Junior n S 2025 Schedule @Kentucky August 30 Western Kentucky September 6 Morgan State September 13 @Western Michigan September 20 Akron September 27 @Bowling Green October 11 Kent State October 18 @Washington State October 25 Northern Illinois November 5 @Miami November 12 Ball State November 22 @Central Michigan November 29 Now entering his 10th season as To- ledo’s head coach, Candle has won two MAC Championship titles. He was named MAC Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2023. No team in the Mid-American Confer- ence has won more games than Toledo during Candle’s tenure. Toledo has not had a losing season in Candle’s nine sea- sons as head coach. In 2024, the Rockets went 8-5 and won two games again Power Four teams. Jason Candle Quick Facts Location: Toledo, Ohio Head Coach: Jason Candle (Mount Union, ‘03) Stadium: Glass Bowl (26,038) Last Meeting with UK: 8/31/19 in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky 38, Toledo 24 2024 Record: 8-5 Overall: 4-4 Mid-American Base Offense/Defense: Multiple/Multiple Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 6/5 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 6/5 Tucker GLEASON TOLEDO FOOTBALL Players to Watch Braden AWLS@UKSportsNetwork n 99 #19 n Junior n WR Cayden LEE Players to Watch #4 n Junior n LB 2025 Schedule Georgia State August 30 @Kentucky September 6 Arkansas September 13 Tulane September 20 LSU September 27 Washington State October 11 @Georgia October 18 @Oklahoma October 25 South Carolina November 1 The Citadel November 8 Florida November 15 @Mississippi State November 28 Lane Kiffin is in his sixth season at Ole Miss and has led the Rebels to five con- secutive bowl games, including two New Year's Six appearances. In 12 years at the NCAA level, Kiffin has posted an all-time record of 105-52, including a 44-18 mark at Ole Miss. Kiffin has posted three 10-win seasons in Oxford. He is the first head coach to re- cord consecutive 10-win seasons (2023 and 2024) at Ole Miss since 1959-60. Lane Kiffin Quick Facts Location: Oxford, Miss. Head Coach: Lane Kiffin (Fresno State, ‘98) Stadium: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (64,038) Last Meeting with UK: 9/28/24 in Oxford, Miss. Kentucky 20, Ole Miss 17 2024 Final Rankings: 14 CFP/11 AP/ 13 AFCA Coaches 2024 Record: 10-3 Overall; 5-3 SEC; defeated Duke, 52-20, in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Base Offense/Defense: Spread/Multiple Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 2/9 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 2/9 OLE MISS FOOTBALL Ole Miss Rebels September 6 n 3:30 p.m. n Lexington, Ky. n Kroger Field Game Sponsor Suntarine PERKINS100 n @UKFootball Eastern Michigan Eagles #8 n Senior n WR Markus ALLEN #28 n Graduate n RB 2025 Schedule @Texas State August 30 LIU September 6 @Kentucky September 13 Louisiana September 20 @Central Michigan September 27 @Buffalo October 4 Northern Illinois October 11 @Miami October 18 Ohio October 25 Bowling Green November 8 @Ball State November 15 Western Michigan November 25 Entering his 12th season as Eastern Mich- igan head coach, Creighton and his staff have made tremendous strides in changing the culture and mindset surrounding the program. One of seven active Football Bowl Subdi- vision coaches to record more than 180 wins, Creighton is the only coach in EMU history to lead the program to multiple bowl appear- ances. He was voted a finalist for the 2016 American Football Coaches Awards’ first-ev- er Comeback Coach of the Year. Chris Creighton Quick Facts Location: Ypsilanti, Mich. Head Coach: Chris Creighton (Kenyon, ‘91) Stadium: Rynearson Stadium (30,200) Last Meeting with UK: 10/7/23 in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky 28, Eastern Michigan 17 2024 Record: 5-7 Overall; 2-6 MAC Base Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-2-5 Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 3/8 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 2/9 EASTERN MICHIGAN FOOTBALL September 13 n 7:30 p.m. n Lexington, Ky. n Kroger Field Game Sponsor Players to Watch Dontae McMILLAN@UKSportsNetwork n 101 #16 n R-Sophomore n QB LaNorris SELLERS #6 n Sophomore n Edge 2025 Schedule Virginia Tech (Atlanta, Ga.) August 31 South Carolina State September 6 Vanderbilt September 13 @Missouri September 20 Kentucky September 27 @LSU October 11 Oklahoma October 18 Alabama October 25 @Ole Miss November 1 @Texas A&M November 15 Coastal Carolina November 22 Clemson November 29 Shane Beamer owns a 29-22 mark through four seasons in Columbia. Last season's squad was his most suc- cessful to date. The Gamecocks finished the season with a 9-4 overall record posting nine wins in a season for just the eighth time in school history. The Gamecocks recorded a school-record four wins against ranked oppo- nents, including three in consecutive weeks as part of a regular season-ending six-game winning streak. Shane Beamer Quick Facts Location: Columbia, S.C. Head Coach: Shane Beamer (Virginia Tech, ‘99) Stadium: Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559) Last Meeting with UK: 9/7/24 in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina 31, Kentucky 6 2024 Final Rankings: 15 CFP/19 AP/ 19 AFCA Coaches 2024 Record: 9-4 Overall; 5-3 SEC; lost to Illinois, 17-14, in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl Base Offense/Defense: One-Back/ Flex-Nickel Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 5/6 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 4/7 Photos Courtesy of South Carolina Athletics Photo Courtesy of South Carolina Athletics SOUTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL South Carolina Gamecocks September 27 n TBA n Columbia, S.C. n Williams-Brice Stadium Players to Watch Dylan STEWART102 n @UKFootball #4 n Senior n TE Oscar DELP #3 n Junior n LB 2025 Schedule Marshall August 30 Austin Peay September 6 @Tennessee September 13 Alabama September 27 Kentucky October 4 @Auburn October 11 Ole Miss October 18 Florida (Jacksonville, Fla.) November 1 @Mississippi State November 8 Texas November 15 Charlotte November 22 @Georgia Tech November 28 TM Entering his 10th season, Smart’s record is an impressive 105-19 for an .847 winning percentage. The highlights include back-to- back College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championships (2021, 2022), a 2017 CFP title game appearance, Southeastern Con- ference Championships in 2017, 2022 and 2024, six SEC Eastern Division titles and eight New Year’s Six bowl games. In 2024, he became the fifth fastest coach to reach 100 career wins in FBS history. Kirby Smart Quick Facts Location: Athens, Ga. Head Coach: Kirby Smart (Georgia, ‘98) Stadium: Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium (93,033) Last Meeting with UK: 9/14/24 in Lexington, Ky. Georgia 13, Kentucky 12 2024 Record: 11-3 Overall; 6-2 SEC; lost to Notre Dame, 23-10, in the Allstate Sugar Bowl /CFP Quarterfinal 2024 Final Rankings: 2 CFP/6 AP/ 6 AFCA Coaches Base Offense/Defense: Multiple/Multiple Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 6/5 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 4/7 GEORGIA FOOTBALL Georgia Bulldogs October 4 n Noon n Athens, Ga. n Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium Players to Watch CJ ALLEN@UKSportsNetwork n 103 #5 n Junior n RB Quintrevion WISNER #0 n Junior n LB 2025 Schedule @Ohio State August 30 San Jose State September 6 UTEP September 13 Sam Houston September 20 @Florida October 4 Oklahoma (Dallas, Texas) October 11 @Kentucky October 18 @Mississippi State October 25 Vanderbilt November 1 @Georgia November 15 Arkansas November 22 Texas A&M November 28 Entering his fifth season at Texas, Sarkisian's rebuild has been patient, de- liberate and highly successful. Last season's 13-3 record matched the school-record for wins and included a second-straight final top-five ranking, marking the first consecutive top-5 fin- ishes for the Longhorns since 2008-09. He has also produced top-five recruiting classes the past four years, while having 11 players drafted by the NFL in 2024. Steve Sarkisian Quick Facts Location: Austin, Texas Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian (BYU, ‘97) Stadium: DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium (100,119) Last Meeting with UK: 11/23/24 in Austin, Texas Texas 31, Kentucky 14 2024 Record: 13-3 Overall; 7-1 SEC; lost to Ohio State, 28-14, in the CFB Semifinal/ Cotton Bowl 2024 Final Rankings: 3 CFP/4 AP/3 AFCA Coaches Base Offense/Defense: Pro Style/Multiple Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 3/8 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 6/5 TEXAS FOOTBALL Texas Longhorns October 18 n TBA n Lexington, Ky. n Kroger Field Game Sponsor Players to Watch Anthony HILL JR.104 n @UKFootball #87 n Senior n TE Miles KITSELMAN #3 n Junior n CB 2025 Schedule Syracuse (Atlanta, Ga.) August 30 ETSU September 6 Georgia September 13 UAB September 20 @Mississippi State September 27 Arkansas October 11 @Alabama October 18 @Kentucky October 25 Oklahoma November 1 New Mexico State November 15 @Florida November 22 Vanderbilt November 29 Entering his eighth head coaching sea- son overall (fifth at Tennessee), Heupel owns a stellar 65-22 overall record (.747) and a 40-17 (.702) conference mark in sev- en seasons as an FBS head coach. His 65 victories since the start of the 2018 sea- son ranks sixth nationally, and he is one of only three active FBS head coaches to lead multiple programs to New Year’s Six Bowl appearances in the College Football Playoff era. Josh Heupel Quick Facts Location: Knoxville, Tenn. Head Coach: Josh Heupel (Oklahoma, ‘01) Stadium: Neyland Stadium (101,915) Last Meeting with UK: 11/2/24 in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee 28, Kentucky 18 2024 Record: 10-3 Overall; 6-2 SEC; lost to Ohio State, 42-17, CFP First Round 2024 Final Rankings: 7 CFP/9 AP/ 8 AFCA Coaches Base Offense/Defense: Multiple/Multiple Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 3/8 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 8/3 TENNESSEE FOOTBALL Tennessee Volunteers October 25 n TBA n Lexington, Ky. n Kroger Field Game Sponsor Players to Watch Jermod M c COY@UKSportsNetwork n 105 #8 n Sophomore n WR Cam COLEMAN #15 n Junior n DL 2025Schedule @Baylor August 29 Ball State September 6 South Alabama September 13 @Oklahoma September 20 @Texas A&M September 27 Georgia October 11 Missouri October 18 @Arkansas October 25 Kentucky November 1 @Vanderbilt November 8 Mercer November 22 Alabama November 29 Hugh Freeze was named the 31st head football coach in Auburn's 129-year histo- ry on Nov. 28, 2022. An experienced head coach at the collegiate level for 13 years, Freeze has quickly elevated each program he's led, including Ole Miss and most re- cently, Liberty. The head coach at Liberty from 2019-22, Freeze led the Flames to four bowl games and a 34-15 record. Entering 2025, his on- field coaching record in 13 years is 108-52. Hugh Freeze Quick Facts Location: Auburn, Ala. Head Coach: Hugh Freeze (Southern Miss, ‘92) Stadium: Jordan-Hare Stadium (88,043) Last Meeting with UK: 10/26/24 in Lexington, Ky. Auburn 29, Kentucky 13 2024 Record: 5-7 Overall; 2-6 SEC Base Offense/Defense: RPO/3-3-5 Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 6/5 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 5/6 AUBURN FOOTBALL Auburn Tigers November 1 n TBA n Auburn, Ala. n Jordan-Hare Stadium Players to Watch Keldric FAULK106 n @UKFootball #66 n R-Senior n OL Jake SLAUGHTER #88 n R-Senior n DL 2025Schedule LIU August 30 South Florida September 6 @LSU September 13 @Miami September 20 Texas October 4 @Texas A&M October 11 Mississippi State October 18 Georgia (Jacksonville, Fla.) November 1 @Kentucky November 8 @Ole Miss November 15 Tennessee November 22 Florida State November 29 Billy Napier enters his fourth season with the Gators after being named the 29th head coach in program history on Nov. 28, 2021. In 2024, Napier led the Gators to a late-season charge, winning the last four games of the season. Florida finished in the top-25 in 10 NCAA statistical categories, including ninth in red zone defense (.725), ninth in passing yards per completion (14.11), 11th in team sacks (3.00) and 13th in turnovers gained. Billy Napier QuickFacts Location: Gainesville, Fla. Head Coach: Billy Napier (Furman, ‘02) Stadium: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88,548) Last Meeting with UK: 10/19/24 in Gainesville, Fla. Florida 48, Kentucky 20 2024 Record: 8-5 Overall; 4-4 SEC; defeated Tulane, 33-8, in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl Base Offense/Defense: Spread/3-4 Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 6/4 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 5/4 FLORIDA FOOTBALL Photos Courtesy of University of Florida Athletics Florida Gators November 8 n TBA n Lexington, Ky. n Kroger Field Game Sponsor Players to Watch Caleb BANKS@UKSportsNetwork n 107 #10 n Senior n WR D.J. LINKINS #20 n Graduate n DB 2025 Schedule Cumberlands August 30 Chattanooga September 6 Davidson September 13 @Tennessee State September 27 Western Illinois October 4 @Charleston Southern October 11 @Lindenwood October 18 Southeast Missouri October 25 Gardner-Webb November 1 @Eastern Illinois November 8 @Kentucky November 15 UT Martin November 22 In his second season at Tennessee Tech, Bobby Wilder, whose teams are known for their aggressive offense and stingy defenses, looks to build on his 2024 success. Last season he led the Golden Eagles to a share of the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association cham- pionship and its first seven-win season since 2011, ending the year with five con- secutive victories. Bobby Wilder Quick Facts Location: Cookeville, Tenn. Head Coach: Bobby Wilder (Maine, ‘87) Stadium: Tucker Stadium (16,500) Last Meeting with UK: 9/15/51 in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky 72, Tennessee Tech 13 2024 Record: 7-5; Overall; 6-2 OVC Base Offense/Defense: Pro/4-2-5 Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 5/6 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 7/4 TENNESSEE TECH FOOTBALL Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles November 15 n 1:30 p.m. n Lexington, Ky. n Kroger Field Game Sponsor Players to Watch Tim COUTRASNext >