Could the Kentucky Wildcats be upset by Youngstown State in Week 1?

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

The Kentucky Wildcats have high expectations surrounding the long-term future of first-year head coach Will Stein, but there's no doubt that there might be some growing pains as Stein is stepping into the head coaching role for the first time in his career. Stein, who was the offensive coordinator for the Oregon Ducks, one of the most dynamic offenses in college football last season, has joined the program and is taking over for long-time head coach Mark Stoops.

Stein has already done a terrific job recruiting and bringing in quality transfers. The Wildcats should have a solid roster as they open the season in just a few weeks, and they will be facing Youngstown State, which should be an easy start to Stein's head coaching career, but CBS Sports isn't taking that game for granted.

CBS Sports' Cody Nagel took a look at FCS vs. Power Four upsets and chose Kentucky as one of the teams on his hot seat. Here's part of what he wrote.

"The Penguins bring back reigning Walter Payton Award winner Beau Brungard (the FCS equivalent of the Heisman Trophy) after an impressive 2025 season. Brungard threw for 3,234 yards and 26 touchdowns while adding 1,468 rushing yards and 27 more scores on the ground," Nagel wrote.

As Nagel notes, the season of upsets might be coming to an end, as the Power Four programs are 118-0 against FCS sides over the last two years. Now, both 2023 and 2022 had an upset. That said, Northwestern, Nebraska, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt also cracked the column.

When the Wildcats survive a Week 1 foe, they will get a blast into reality with Alabama in Week 2 and then Texas A&M on the road in Week 3. Things will get real quickly for the Cats, so hopefully Stein and company are prepared for several early-season challenges.

This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Could the Kentucky Wildcats be upset by Youngstown State in Week 1?

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos