The Youngstown State Penguins will play at the Kentucky Wildcats in 2026, FBSchedules.com has learned.
Youngstown State will travel to take on Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington on Sept. 19, 2026. The Penguins will receive a $575,000 guarantee for the game, according to a copy of the contract obtained from Youngstown State University via a state open records request.
The two schools also have a previously scheduled matchup set for Sept. 17, 2022 in Lexington. Kentucky will pay Youngstown State a $550,00 guarantee for that contest.
The 2022 contest between Youngstown State and Kentucky will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron.
Youngstown State is member of the Football Championship Subdivision and competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. YSU finished the 2018 season 4-7 overall and 3-5 in conference play.
Kentucky is the first scheduled non-conference opponent for Youngstown State for the 2026 season.
The Wildcats now have two non-conference opponents set for 2026. Kentucky is scheduled to open the 2026 season at home in Lexington against Akron on Sept. 5.
Football Schedules