Kentucky
College football Week 3 picks: Kentucky-Georgia, IU-UCLA, WKU-Middle Tennessee, more
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It’s still early, but we have a four-way tie at the top of the standings for our Courier Journal sports staff weekly college football picks.
Everyone suffered a Week 2 loss with Kentucky’s 25-point setback against South Carolina at Kroger Field.
While Ryan Black, C.L. Brown, Alexis Cubit and Jason Frakes are tied for first place, sports director Natalie Pierre remains at the bottom of the standings.
Here’s a look at this week’s picks. As is our custom, predictions are straight-up winners and losers (not against the spread), with rankings based on the latest US LBM Coaches Poll. All times listed are ET.
How to watch: Noon Saturday, ESPNU
The picks: Six for Cincinnati and two for Miami (Pierre and Black)
This will be the 128th meeting between these two in the Battle for the Victory Bell. The rivalry’s first game was played in 1888 and Saturday’s matchup will break a series tie, 60-60-7. Last season, Miami snapped its 16-game losing streak in the series with a 31-24 overtime win against Cincinnati. It was the first time the RedHawks won the bell since 2005.
C.L.’s picks against the spread: Will Kentucky cover in its Week 3 home game against No. 1 Georgia?
How to Watch: 3:30 p.m. Saturday, CBS
The picks: Eight for Notre Dame
Notre Dame opened the season with an impressive win over Texas A&M but followed that up with a 16-14 loss to Northern Illinois. The Irish are 28-14-2 when playing at Purdue and have won the last eight against the Boilermakers. Hudson Card completed 24 of 25 passes and threw four touchdowns in Purdue’s 49-0 season-opening win over Indiana State.
How to watch: 7 p.m. Saturday, ESPN+
The picks: Eight for Western Kentucky
Western Kentucky is coming off a 31-0 shutout at home against in-state rival Eastern Kentucky. WKU beat Middle Tennessee, 31-10, last season to improve to 37-35-1 in the “100 Miles of Hate” rivalry. The two programs first faced each other in 1914, but they didn’t meet from 1992-2006.
How to watch: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, ABC
The picks: Eight for Georgia
Kentucky is trying to get its first SEC win after falling to South Carolina at home in its league opener. The Wildcats gained 183 yards of total offense with 44 passing yards against the Gamecocks. No. 1 Georgia has prevented its first two opponents from scoring a touchdown and is coming off a 31-point win over a ranked Clemson team.
How to watch: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, NBC
The picks: Five for Indiana and three for UCLA (Brown, Cubit and Frakes)
Indiana scored a program-high 77 points last week in a win against Western Illinois. Ten different Hoosiers scored a touchdown as the offense rushed for 335 yards and passed for 378 yards. This is the first meeting between these two programs on the football field. This is UCLA’s first season in the Big Ten.
The standings
1 (tie) – Ryan Black (last week 4-1), 9-1
1 (tie) – C.L. Brown (last week 4-1), 9-1
1 (tie) – Alexis Cubit (last week 4-1), 9-1
1 (tie) – Jason Frakes (last week 4-1), 9-1
5 (tie) – Richard Barak (last week 3-2), 8-2
5 (tie) – Brooks Holton (last week 3-2), 8-2
5 (tie) – Prince James Story (last week 3-2), 8-2
8 – Natalie Pierre (last week 3-2), 7-3
Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at pstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.
Coming off a disappointing loss against the Michigan State Spartans, it was another true test for the North Carolina Tar Heels on Tuesday night against the Kentucky Wildcats.
It was the Tar Heels’ first true road game of the season at Rupp Arena. Can No. 16 North Carolina silence the doubters with a win over No. 18 Kentucky?
North Carolina’s struggles in the second half against Michigan State carried over into the first five minutes against Kentucky. The Tar Heels went 2-of-7 to open the game, leading to a 10-4 deficit at the first media timeout.
It was a swift recovery by North Carolina, as they went on a 14-7 run in the ensuing four-minute stretch, connecting on 5-of-8 shot attempts during that span. The Tar Heels would lead 18-17 with a little over 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
Both teams went through a dry spell, but Kentucky forced two steals, which led to consecutive transition dunks by Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen. The Wildcats are eighth in the nation in fast-break points this season, and that has shown in the first 12 minutes. That quick spurt resulted in the Wildcats leading 23-20 with 7:18 remaining.
Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar were uncharacteristically inefficient, combining for 13 points while collectively shooting 5-of-19. However, the Tar Heels’ bench stepped up with 10 points from Jonathan Powell and Derek Dixon.
On the hand, Kentucky failed to make one three in the first half, missing all of its eight attempts from beyond the arc. The two bloods would be knotted at 31 at the half.
On Monday, head coach Hubert Davis emphasized controlling the boards, and that message resonated with his players. North Carolina stayed in striking distance with their dominance on the boards. The Tar Heels were down 43-42 with 14:46 remaining in the game, and without 15 offensive rebounds, North Carolina would be down by nearly double digits.
When it felt like Kentucky would pull away, the Tar Heels would string together a couple of stops with a pair of made shots. Veesaar was beginning to impose his will, scoring five straight points. Despite that, the Wildcats would still lead 53-49 with 7:39 remaining. Neither team could buy a basket for nearly four minutes.
Kentucky went over nine minutes without a made field goal, which allowed North Carolina to crawl back into the game and regain ground on the Wildcats. With 3:47 remaining in the game, the two teams were tied 56-56.
Oweh would finally end the Wildcats’ scoring drought, driving to the rim on a tough layup, taking a 59-58 lead with 2:37 left in the game. Luka Bogavac would respond with a clutch three in the corner, which was assisted by Wilson, who recognized the help defender leaving Bogavac open.
Dixon was monumental in the final minute of the game, hitting a go-ahead three-point shot with 54 seconds left. Kentucky’s guard Collin Chandler would respond with a game-tying layup on the next possession. However, Dixon would strike again with a blow-by layup, giving the Tar Heels a 66-64 lead with 12.4 seconds remaining.
Chandler would drive to the basket again, creating a good look for himself, but failed to convert the layup. Wilson would corral the rebound before being fouled with 2.8 seconds on the clock. Wilson would make one-of-two free throws, giving North Carolina a 67-64 lead. The freshman forward would then ice the game with a steal.
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Inside Christmas pop-up bar Merry at the Marriott in Louisville
Merry at the Marriott is just one of the many holiday pop-up bars in Louisville. Check out the festive cocktails and food they are offering.
As college students head into the final stretch of the academic semester, the approaching holiday season gives many a chance to rest and reset. Winter break is on the horizon for Kentucky’s colleges and universities.
Here’s a schedule of winter break dates to know.
Asbury University winter break
Winter break is from Friday, Dec. 12 through Sunday, Jan. 11, according to the university’s calendar.
Bellarmine University winter break
Bellarmine University is on winter break from Friday, Dec. 12 through Sunday, Jan. 4, according to the academic calendar.
Berea College winter break 2025
According to the college’s academic calendar, winter break is from Saturday, Dec. 13 through Sunday, Jan. 11.
Centre College winter break
Centre College is on winter break from Saturday, Dec. 13 through Sunday, Jan. 4, according to the 2025-26 academic calendar.
Eastern Kentucky University winter break
Winter break is from Monday, Dec. 8 through Saturday, Dec. 13, according to the university’s academic calendar. A winter semester begins on Monday, Dec. 15, but those taking spring semester classes only will return on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
Jefferson Community & Technical College winter break
Jefferson Community & Technical College is on winter break from Monday, Dec. 15 through Sunday, Jan. 11, according to the academic calendar.
Kentucky State University winter break 2025
Winter break is from Friday, Dec. 19 to Friday, Jan. 2, according to the 2025-26 academic calendar.
Morehead State University winter break
Morehead State University is on winter break from Friday, Dec. 19 through Sunday, Jan. 11, according to the university calendar.
Northern Kentucky University winter break
According to the 2025-26 academic calendar, winter break is from Saturday, Dec. 13 through Sunday, Jan. 11.
Spalding University winter break
Winter break is from Wednesday, Dec. 24 through Sunday, Jan. 4, according to the university calendar.
University of Kentucky winter break 2025
The University of Kentucky is on winter break from Friday, Dec. 19 through Sunday, Jan. 11, according to the 2025-26 calendar.
University of Louisville winter break
According to the academic calendar, the University of Louisville is on winter break from Wednesday, Dec. 10 through Tuesday, Jan. 6.
Western Kentucky University winter break
Winter break is from Wednesday, Dec. 17 to Friday, Jan. 2, according to the Western Kentucky University academic calendar.
Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.
Kentucky fans have had had an eventful last few days, with a firing of head coach Mark Stoops after a long meeting on Sunday night, followed by a very quick coaching search. Now, the search is officially wrapped up and Kentucky has found their guy. After multiple reports that Oregon Offensive Coordinator Will Stein was set to become the new head coach, that has now been made official by UK.
Stein is seen as one of the brightest offensive coaching minds in college football, and was a hot name among many coaching searches across the country. Mitch Barnhart said in the press release that he “brings an outstanding track record of developing elite quarterbacks and leading some of the most dynamic and successful offenses in college football.” Fans will be really excited about what he brings on the field, but his personal longstanding connection with the UK program is what makes it an overall perfect fit. Stein, who grew up a Kentucky fan residing as Louisville native, has some really strong ties to the program, including growing up a huge fan, with his dad, Matt, being a former player and his mother, Debbie, is also a big fan. He may have played at Louisville, but his love for Kentucky has never left.
Here is what Stein had to say in a press release statement: “I’m honored and excited to become the next head coach at Kentucky,” Stein said. “Growing up in Kentucky and sitting in the stands at UK games as a kid, I could only dream of one day leading the Wildcats. This is truly a dream come true. My goal is to lead with purpose and help young men grow on and off the field. I’m deeply thankful to President Capilouto, Mitch Barnhart, and Big Blue Nation for the trust they’ve placed in me. I also want to thank Coach Dan Lanning and the entire Oregon staff for their support and mentorship, they’ve been incredible. Now, I can’t wait to get started and make Kentucky proud.”
Stein really has quite the quarterback resume, including coaching Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel, who were two of the top quarterbacks in the country during their time at Oregon, incuding Dante Moore this year. What do the three have in common? They were all Heisman candidates. That’s something BBN should be excited about, because getting their quarterback room right would be huge for the program’s success. It’s still up in the air depending on what Cutter Boley’s decision will be, but he certainly would be excited to watch in Stein’s exciting offense.
Kentucky has a fresh new face at the helm of the football program, and with how much national praise he has gotten lately, that should make fans really happy. Mitch Barnhart hired a special gem in Stein.
It’s Stein Time in the Bluegrass. 😼@CoachWillStein is our new head coach!
📰🔗 https://t.co/6KpdO8XStJ pic.twitter.com/5Jbi1KEfLB
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) December 2, 2025
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