Kentucky’s rise into the AP Top 25 might have sparked a little buzz around the fan base, but Will Stein isn’t letting the number do any talking inside his program.
The Wildcats landed at No. 24 in the week four AP poll after their win at then-No. 9 Texas A&M, a result that pushed them from 98 votes and the No. 27 spot the week before into ranked territory.
For BBN, it was a welcome milestone after just four games. For Stein, it was something else entirely.
“I mean, not really,” Stein said when asked if the ranking meant much to him. “I think it's more important for the fans than anything.”
That fits the message he’s been preaching from the start: keep the focus on the next Saturday, not on where the national media slots Kentucky in a poll. Stein made it clear that the number next to a team’s name doesn’t change the standard.
“Our guys got to go play well,” he said. “I'm not really sure why they rank people this early in the season.
There's a lot of games left, and so it's about playing well on Saturdays. Not letting that dictate how we play.
We should play our standard regardless.”
That mindset hasn’t budged even with the recognition attached. Kentucky didn’t have a vote or much outside belief heading into College Station, then turned in a stronger, cleaner performance from start to finish against the No.
9 Aggies. The Wildcats also didn’t have national attention when they unraveled at times against South Alabama, trailing the Jaguars during stretches before eventually pulling away for a 45-21 win.
Stein’s point was simple: the label only matters if the play matches it.
Even when told he is the first Kentucky coach since Blanton Collier in 1954, who immediately followed Bear Bryant, to get an AP Top 25 ranking in his first season, Stein didn’t lean into the historical angle.
“It really doesn't mean much,” he said. “What's going to mean more to me is how we play this Saturday in Columbia and continuing to improve.
That's a sign to me of a good program, good football team. You get better each week.
Felt like we improved in spots this past game, but not at where I wanted to be, so we got an opportunity again this week to get better and go prove it on the field.”
That’s the coach answer, and it’s the right one. The AP poll is just a media vote. It doesn’t decide bowl games, College Football Playoff positioning or Kentucky’s matchup this week in Columbia.
And it can disappear as quickly as it arrived.
Kentucky heads to Williams-Brice Stadium to face South Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 3.
Kickoff is set for 4:15 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
The unranked Gamecocks are favored by 2.5 points over No. 24 Kentucky.
In Other News...
Kentuckys Offense May Hinge On One Thing Fans Arent Watching Yet
Mark Pope sounds encouraged about where Kentuckys offense could be headed in 2026-27, and the reason is pretty easy to understand. The Wildcats should have a group with real shooting punch, led by Milan Momcilovic and other capable perimeter threats, which gives Pope a foundation to build around as he shapes the next version of the roster. From a talent standpoint, the spacing potential is there, and that alone should matter to anyone trying to project how this team will score.
Still, Popes focus goes beyond just making shots. He has also pointed to cutting as a major part of the offense, which suggests Kentucky wants to create easier looks and keep defenses moving even on nights when the ball may not be flying in from deep. The shot-making will draw the headlines, but the way the Wildcats combine that shooting with disciplined movement could end up telling the bigger story of how effective this offense really becomes. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Heads Into South Carolina With Receiver Uncertainty And Thin Depth
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There was at least one small positive on the report, with Tavion Gadson not listed, a sign he may be available. South Carolina, meanwhile, is dealing with its own personnel questions, as Stewart is suspended and Brownlow-Dindy remains uncertain after sitting out the previous game, so both sides head into the matchup without a full picture of who will actually be on the field when kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys South Carolina Prep Suddenly Has A Receiver Concern
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The bigger concern on offense, though, is the receiver group, where the Wildcats now have to account for a potential absence that could affect how they plan the passing game. With a busy Kentucky sports weekend ahead and basketball-related events also on the calendar, the football staff will keep its focus on cleaning up the picture before kickoff and waiting for the next update on who will be available. [Read more 🡒]