# Will Stein makes head coaching debut as Kentucky faces Youngstown State **Published:** 2026-09-04T13:00:01.000Z **Source:** [UK Athletics](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/09/04/big-blue-preview-kentucky-vs-youngstown-state-2/) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/will-stein-makes-head-coaching-debut-as-kentucky-faces-youngstown-state LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky football officially enters the Will Stein era on Saturday, with the new head coach making his debut against Youngstown State at Kroger Field in a matchup that marks a historic moment for the program. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network Plus, with the Wildcats operating as 23.5-point favorites. Stein, a [Louisville native and former Trinity High and University of Louisville quarterback](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/09/04/big-blue-preview-kentucky-vs-youngstown-state-2/), replaces Mark Stoops after the longtime coach was [relieved of his duties following the 2025 season](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Kentucky_Wildcats_football_team) when the Wildcats finished bowl-ineligible for the second consecutive year. Stoops departs as the program's winningest head coach with an 82-80 record. Stein previously served as [Oregon's offensive coordinator](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Kentucky_Wildcats_football_team) and becomes [the youngest head coach in the SEC](https://aseaofblue.com/kentucky-wildcats-football/156567/2026-schedule-dates-games-locations). [Youngstown State arrives in Lexington with momentum after defeating Mercyhurst 43-10 on August 27](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Youngstown_State_Penguins_football_team), producing 484 total yards and scoring on its first five possessions. The Penguins, led by seventh-year head coach Doug Phillips, are [predicted to finish third in the Missouri Valley Football Conference](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Youngstown_State_Penguins_football_team). The matchup marks only the second meeting in program history between the schools, with [Kentucky earning a 31-0 victory at Kroger Field on September 17, 2022](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/09/04/big-blue-preview-kentucky-vs-youngstown-state-2/). [Kentucky is 22-0 all-time against Football Championship Subdivision teams since 1998](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/09/04/big-blue-preview-kentucky-vs-youngstown-state-2/), when FBS opponents were first permitted to schedule FCS/I-AA teams. The Wildcats have outscored Missouri Valley Conference foes 271-22 in their historical matchups. Saturday's contest launches what figures to be a challenging SEC schedule for Stein and his staff, with [Alabama visiting Kroger Field the following week](https://aseaofblue.com/kentucky-wildcats-football/156567/2026-schedule-dates-games-locations). ## Sources - [UK Athletics](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/09/04/big-blue-preview-kentucky-vs-youngstown-state-2/) - [2026 Kentucky Wildcats football team details and coaching staff information](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Kentucky_Wildcats_football_team) - [2026 Youngstown State Penguins football schedule and team information](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Youngstown_State_Penguins_football_team) - [2026 Kentucky football schedule analysis and context](https://aseaofblue.com/kentucky-wildcats-football/156567/2026-schedule-dates-games-locations) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from UK Athletics, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/09/04/big-blue-preview-kentucky-vs-youngstown-state-2/.