Paul Finebaum didn’t hold back when asked to size up the college football season’s early coaching story, and his answer landed on Kentucky’s first-year leader.
Appearing on The Matt Barrie Show, Finebaum pointed to the Wildcats’ unexpected surge and made his pick for the top coaching job through seven weeks. On Kentucky’s surprising run, he said, "I was playing the percentages yesterday, going, 'There's no way they can do this again.' But I forgot it was Oklahoma they were playing and they did."
Then came the endorsement. Finebaum said, "Will Stein is the Coach of the Year."
He added, "A year ago [Kentucky football] was comatose under a guy who had previously done a good job in Mark Stoops. Give the administration credit for saying, we're not just going to go with the stale bread.
We're going down to the corner bakery and get something right out of the oven"
Kentucky’s start under Stein has been the kind of turnaround that stops people in their tracks. The Wildcats, ranked No. 12, are 6-1, the best opening stretch for a Kentucky coach in more than 100 years. That’s a major flip from a program that had not finished above .500 in either of the previous two seasons and had stumbled to a combined 3-13 in SEC play in 2024 and 2025.
Stein arrived after serving as Oregon’s offensive coordinator. A Kentucky native whose father played for the Wildcats, he’s wasted no time changing the feel around the program.
The wins have come with some drama, too. Kentucky took back-to-back overtime games in Weeks 5 and 6, both by 35-34, and both times the Wildcats won the coin toss, chose to play defense first, then answered with a touchdown and a successful two-point conversion to finish it. Week 7 didn’t go to extra sessions, but it still required a comeback, with Kentucky rallying to beat Oklahoma 21-13.
Now sitting at 6-1, Kentucky is suddenly in the College Football Playoff conversation. ESPN’s FPI currently gives the Wildcats a 39.7% chance to make the Playoff, and that surge is exactly why Finebaum is putting Stein at the top of his coach-of-the-year list.
In Other News...
Kentucky Just Ran Into One Big Obstacle With Seneca Driver
Kentuckys road win over Oklahoma gave the Wildcats a little extra juice on the field, but it also came with a reminder that some recruiting battles are going to be harder to flip than others. Seneca Driver, a 5-star tight end prospect already pledged to the Sooners, made it clear he remains firm in that commitment, keeping Kentucky in the chase but not changing the shape of the race.
Drivers loyalty appears tied closely to Oklahoma tight ends coach Jason Witten, and he said his commitment is likely to hold as long as Witten is still on staff. Kentucky will keep working, because that is what elite programs do with a talent like Driver, but the Wildcats are trying to climb a steep hill here with a recruit who has already drawn a line around where he stands. [Read more 🡒]
Ty Bryant Had A Bigger Reason Behind His Huge Night At Oklahoma
Ty Bryants performance against Oklahoma stood out on the field, with the veteran Kentucky safety piling up two interceptions and nine tackles in a game that gave the Wildcats a much-needed spark. But the night carried a meaning beyond the box score, because Bryant also chose to use the moment to honor the memory of Neven Coofer, the 6-year-old child who recently passed away.
Bryant wore eye black reading Neven Forever 6 and stayed in touch with Nevens family before and after the game as a way of showing his support. For Kentucky, it was a reminder that some of the most powerful moments in football come from the reasons players carry onto the field with them, even when the game itself provides plenty of its own drama. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Suddenly Has A CJ Baxter Question It Can't Ignore
Kentuckys win over Oklahoma came with a little extra uncertainty attached, and it had everything to do with the backfield. Jason Patterson handled the load after CJ Baxter was held out because of an injury, giving the Wildcats a steady presence in a 21-13 victory that was sealed by two late John Mateer interceptions in Norman.
Will Stein said Baxter did warm up before the game, but the decision was made to rest him rather than risk making the injury worse. Kentucky now turns to Vanderbilt with the encouraging part being that Baxter is expected back, even if the Wildcats offense showed there is still a contingency plan if he needs it again. [Read more 🡒]