NORMAN, OK - Kentucky wide receiver Nic Anderson gets another shot at a former team tonight, and this one comes right on the heels of last week’s reunion with LSU.
Anderson helped Kentucky knock off then-No. 10 LSU in overtime, a win that pushed the Wildcats to 15th in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 17 in the US LBM Football Coaches Poll. Now Kentucky (5-1, 3-1 SEC) heads into a road matchup at Oklahoma, where Anderson played the first three seasons of his college career from 2022-24.
On Oct. 7, Anderson said the transfer-portal era has made these kinds of games feel more routine.
"Definitely a new dynamic that is a little bit more common in this day and age," Anderson said Oct. 7, noting how often college players now take on former schools given the popularity of the transfer portal.
He also admitted the scheduling twist made him laugh.
"It's funny how it plays out," he said, "but ... preparation stays the same. Just can't wait to play."
Kentucky has the better record, but Oklahoma (3-2, 1-1) comes in as the betting favorite at home.
The game is set for Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma.
The SEC’s availability report added some late-game intrigue before kickoff. Five Kentucky players will sit out, and running back CJ Baxter and defensive lineman Kalen Edwards are game-time decisions. The Wildcats’ unavailable list includes wide receiver Parker Livingstone, linebacker Taylor Heim, wide receiver Trell Harris, running back Xavier Robinson, tight end Trynae Washington, defensive back Eli Bowen, defensive back Jacobe Johnson, offensive lineman Eddy Pierre-Louis, offensive lineman Michael Fasusi and offensive lineman Heath Ozaeta.
The latest report from Friday night listed seven Kentucky players as out, with Baxter and tight end Elijah Brown marked questionable. Oklahoma is expected to be without the same group of seven players: Parker Livingstone, Taylor Heim, Trell Harris, Xavier Robinson, Trynae Washington, Eli Bowen and Jacobe Johnson. Three Sooners offensive linemen - Eddy Pierre-Louis, Michael Fasusi and Heath Ozaeta - are doubtful.
Picks around the pregame television shows leaned Oklahoma’s way, though not by a landslide. ESPN’s "College GameDay" split its picks, but the Sooners got three of the five votes.
Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit and Nick Saban all picked Oklahoma, while Pat McAfee and special guest picker Steve Young chose Kentucky. On "SEC Nation," the call was more decisive: Chase Daniel, Paul Finebaum and Tim Tebow went with Oklahoma, while Roman Harper stood alone on Kentucky’s side.
Kentucky’s 2026 schedule continues after tonight with Vanderbilt on Oct. 24, then a trip to Tennessee on Nov. 7. The Wildcats also have Florida, Missouri and Louisville remaining later in the season.
In Other News...
Kentucky Catches A Break As Oklahoma Faces A Major Concern
Oklahomas upset of Texas gave the Sooners a fresh burst of momentum heading into Week 7, but the mood around Norman has shifted quickly with Kentucky coming to town. A pair of starting offensive linemen, Michael Fasusi and Eddy Pierre-Louis, were listed as doubtful on the SEC injury report, and that is the sort of development Kentucky will notice immediately when it studies the tape.
For a Wildcats defense that is trying to stay organized against a team coming off one of its biggest wins of the season, the health of Oklahomas front could matter just as much as the emotion from last weekend. If the Sooners are forced to shuffle up front, it could alter the way they protect the quarterback and handle Kentuckys pressure, leaving one more thing to monitor before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Just Added Real Intrigue To Its Oklahoma Trip
Kentuckys Week 7 trip to Oklahoma already carried a little extra edge, and the Wildcats made it feel more personal by announcing four captains for the game. Senior wide receiver Nic Anderson, senior defensive back Ty Bryant, senior defensive lineman Tavion Gadson, and senior running back Jovantae Barnes will represent the team when it takes the field in Norman.
Anderson and Barnes both bring a familiar twist to the matchup, since each spent time at Oklahoma before ending up in Lexington. Their presence adds another layer to a game that was already going to draw plenty of attention, giving Kentucky a pair of veterans who know the setting well as the Wildcats head into one of the more interesting road trips on their schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Rotation Already Has A Trent Noah Problem
Kentucky is already sorting through the early-season ripple effects of a rotation that has not had much time to settle. Milan Momcilovic has moved past a finger injury and was back on the floor against Little Rock, while Jerone Morton is still working his way back from a knee injury and is set to be re-evaluated in several weeks. In the frontcourt, Kam Williams is nearing the point where he can be cleared to practice after a second foot surgery, which gives the staff at least one more piece to monitor as the schedule keeps moving.
The tougher question centers on Trent Noah, who is still trying to get fully healthy from a hamstring injury. Mark Pope has stressed how important Williams return could be, especially with Noahs recovery still limiting what Kentucky can count on from that spot. For a team trying to build rhythm in November, the balance between getting players back and avoiding setbacks is already shaping the rotation before it has a chance to stabilize. [Read more 🡒]