LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kenny Minchey gave Kentucky fans plenty to be excited about in his first start, throwing for 301 yards and four touchdowns as the Wildcats cruised to a 45-13 victory over Youngstown State on Saturday.
The Notre Dame transfer quickly established himself as the catalyst for a Kentucky offense that produced 506 total yards. Minchey directed three consecutive touchdown drives and helped new head coach Will Stein begin his tenure with a decisive victory.
Stein’s first game at Kentucky carried an added personal connection. Before taking over the Wildcats, he served as Oregon’s offensive coordinator and played quarterback at Louisville from 2008-12. His father, Matt Stein, previously played defensive end at Kentucky.
“It’s very exciting,” Stein said. “It’s something that I’ll cherish forever.”
Stein celebrated the victory with his family but emphasized that the Wildcats still have work ahead.
“My kids know that their dad and my wife knows that her husband’s got a job to do and we’ve got to continue to push,” he said. “We’ve got stuff to improve on as a whole.”
Minchey Sets the Tone
Minchey looked comfortable from the opening snap.
He completed seven of his first eight attempts and repeatedly found ways to move the Wildcats down the field. A 33-yard completion to Kenny Darby helped set up Kentucky’s first touchdown of the season.
C.J. Baxter, a transfer from Texas, finished the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run and later added another score on a 5-yard run.
Jason Patterson supplied a steady presence on the ground, leading Kentucky’s rushing attack with 78 yards.
The Wildcats’ offense continued to roll throughout the afternoon, combining Minchey’s passing production with an effective running game to build a commanding advantage.
Minchey finished with 301 passing yards and four touchdown passes, helping Kentucky consistently keep Youngstown State’s defense on its heels.
Penguins Struggle on the Ground
Youngstown State entered the game ranked ninth in the FCS Stats Perform poll but had difficulty keeping pace with Kentucky.
The Penguins generated 305 total yards, with much of their production coming through the air.
Quarterback Beau Brungard completed 23 of 35 passes for 243 yards and helped Youngstown State convert 8 of 15 third-down opportunities.
The ground game, however, never developed.
Kentucky limited the Penguins to just 59 rushing yards and held them to 43 total yards during the opening quarter.
Youngstown State finally reached the end zone with 20 seconds remaining in the first half, but Kentucky maintained control for the remainder of the game.
The loss dropped the Penguins to 0-2 against Kentucky. The Wildcats previously defeated Youngstown State 31-0 in 2022 and have now outscored the Penguins 86-13 in the two meetings.
Kentucky Continues Home-Opener Dominance
The victory extended Kentucky’s impressive run in season-opening games at home.
The Wildcats have now won six consecutive home openers and improved to 23-0 against FCS opponents since 1998.
Kentucky’s 45 points also marked the highest-scoring home opener by a first-year head coach in program history.
Afari Returns After Eligibility Fight
Kentucky linebacker Alex Afari Jr. was able to take the field Saturday after a legal battle over his eligibility.
Afari was one of several players who challenged the NCAA after not being included under the organization’s new five-year eligibility system. A Jefferson County judge issued a temporary restraining order allowing him to compete, and the NCAA’s appeal was rejected Friday.
Stein said Afari had been practicing but that the uncertainty surrounding his eligibility made it difficult to fully prepare him for game action.
“He’s been practicing, but it’s hard to be fully in on somebody if you don’t know he’s gonna be able to play,” Stein said.
The coaching staff plans to gradually increase Afari’s role.
“We’ll continue to ramp him up, and we want him to be an impact player for us,” Stein said.
Wildcats Honor Nic “Happy” Smith
Saturday’s opener also provided an emotional moment for the Kentucky program as the Wildcats remembered former teammate Nic “Happy” Smith.
Smith, a redshirt defensive lineman from Augusta, Georgia, died June 8.
Kentucky players wore helmet patches in his honor, while an open seat was left in the team’s meeting room as a lasting reminder of Smith.
“We’re playing for him,” Stein said earlier in the week. “He’s on my mind a lot, and we’ve left his seat open in our team room, and it’s just a reminder that life is precious and nothing’s guaranteed.”
The tribute served as a reminder that the Wildcats were playing for more than just the first victory of a new era.
What’s Next:
Youngstown State returns home next Saturday to take on Duquesne.
Kentucky will face a much tougher challenge when No. 13 Alabama comes to Lexington next Saturday for the SEC opener for both teams.
