What will Kentucky football's final regular-season record be in 2026?

LEXINGTON — Kentucky football coach Will Stein is living a charmed existence. In his first season with the Wildcats, he's 7-1. With a 5-1 record in SEC games, UK is in first place in the conference.Even better for Stein's squad: It has a little extra time to enjoy the current state of affairs. This week marks its only open date of the 2026 season.Life couldn't be more different for the man who succeeded Stein, however.Drew Mehringer was tabbed to replace Stein as Oregon's offensive coordinator. Just seven games into his tenure as OC, Mehringer is gone. Ducks coach Dan Lanning dismissed Mehringer on Oct. 25.Yet even while Stein and the Cats have far exceeded outsiders' expectations so far — they were picked to finish 14th in the 16-team league this fall — there's a sense among those within the program they still haven't received enough recognition. Yes, Kentucky is ranked in the top 10 in the latest editions of the two major polls (No. 8 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, No. 9 in Associated Press Top 25). But they remain behind teams that, on paper, haven't accomplished as much this season. Per ESPN, UK has the country's best resume, as of Oct. 25.The Wildcats vow they'll forge on."Everyone still doubts us, and we know that," senior defensive back Ty Bryant said Oct. 24 after the team's 34-17 victory over Vanderbilt. "We try not to feed into any of that, but shoot, man. We've just got to continue to do what we do and put one foot in front of the other."With eight games in the books for Kentucky, here are our game-by-game predictions for the team's final four regular-season contests:Kentucky predictions for 2026 college football seasonNov. 7: Kentucky vs. TennesseeLocation: Neyland Stadium; Knoxville, TennesseeAbout the game: Before Tennessee fell in last-second fashion to South Carolina on Oct. 14, the matchup with Kentucky was set to be a top-10 battle. But the Volunteers (6-2, 3-2) remain in the rankings. Like UK, UT doesn't play this week. Which team will be able to put the open date to better use? History certainly isn't on the Wildcats' side. The Vols have a commanding edge in the all-time series, ahead 86-26-9. Since Kentucky's 17-12 win in 1984, it has just three more victories (2011, 2017 and 2020) in the last 41 meetings. On top of that: The Cats are just 11-45-6 against the Vols in Knoxville. Stein has already made plenty of history this season. But a desperate Tennessee team that can't afford another loss if it wants to make the College Football Playoff is poised to eke out a narrow victory over the visitors.Score prediction: Tennessee 20, Kentucky 17.Nov. 14: Kentucky vs. FloridaLocation: Kroger Field, LexingtonAbout the game: Which Florida team will show up in Lexington on Nov. 14? The one that notched notable wins over Auburn, Ole Miss and Texas? Or the one that showed little fight in losses to Missouri and South Carolina? At their best, the Gators can beat anyone. At their worst, they can be run off the field. In a game that means plenty for Kentucky's fanbase given Florida coach Jon Sumrall's ties to UK as an alum and former assistant, the Wildcats will escape with another dramatic win at home.Score prediction: Kentucky 31, Florida 28..oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}Courier Journal Sports (@courierjournal_sports) • Instagram photos and videosNov. 21: Kentucky vs. MissouriLocation: Memorial Stadium, Columbia, MissouriAbout the game: At the outset of the season, we predicted the Tigers would win this game because of running back Ahmad Hardy. He was a first-team All-America performer in 2025. But he's still yet to play this fall as he recovers from a gunshot wound. In fact, he hasn't even returned to practice. In his absence, Jamal Roberts has picked up the slack: He leads the league in rushing yards per game (123.9), as of Oct. 25. But given Hardy's uncertain status, and with so much on the line for UK — note that Mizzou tangles with Texas and Georgia in the two weeks prior to welcoming Kentucky to town — at this juncture, give the nod to Stein's bunch.Score prediction: Kentucky 31, Missouri 20.Nov. 28: Kentucky vs. LouisvilleLocation: Kroger Field, LexingtonAbout the game: No game will mean more to Stein, on a personal level, than the Governor's Cup. Stein has history with Louisville's football program (he's an alum). And a direct connection to the Derby City as a whole (he's a native and was a star signal-caller for powerhouse Trinity High). With playoff positioning on the line, Kentucky won't walk off the field disappointed in its regular-season finale. That it snaps a two-game skid in this series is merely icing on the cake for Stein and the Wildcats.Score prediction: Kentucky 49, Louisville 35.Final projected record: 10-2 (7-2 SEC).oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: What will Kentucky football's final regular-season record be in 2026?