Big Blue Dispatch
Daily Update • October 31, 2026
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Good morning, Big Blue Nation, and Happy Halloween! Saturday, October 31.
We will try to have a link or two in tomorrow’s newsletter, but the good news is that UK Volleyball got back on track Friday night with a clean 3-0 sweep over Missouri. While the Cats didn't look completely perfect throughout, it was a very welcome bounce-back effort following consecutive losses to Tennessee and Texas A&M.
While most of Inside Kentucky Basketball sits behind a paywall, Ben Roberts does send out a free Friday newsletter. Yesterday's edition was a very comprehensive look at Kentucky's recruiting strategy for the high school class of 2027, outlining how Mark Pope and his staff are evaluating talent and positioning the program for the future.
Sticking with basketball, transfer big man Kam Williams continues to make solid progress in his recovery from foot surgery. However, A Sea of Blue notes that Williams is unlikely to suit up for Tuesday's regular-season opener against Manhattan, making a cautious return timeline the smart play for the staff. As you may recall, Williams suffered a Jones fracture in his foot during off-season workouts. What's a Jones fracture? The Cleveland Clinic has more than you (probably) ever wanted to know about the injury and its recovery timeline.
Let's close with some football news as the Cats navigate their bye week. On the legal and roster front, A Sea of Blue highlights a positive ruling in Alex Afari Jr.'s eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA, granting another win in court to keep the linebacker on the field. And while no one should be looking past next week's showdown in Knoxville against Tennessee, On3 reports that Kentucky’s November 14 home game against Florida is officially sold out, making it the fourth sellout of the season at Kroger Field.
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Go Cats! 🐾
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On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
Eleven years ago at Keeneland’s first-ever Breeders’ Cup, American Pharoah made history as the first and only Triple Crown winner to also claim the Breeders’ Cup Classic. There’s more history on the line this Saturday when the Horse Racing World Championships return to the…
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On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
As good as Mason Williams has been for Kentucky through three exhibition games, especially as a true freshman ranked as a three-star coming out of high school, the conversation around his play has been countered by Zoom Diallo ‘s production as a prized portal pick-up at point…
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On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky men’s basketball finished the preseason 3-0, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows among the Big Blue Nation. There was more than enough to like about the Wildcats’ three exhibitions.
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On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
Coach Pope (no, not that one — the horse) came up short down the stretch in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile title on Friday afternoon at Keeneland. After a strong start out front, Coach Pope, named after Kentucky men’s basketball head coach Mark Pope , finished fourth after Hughes…
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On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
The 30th year of Tom Leach’s illustrious career as The Voice of the Wildcats has been one of the most exciting to date. We’re celebrating the occasion by having a candid conversation on 11 Personnel.
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Kentucky Kernel — Sports
The Kentucky mens soccer team took a road trip to Harrisonburg, Virginia, to face James Madison University, the Sun Belt Conferences top seed. This was Kentuckys 7th time in program history facing JMU.
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On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
We have more than a week until No. 9 Kentucky travels to Knoxville to take on No.
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Google News — Kentucky Wildcats
Standouts from Recent College Basketball Exhibition Matchups Sports Illustrated
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On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
Tennessee QB1 Faizon Brandon was benched in October. George MacIntyre replaced him and has made three starts, but made two massive mistakes in the fourth quarter against South Carolina.
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Google News — Kentucky Wildcats
5-Star SF DeMarcus Henry Announces Commitment Between UNC, Kentucky, Louisville, Arkansas Bleacher Report
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A Sea of Blue
One of the top recruits in the 2027 class, Demarcus Henry, has announced his college decision, choosing the North Carolina Tar Heels on Friday. A top-five prospect and the top-ranked small forward, Henry chose UNC over Kentucky, Arkansas, and Louisville.
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On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
Michael Malone is bringing one of the nation’s top North Carolina natives back home to the Tar Heel State—and it’s a player Kentucky wanted, with the Wildcats hosting him on an official visit and traveling out to see him this past week ahead of his commitment. DeMarcus Henry ,…
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On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
Big Blue Nation is all in. There are still more than two weeks before the Florida Gators come to Lexington, and Kroger Field is already sold out.
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A Sea of Blue
The NCAAs fight to keep Kentucky linebacker Alex Afari Jr. and other athletes off the field took a hit Friday when Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Sara Walter Combs denied the organizations request for emergency relief.
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On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
The 2026-27 Kentucky women’s basketball season begins on MONDAY! KSR’s Memorial Memo is back just in time to talk about year three of the Kenny Brooks era.
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