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LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kenny Minchey was in search of a fresh start. Will Stein, in his first season as Kentucky's coach, needed an experienced quarterback to run the Wildcats' offense. The Notre Dame transfer has proven to be an ideal fit for the eighth-ranked Wildcats, who have been one of the most surprising teams this season.
Kentucky is off to a 7-1 start, its best showing since a 10-1 campaign in 1977. Minchey is a major reason the Wildcats are ranked No. 6 in the College Football Playoff rankings and are tied with No. 2 Georgia atop the Southeastern Conference standings with a month remaining in the regular season.
Minchey's former coach at Notre Dame, Marcus Freeman, is not the least bit surprised by the quarterback's success at Kentucky. "I did get home in time to watch maybe the last two minutes of that Kentucky (vs. LSU) game," Freeman said. "You talk about a proud coach, man. I couldn't be more proud for him."
Before moving from South Bend to Lexington, Minchey spent three seasons at Notre Dame and lost the starting job to CJ Carr before the 2025 season began. He appeared in 10 games and threw for 212 yards in limited action for the Fighting Irish. Kentucky's decision to fire Mark Stoops and hire Stein presented Minchey with the opportunity to earn a starting job elsewhere.
Stein made it clear he didn't want Minchey to feel pressure to be Michael Jordan, LeBron James, or Tom Brady. "Like, just go be Kenny Minchey, and we'll be fine," Stein said.
Minchey debuted for Kentucky in a 45-13 win over Youngstown State in the season opener and has been steady in the pocket all season. Heading into Saturday night's showdown at No. 16 Tennessee (No. 13 CFP), Minchey has thrown for 1,755 yards and 14 touchdowns with only one interception while running Stein's offense. He has completed 69% of his passes, ranking fourth in the SEC and 17th nationally. He set a program record by starting the season with 232 pass attempts and only one interception. He has also rushed for 38 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-clinching 2-point conversion in a 35-34 overtime win over No. 15 LSU on Oct. 10.
Minchey, who played high school football at Pope John Paul II Preparatory in Hendersonville, Tennessee, said his recipe for success has been a combination of protecting the ball and converting third downs. He also appreciates the speed Stein wants the Wildcats to play with during games. "I feel like the coaches put up a great scheme, so that way we can go out and play fast and play smart," Minchey said. "We've been able to do that consistently. We plan to do that for the rest of the season, the future, for our next game. It also helps whenever the defense is getting a bunch of turnovers."
Minchey has been key in helping Kentucky win six straight games in which the Wildcats found themselves trailing, including three fourth-quarter rallies against South Carolina, LSU, and Oklahoma.
Key Analysis
Kentucky and Stein will need Minchey at his best against a Tennessee defense that is the SEC's best and ninth-stingiest against the pass, allowing just 165.6 yards per game. The Volunteers have also intercepted eight passes this season, which is 22nd best nationally. "He doesn't turn the ball over a lot, the quarterback, so we just have to be patient, and at the end of the day, we just have to make stops," Tennessee co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Anthony Poindexter said of Minchey. "We have to get off the field on third down."
Originally reported by newspub_live.