Homecoming Under the Lights: No. 10 LSU at Kentucky

It's Homecoming in Lexington, and the Cats picked a big one for it. No. 25 Kentucky hosts No. 10 LSU tonight at Kroger Field, with kickoff at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN (UK Athletics preview).

The royalty is already crowned. Ali Kashif and Molly Bachman were named the 2026 UK Homecoming king and queen on Wednesday night at the Gatton Student Center, picked from a 10-person court. UK says the king and queen will be recognized at tonight's game, and the whole court will be on the sidelines cheering the Cats (UKNow, Kentucky Kernel, UKNow Homecoming week).

Old friends are back, too. Rich Brooks, coach of the 2007 team that beat No. 1 LSU in three overtimes, joins Trevard Lindley, Braxton Kelly, Jacob Tamme and Dicky Lyons Jr. from that team as honorary captains, along with former sack-record holder Oliver Barnett (KSR). Throwback uniforms on Throwback Night, with 2007 legends on the sideline? That's a vibe.

If you're heading out early, the UK Alumni Association's Homecoming Tailgate Tent Party starts at 4 p.m. on Good Barn Lawn, with the UK cheerleaders and pep band, and Gatton's alumni tailgate runs 4:30 to 6 on Commonwealth Lawn (UK Homecoming schedule, Gatton).

One change: with rain and wind in the forecast, UK has moved the halftime drone show to a future home game. Umbrellas aren't allowed at Kroger Field, so pack a poncho, and allow extra travel time with Keeneland running the same day (UK Athletics weather advisory).

Where to watch and listen: TV on ESPN (Wes Durham, Dusty Dvoracek, Taylor McGregor) and the ESPN app. Radio on the UK Sports Network (Tom Leach, Jeff Piecoro, Dick Gabriel): 98.1 WBUL, 630 WLAP, 840 WHAS, plus SiriusXM 83.

Our full game-day rundown is in the BBT game-day take.

Our take: welcome home, BBN. Wear blue, get loud, Go Cats.