⚡ CFB Dashboard

- C.J. Baxter carried nine times for 48 yards and two touchdowns in limited work during Kentucky's opener against Youngstown State, reaching the end zone for the first time since 2023 after injuries cost him all of 2024 and four games at Texas last season. - Kentucky tight end Mikkel Skinner caught four passes for 61 yards and his first college touchdown and added a three-yard carry against Youngstown State, showing a larger offensive role after four appearances without a catch last season.

- Injury: Earlier this week, Kentucky football head coach Will Stein confirmed that running back Jovantae Barnes is cleared and ready to compete in the Cats' SEC opener against Alabama.

- Injury: Don't miss your chance to join in on the fun and leave your predictions for how this SEC opener will play out

- Injury: Kentucky football and head coach Will Stein released the first availability report of the season on Wednesday ahead of Saturday's matchup with Alabama.

- Kentucky projected starting tackle Malachi Wood was absent from Wednesday's Alabama availability report after missing the opener, with the article reporting him fully cleared to play rather than still awaiting a game-time decision. - Kentucky starting cornerbacks Hasaan Sykes and Terhyon Nichols were also absent from the availability report and reported cleared for Alabama after missing the Youngstown State game. - Kentucky running back Jovantae Barnes was reported cleared for Alabama after sitting out the opener, while Tovani Mizell's previously announced season-ending camp injury remains a separate backfield absence. - Kentucky offensive lineman Jay Clark was ruled out and Max Anderson plus Aba Selm were listed questionable, with none of those three having played in the opener despite Kentucky using ten offensive linemen. - Kentucky freshman defensive back Andre Clarke Jr. was listed questionable for Alabama after also not appearing against Youngstown State, so the staff's broader full-strength expectation does not mean every reserve is available.

- Injury: Over the summer, former Kentucky football running back Dante Dowdell reportedly suffered severe injuries following an ATV accident near his hometown of Picayune, Mississippi.

- Defense: Worth mentioning, a UK spokesperson has confirmed that Terhyon Nichols and Hasaan Sykes are both OUT for this game, not just waiting.

- Injury: While Kentucky fans were mostly satisfied with the Cats' season-opening 45-13 win over Youngstown State, there were a few imperfections.

- Pick/market: LEXINGTON, Ky.

- The UK defense stepped up huge on the Tide’s first possession. - Grant Godfrey forced Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell into an intentional grounding call. - The second down play saw Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace tackle Alabama’s Daniel Hill for a two-yard loss. - Then on third down, Humphrey-Grace tipped Russell’s pass into the air, caught it and dove into the end zone for a touchdown. - Adam Zouagui added the PAT and Kentucky led...

- Offense: The only reason the pass defense didn't bother me as much was due to Hasaan Sykes and Terhyon Nichols being out.

- Intel: After further review, Hill stepped out of bounds at the 3-yard line.

- LB: Talked to someone today who said they did a lot of sound tests this summer with the new on-field speakers, etc., and it was great, but having 60K people in the stadium may have...

- Intel: Sorry, I don't know why the format changed to a gallery this morning, but it should be fixed now.

- Intel: TOUCHDOWN KENTUCKY It's CJ Baxter AGAIN, this time from five yards out.