Kentucky’s preseason stock got a boost after Mark Mitchell’s commitment, and the new rankings reflect it.
Mitchell, a top-10 transfer, landed with the Wildcats on Saturday after receiving his eligibility in a case against the NCAA. A Louisville judge granted an injunction in that case, giving him the chance to pursue an additional year of college basketball. For Kentucky, it was another significant late-offseason addition to a roster that already looks deeper and more dangerous on offense, as long as Mitchell remains eligible.
The Wildcats have also been climbing in the eyes of national voters who keep updating their preseason slates before the games begin in mid-October. Gary Parrish of CBS Sports and Jon Rothstein are among those routinely adjusting their lists, and both bumped Kentucky upward after the Mitchell news.
CBS Sports moved Kentucky to No. 12, up four spots from No. 16.
“Is the third-year UK coach’s seat still hot? Honestly, yes.
A nice season is likely required to restore confidence among diehard fans, and recruiting wins guarantee nothing in that regard. But, that acknowledged, there’s no denying Pope and his staff regrouped impressively from their early misses by luring rotation piece Malachi Moreno out of the 2026 NBA Draft and adding Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic. Then Saturday delivered the latest bit of good news when former Duke and Missouri standout Mark Mitchell committed to the Wildcats one day after receiving a temporary restraining order to pursue a fifth season of college basketball via a Jefferson Circuit Court ruling in Kentucky.
Mitchell averaged 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 33.8 minutes per game at Missouri last season. His addition to Kentucky’s roster has the Wildcats up to No. 12 in Version 24 of the 2026-27 CBS Sports Top 25 and 1 preseason college basketball rankings.”
Rothstein also nudged Kentucky up, placing the Wildcats at No. 15, a two-spot rise from No. 17.
He projects a starting five of G Zoom Diallo, G Alex Wilkins, F Mark Mitchell, F Milan Momcilovic and C Malachi Moreno. On the bench, he lists Mason Williams, Ousmane N’Diaye, Trent Noah, Zyon Hawthorne, Brayden Hawthorne, Justin McBride, Jerone Morton, Franck Kepnang and Kam Williams.
In Other News...
Louisville Just Gave Kentucky Fans Fresh Rivalry Ammo
A new fanbase study has given Kentucky supporters a little extra ammunition for the annual back-and-forth with Louisville, and it comes from an unlikely place: Reddit. Andy Whiteoak of Covers.com dug through thousands of posts to rank the vulgarity of college football fanbases across the FBS, and the results put Louisville near the top of the list while also showing a pretty wide gap between the in-state rivals.
For Kentucky fans, the most useful part may be less about the exact ranking and more about the company Louisville kept. The Cardinals were the only ACC school in the top 10, while several other league schools landed among the least vulgar fanbases, a contrast that should give the rivalry another easy jab the next time the two sides trade barbs. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Has A New Reason To Push Hard For Seneca Driver
Seneca Driver keeps giving Kentucky plenty to think about. The highly ranked Boyle County tight end was one of the most dynamic players on the field in a 35-0 win over Bryan Station, showing once again why he has become such an important in-state recruiting target for the Wildcats. Kentucky coach Will Stein has made it clear he wants to keep elite prospects close to home, and Drivers blend of size, skill and playmaking makes him exactly the kind of player the program cannot afford to let get too far away.
The complication, of course, is that Driver is already committed elsewhere, and that only raises the stakes for Kentuckys pursuit. Even with a pledge in place, the Wildcats are continuing to push, hoping to change the conversation before signing day. For a program trying to build its future around top local talent, Driver is the sort of recruit worth the effort, which is why his latest standout performance may have only sharpened Kentuckys focus. [Read more 🡒]
Will Levis Just Hit A Tough New Turn In The NFL
Will Levis NFL path took another sharp turn this week when Tennessee moved on from the former Kentucky quarterback, ending his run with the Titans after three seasons. A second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Levis had worked his way into 21 starts for the franchise, but an injury kept him off the field last season and the teams quarterback picture changed again with the arrival of Cam Ward, who won the starting job.
Levis has still been outspoken about his belief in what he can bring at the next level, and now the challenge is finding the right landing spot to keep that case alive. He is expected to look for another opportunity elsewhere, with the kind of opening that could start on a practice squad or in an emergency role, but the next step will say plenty about how the league still views a former Wildcat with starting experience. [Read more 🡒]