Kentucky and Oklahoma both enter Saturday’s matchup in Norman with a long injury list, and each side has some notable names to track before kickoff.
Kentucky’s biggest concern is running back CJ Baxter, who is questionable after getting banged up in the second half against LSU. Baxter stayed in the game, finished it, and even found the end zone in overtime, but his status now hangs in the balance. Given how important he has been for the offense, his availability will matter.
The Wildcats do have encouraging news at wide receiver. Nic Anderson, who left the LSU game with a shoulder injury, is listed as probable and should be available unless something changes. Defensive tackle Kalen Edwards is also in question after missing last week.
There are several Kentucky players already ruled out or still unavailable. Linebacker Antwan Smith and cornerback Jaden Smith remain out after their injuries at South Carolina.
Linebacker Tavion Wallace, who has missed the last two weeks, is still out. Cornerback Grant Grayton is also out, while reserve defensive end Tyler Thomas is doubtful.
Reserve tight end Elijah Brown is questionable, and cornerback Hassan Sykes is probable.
Linebacker Alex Afari Jr. is another key name on the report. He is listed as questionable while working through the legal process in hopes of regaining eligibility. He is healthy, and if he is granted eligibility in court, he should be set to play Saturday.
Oklahoma’s report is just as busy. Left tackle Michael Fasusi is questionable as he works back from the shoulder injury that has kept him out since Week 1.
Starting left guard Eddy Pierre-Louis, who missed last week’s win over No. 1 Texas, is also questionable, as is backup lineman Fred Hinton.
The Sooners may also be without more help in the secondary. Cornerback Eli Bowen, who sat out last week, is questionable, while Jacobe Johnson has been ruled out after missing last week as well. Wide receiver Parker Livingstone is questionable.
On the plus side for Oklahoma, running back Tory Blaylock is probable, as is tight end Jack Van Dorselaer. The Sooners have also ruled out linebacker Taylor Heim, running back Xavier Robinson, tight end Trynae Washington, and wide receiver Trell Harris.
In Other News...
Kentucky Is Suddenly In The Hunt For 3 Program-Changing Recruits
Kentucky footballs recruiting push under Will Stein is starting to show up in a different part of the calendar, with the staff already making serious noise in the 2028 class. Multiple recruiting analysts have pointed to the Wildcats as a program to watch for wide receiver Jordan Anderson, defensive lineman Kellan Hall and cornerback Grayden Reid, three highly regarded prospects whose early profiles suggest the kind of talent that can reshape a class if it sticks.
What stands out for Kentucky is not just the names, but the scope of the effort behind them. Joe Price, Jay Bateman and Allen Brown have all been involved in the pursuit, giving the Wildcats a presence on both sides of the ball as they try to build relationships early with nationally ranked talent. It is still very early, of course, but Kentuckys active positioning with this group has turned what could have been routine long-range tracking into a genuine storyline worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Mark Popes First Kentucky Team Just Got An Early SEC Reality Check
Mark Popes first Kentucky team is only at the exhibition stage, with the Wildcats opening against Little Rock, but the preseason picture from SEC Media Days in Birmingham offered an early reminder of how crowded the league race could be. Kentucky was picked to finish seventh in the conference, even as two players earned spots on the preseason All-SEC teams, a sign that the roster has respect but still has ground to make up in a league that rarely gives anyone much margin.
The womens side drew a sturdier forecast, landing fifth in the SEC preseason poll, and Clara Strack was the Wildcats headliner after being named to the preseason All-SEC First Team. Between the mens and womens projections, Kentucky has enough recognition to suggest talent is in place, but the broader message out of Birmingham was clear: both teams will have to prove they belong higher once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Just Added A Familiar Face Big Blue Nation Will Love
Kentucky officially rounded out its mens basketball staff with a pair of additions that should feel familiar and reassuring in Lexington. Alfred Aboya joins as an assistant coach after working at NBA Academy Africa and with the Cameroon National Mens Basketball Team, while John Pelphrey is back in the program as Director of Player Development, bringing with him a long coaching rsum along with the cachet of being a former Kentucky player.
For a program that always draws attention to who is walking through the door, this is the kind of move that blends experience with a little nostalgia. Aboya adds international and developmental background to the bench, and Pelphreys return gives Big Blue Nation another link to the past while the Wildcats continue building out a staff meant to support the current roster. [Read more 🡒]