When the Southeastern Conference announced Thursday that its teams must now play nine league games each season, it was only a matter of time before Kentucky football’s schedule shifted.

The adjustment has now been confirmed: Kent State is off the Wildcats’ 2026 slate.

Originally, Kentucky had arranged to host the Golden Flashes in Lexington on Sept. 12, 2026. That contract included a contingency clause, however, stating the matchup would move if the SEC expanded to a nine game schedule. With that rule now in effect, the game has officially been pushed to 2030. The financial terms also change Kentucky’s payout to Kent State as they will increase from $1.6 million in 2026 to $1.8 million in 2030.

This means Kentucky’s 2026 non-conference lineup now consists of three opponents:

• Youngstown State on Sept. 5

• South Alabama on Sept. 26

• Louisville on Nov. 28

The SEC’s scheduling policy still requires each team to face one Power Four opponent outside the league. For Kentucky, that box is checked with the annual rivalry game against Louisville…. For now.