LIVE BLOG: Kentucky Football Spring Game
The first Spring Game of the Will Stein era at Kentucky takes place today at Kroger Field. It won’t be televised, streamed, or even broadcast on the radio, but KSR’s LIVE BLOG will bring you all the action.
Today’s intrasquad scrimmage kicks off at 11 a.m. ET. There will be four 15-minute quarters, with an optional running clock in the second half. The offense will wear blue and the defense white. Eyes will be on the skies, as thunderstorms are expected to move into the area this afternoon. In turn, the start of game two of Kentucky Baseball’s series vs. Vanderbilt at Kentucky Proud Park has been moved up to 11 a.m.
- 1Breaking
Holiday Hoops?
UK in talks for new, high-profile MTE
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UK-Gonzaga series
is over
- 3Hot
Miles Brown
4-star CB picks UK
- 4
Early Exit
at SECT for Bat Cats
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Savo Drezgić
UK in contact with former UGA guard
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Get ready for a high-scoring affair. Points won’t just be awarded for touchdowns, field goals, and extra points. The offense can get two points for conversions from the three-yard line and four points for conversions from the 10-yard line. The defense can also score. A defensive touchdown is still six points, a takeaway is six points, a forced punt is one point, and a three-and-out/turnover on downs is three points.
OFFENSE (Wearing Blue)
- Touchdown: 6 points
- Field Goal: 3 points
- Extra Point: 1 point
- Conversions (3-yard line): 2 points
- Conversions (10-yard line): 4 points
DEFENSE (Wearing White)
- Touchdown: 6 points
- Turnover: 6 points
- Forced Punt: 1 point
- Three-and-Out or Turnover on Downs: 3 points
We’ll have highlights and comments from Will Stein on the site after the game. In the meantime, refresh the feed below for updates from Kroger Field. You can also join the conversation on the KSBoard Game Thread.
A few pictures from Kroger Field
04/18/2026 11:13:16 AMWe’ll have a full photo gallery for you in a bit, but here are a few pictures to tide you over from Crawford Ifland.
FINAL: Blue 23, White 18
04/18/2026 11:05:26 AMWill Stein calls the scrimmage with dark storm clouds rolling in. Offense wins the day. Spring is over. The countdown to Week 1 starts now.
Wide receiver Shane Carr throws a touchdown pass
04/18/2026 10:59:09 AMThe drive with Jac’Qai Long at quarterback and the second team offensive line started with a Jamarrion Harkless sack before a big conversion on a Jason Patterson run. James Dalrymple then ripped off an explosive to create a red zone opportunity. The Cats find the endzone on a reverse pass. Shane Carr finds Kenny Darby wide open.
Blue 23, White 18
Defense and offense add three in the two-minute drill
04/18/2026 10:45:09 AMKentucky’s offense led by Brennen Ward fails to move the chains. That was three points for the defense. But the short drive gave Kenny Minchey another drive with 1:05 left. He leads a field goal drive. Minchey finds Willie Rodriguez up the seam for a big explosive play to create the scoring opportunity.
It’s halftime at Kroger Field.
Blue 16, White 15
Kenny Minchey runs one in on a scramble
04/18/2026 10:33:44 AMKenny Minchey leads Kentucky on another very long drive. The quarterback found Henry Boyer and Ja’Kayden Ferguson over the middle for some big conversions before a scramble ends the drive in the endzone.
Kentucky goes for a four-point play with a conversion from the 10-yard line. Minchey tosses an interception on a prayer throw across his body.
Blue 13, White 12
Defense scores with a three-and-out
04/18/2026 10:23:32 AMMarshall transfer JacQai Long took over on the fourth series of the game. The offense could get nothing going and had to punt after three snaps. The defense adds three on the scoreboard.
White 9, Blue 7
A long drive ends in a missed field goal
04/18/2026 10:20:19 AMKenny Minchey led his unit all the way down the field. Kentucky had a first-and-goal opportunity. Then two short runs led to a third down throwaway/sack. UK then missed a short field goal. That’s three points for the defense.
Blue 7, White 6
Some Kentucky football alumni are in the house
04/18/2026 10:19:20 AMDeone Walker and a few of his former Kentucky football teammates are taking in the action today.
Martels Carter Jr. finds the paint
04/18/2026 10:07:31 AMOn the second series, we had what appeared to be second unit vs. second unit. Brennen Ward found Mikkel Skinner wide open on a broken coverage to create a scoring opportunity. Then a fade incompletion to Brock Coffman create a low red zone possession. Martels Carter scores a touchdown a couple plays later. Offense had it on cruise control there.
Blue 7, White 3
Defense strikes first
04/18/2026 10:05:32 AMAfter a first down completion on a shallow drag to Willie Rodriguez, the offense sputters out. There were a pair of Kenny Minchey scrambles before a punt. The defense is up 3.
White 3, Blue 0
This was the first-team offensive line
04/18/2026 10:04:07 AMKenny Minchey took the field with Coleton Price (center), Tegra Tshabola (right guard), Olaus Alinen (left guard), Malachi Wood (right tackle), and Mark Robinson (left tackle). Robinson replaces Lance Heard.
Tristin Hughes commits to Kentucky
04/18/2026 09:57:47 AMHow about this for timing. The commitment that Will Stein teased this morning went live just before the spring game kickoff. Tristin Hughes is a Cat. This was a very big recruiting win for the program in Ohio.
We finally got to the see the mamba drill
04/18/2026 09:43:26 AMOne of the bigger developments of spring practice was hearing Will Stein and members of the Kentucky program discuss the mamba drill and the amount of juice it brings to the practice. We finally got to see it in action.
Kentucky lines up in the low red zone and essentially has one-on-one drills in front of the entire team. Stein is on the microphone the entire time providing play-by-play. There are routes into the endzone and pass pro vs. pass rush drills with line of scrimmage players.
The pace is fast. You can tell the players really love this drill.
Tristin Hughes is in the house
04/18/2026 09:32:29 AMCould four-star safety Tristin Hughes be the silent commit that Will Stein teased on Saturday morning? The Greater Cleveland native is in the building and hanging out with some Kentucky commits.
Another potential impact transfer is limited
04/18/2026 09:18:59 AMRedshirt freshman cornerback Andrew Purcell is also in a non-contact jersey. The same appears to be true of FCS transfer Shane Carr. The wide receiver received a ton of positive reviews this spring and will be limited today.
Expected starting nickel Aaron Gates is in non-contact jersey
04/18/2026 09:09:38 AMFlorida transfer Aaron Gates was a very notable pickup for Kentucky in the transfer portal. The defensive back is the heavy favorite to be the starting nickel for defensive coordinator Jay Bateman today.
Will Stein said there would be active players during the scrimmage who are not cleared for full contact. Gates is one of them. Jaden Smith is also out. Depth is thin in the slot.
Construction is ongoing at Kroger Field
04/18/2026 08:47:32 AMKentucky’s football facility is getting some upgrades this offseason. UK has ripped out all of the bleachers and ribbon video board on the visitor’s side. No one will be sitting over there today.
Weather Update from Will Stein
04/18/2026 08:14:39 AMCross your fingers that Mother Nature will let the Cats play ball. Will Stein just tweeted a weather update, saying that the team will play for as long as they can before risking injuries on a wet playing surface.
That’s not the only tweet Stein has sent this morning. Stein sent up the Cat Signal, meaning a commitment could be imminent.
Who could it be? The guest list for today’s game is impressive and includes four-star safety Tristan Hughes. He’s been trending toward Kentucky for a while.
Injury Report
04/18/2026 07:54:20 AMFifteen players are being held out of today’s game, including Tennessee transfer Lance Heard, arguably Kentucky’s biggest addition from the transfer portal.
- Nic Anderson
- Jovantae Barnes
- CJ Baxter
- Xavier Daisy
- Alex DiMartino
- Ben Duncum
- Hardley Gilmore IV
- Sam Greene
- Lance Heard
- Cameron Miller Jr.
- Kyle Mixon
- Tovani Mizell
- Davis McCray
- Aba Selm
- Jaden Smith
Heard, Nic Anderson, CJ Baxter, and Sam Greene could all be considered projected starters. Jovantae Barnes, Xavier Daisy, Hardley Gilmore IV, Aba Selm, and Jaden Smith were all in position to secure at least a rotational role this year entering spring camp.
Gameday Schedule
04/18/2026 07:49:12 AMParking lots at Kroger Field opened at 9 a.m. Gates to the stadium will open at 10 a.m., with warmups beginning shortly after. Will Stein teased a little 7-on-7 competition beginning at 10:15 a.m. ET. The game will kick off at 11 a.m.
Reminder: The Spring Game will NOT be broadcast
04/18/2026 07:42:09 AMIf you were hoping to pull up the game on TV or the radio, you’re unfortunately out of luck. The game will not be broadcast, meaning the only way you can see it is at Kroger Field. Tickets and parking are free. Fans must claim a free ticket before arriving or get one between gates 9 and 10 at Kroger Field. Tailgating will be allowed in the stadium parking lots.
If you can’t make it to Kroger Field, we’ll have you covered with updates here and on KSBoard.
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