Before Saturday’s kickoff, Kentucky’s running back picture looked like it would belong to Jovantae Barnes and CJ Baxter.
That was the plan, at least on paper. Barnes and Baxter were supposed to form a two-man answer in the backfield, but both have spent too much time dealing with injuries. Baxter missed all of the 2024 season and nearly half of the 2025 season, while Barnes has now missed 12 games across his last 3 seasons in college after sitting out the game against Youngstown State.
Will Stein didn’t exactly sound sold on the room when Barnes was ruled out, either.
”I feel okay. I don’t feel great, I don’t feel bad…CJ’s had a really good last three weeks.
He’s out there practicing every single rep. I think Jason Patterson has gotten significantly better from when we first got him, especially within our scheme.”
By the end of Saturday, though, Stein had plenty to chew on.
Baxter opened the Will Stein era by scoring the first two touchdowns, helping Kentucky jump out to a 14-0 lead in less than 10 minutes. But Jason Patterson made sure he was part of the conversation, too.
Patterson ran for 78 yards on 11 carries and added one catch for 16 yards.
Baxter’s résumé still carries weight, and he didn’t have a bad day by any means. Still, Patterson’s showing may have changed the shape of the depth chart.
It may be time for Patterson to take the heavier load, with Baxter working more as the change-of-pace option rather than the other way around. Martels Carter Jr. also flashed in the fourth quarter.
Here’s how the backfield distribution played out in Game 1:
In Other News...
Will Stein Gets An Early Kentucky Test Fans Will Obsess Over
The early part of Will Steins first season at Kentucky is about to meet the kind of barometer fans circle on the calendar. Alabama comes to Lexington in Week 2 as a 10.5-point favorite, with traders giving the Crimson Tide a 78% chance to win and the over/under sitting at 49.5 points, a number that suggests the matchup could still have plenty of movement if Kentucky can make it uncomfortable.
For Stein, the appeal is obvious. This is the sort of SEC test that can shape how a new coach is viewed in a hurry, especially against an Alabama program that has won eight straight in the series dating back to 2003. Kentucky does not need a miracle to make the game matter, but it does need a result that changes the conversation, and that is why this one will have fans watching every snap with a little extra edge. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Is Trusting Its Own Read On Alex Wilkins
Alex Wilkins arrived at Kentucky with the kind of rsum that invites debate. The 6-foot-5 guard showed real production as a freshman at Furman, scoring and creating for others in a way that made him an obvious transfer name, even as some of the broader analytics around his profile remained mixed because of his turnover rate and other red flags. That disconnect is part of what makes his move to Lexington interesting: Kentuckys staff did not simply chase the numbers, they layered them with scouting and their own eyes before deciding he was worth the bet.
For a program that lives under a microscope, trusting that internal read matters. Wilkins has already been the subject of the kind of analytical scrutiny that can follow a player from college to the NBA, with Jaylen Brown-style comparisons surfacing in the discussion, but Kentuckys evaluation leaned on more than spreadsheet debate. The Wildcats believed the fit was there, and now the question is whether that conviction holds up once Wilkins is asked to translate his skill set to a bigger stage. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Backfield Could Be A Real SEC Problem If It Holds Up
Kentuckys offense looked more like a group with answers than one searching for an identity in its win over Youngstown State, leaning on both the passing game and a steady ground attack to keep things moving. The backfield, in particular, stood out as a source of balance, with CJ Baxter and Jason Patterson both making their presence felt and Patterson finishing as the teams top rusher.
The bigger question is whether that kind of production can hold up once the schedule tightens and the physical toll starts to matter more. Will Stein sounded encouraged about the position group after the game, but he also knows the Wildcats need that depth to stay intact if they want the offense to keep looking this versatile against SEC competition. [Read more 🡒]