Steve Zahn is keeping one foot in Kentucky football and the other in Hollywood.
The longtime Wildcats fan made a recent stop at practice to help push the second season of his Hulu series, Chad Powers, with a little assist from new coach Will Stein and the players. Zahn, who has been connected to Kentucky since meeting his wife, Bluegrass native Robyn Peterman, and moving to a horse farm in Georgetown, has stayed close to the program for years. He even once filmed a UK Sports Network video pretending to be then-offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello.
This latest visit had a different setup, but the same playful energy. Zahn shared the video on his social media accounts, where Stein introduced him to the team as Jake Hudson from the University of South Georgia - the character Zahn plays in the show.
Zahn, in full Coach Hudson mode, delivered a short pep talk aimed mostly at getting the Cats to tune in when the series returns on September 3. Stein also walked away with a USG Catfish hat as a souvenir.
If you haven’t seen Chad Powers, the setup comes from a viral 2022 sketch in which former NFL quarterback Eli Manning used prosthetics, a wig and makeup to pass himself off as a walk-on at a Penn State football tryout. Glen Powell stars as Powers in the Hulu version, which premiered last fall, with Zahn playing the coach Powell fools to get onto the team.
Zahn also did some homework for the role by shadowing Mark Stoops at Kentucky. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, he said he was struck by how Stoops could snap from barking instructions at players to polite conversation in an instant. That interview ran in mid-October 2025, and Zahn talked about the pressure facing Stoops and other college coaches - a point that landed with extra force after Stoops was fired just a month and a half later.
“You got to win,” Zahn said. “And if you don’t win, you’re on the hot seat.
And how long can you sit on that seat? And then boosters get pissed.
I thought my job was hectic. It’s nothing.
It’s a breeze compared to these guys.”
Kentucky fans now have two dates circled: just one week until Season 2 of Chad Powers premieres, and just nine days until they get their first look at Game 1 of the Will Stein era.
In Other News...
Kentucky Could Be Getting A Defensive Boost At The Perfect Time
Sam Greenes return is starting to feel less like a long-shot recovery story and more like a real depth chart development for Kentucky. The senior outside linebacker, who was lost for the season after an ACL injury last November, has been working his way back toward full participation while staying around the program and using the rehab stretch to sharpen his understanding of the defense.
Greenes approach has kept him plugged in even while he was unable to take the field, with a heavy emphasis on mental preparation and film study as he learned Jay Batemans system. For a defense that could use experienced help, his progress comes at a time when Kentucky would welcome another veteran presence at linebacker and another player ready to absorb the scheme without much lag. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Is Finally Addressing A Kroger Field Frustration Fans Know Too Well
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There is also a little extra buzz around the opener, where the program is planning a White Out theme and ticket sales are already close to a sellout. For a fan base that has had its share of complaints about the stadium experience, the timing of these upgrades matters, especially with the season about to begin and expectations building around how the atmosphere will look and sound from the first snap. [Read more 🡒]
Mark Stoops Is Sending Kentucky Fans A Clear Camp Message
Kentuckys latest fall camp look offered more than the usual practice clips and sideline chatter. The Wildcats released an All-Access video from the third week of camp that showed Mark Stoops addressing the team, along with highlights from practice and interviews with staff and players, giving fans a better sense of where the program stands as the season approaches.
Stoops used the moment to stress the need to seize opportunities, and he also reflected on how the team has responded after taking criticism earlier in the year. The video carried a heavier note as well, with a tribute to redshirt freshman Nic Smith, who passed away in June, adding a reminder that camp has been about more than football in Lexington. [Read more 🡒]