Big Blue Dispatch
Daily Update • September 25, 2026
|
|
Good morning BBN and welcome to the weekend! Happy belated birthday to subscriber Anders F. who celebrated yesterday.
If you haven't entered the drawing for a pair of free Big Blue Madness tickets, there's still time. Drop and email to contact@bigbluedispatch.com and you're entered—easy!
We'll have the usual "Know Your Enemy" newsletter on Saturday for the South Alabama game but in the meantime, here are a couple of pieces from the national press on a couple of stars.
CJ Baxter's Emotional Comeback
Baxter tore his ACL, LCL, and PCL during fall camp in 2024, then suffered a hamstring injury on his first play back in 2025. He transferred to Kentucky looking for a fresh start. Three games into his new beginning, Baxter surpassed 1,000 career rushing yards against Texas A&M—19 carries for 87 yards and two touchdowns. He won Comeback Player of the Week from College Sports Communicators. As he put it: "I felt like I needed a change, and this was the place that won me over."
Kenny Minchey's Breakout
Minchey was a four-star prospect who spent three seasons at Notre Dame watching from the sideline—even losing a close competition for the starting job last August. When the transfer portal opened, Stein reached out directly. Minchey initially committed to Nebraska but flipped to Kentucky a day later. Against Alabama, he struggled (18 of 31, 146 yards, pick-6, lost fumble), but Stein stuck with him. Against Texas A&M, Minchey was unflappable—14 of 18 for 252 yards and two touchdowns, perfect in the second half. His private QB trainer, comparing Minchey to NFL passers he'd worked out with in Nashville, said it "looked like he had started 30 games. He was not flustered." Stein's own played-the-position experience matters: "I've been the starter. I've been the backup. I've been eighth string. I've been healthy. I've been injured. I've been a walk-on. I've been a scholarship player." That empathy, Minchey says, changes everything in meetings.
Volleyball's SEC Opener Victory
In yesterday's newsletter we briefly mentioned UK volleyball's win over previously undefeated Vanderbilt. Nation of Blue has a nice recap of a tougher than expected match. Morgan Gaerte and Brooklyn DeLeye both had 21 kills in the 3-1 (21-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-19) victory. Kentucky was sharp after the first set—hitting .500+ in the final three sets combined, with zero attack errors in the third set. Kassie O'Brien orchestrated 54 assists. The defense was dominant with 12 blocks to Vanderbilt's two; Lizzie Carr alone had seven. Now Kentucky gets No. 7 Texas at home Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.
And we'll wrap with basketball today where recruiting never ends. Kentucky is among the top contenders for 7-foot-5 center Cherif Millogo alongside BYU, Texas, and Creighton. Mark Pope offered Millogo back in May after seeing him at Adidas 3SSB. Millogo is relatively new to basketball—similar to Lewis Uvwo—which fits Pope's stated preference for athleticism and upside. Kentucky just hosted Uvwo, who then visited Providence. Paul Osaruyi (five-star, #20 overall, #3 center) arrives for his official visit this weekend. Lots of irons in the fire.
Go Cats! 🐾
Not a subscriber? Subscribe here.
Questions or tips? Email contact@bigbluedispatch.com.
Follow on X (@BB_Dispatch) or Bluesky (@bigbluedispatch.bsky.social).
|
|
On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
Week 4 of the 2026 college football season has arrived, and CBS Sports has updated its quarterback power rankings. And after a wild Week 3, there have been some big changes in the top 10, including a new No.
|
|
Kentucky Kernel — Sports
Kentucky football surpassed nationwide expectations when it stunned No. 9 Texas A&M at Kyle Field 31-21.
|
|
On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
September is a very important time in high school baseball recruiting. After adding a strong 2026 haul and portal class to the roster to start the summer, Nick Mingione ‘s staff has been working to get prospects on campus and close out recruitments.
|
|
On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
When the college football season arrives, non-conference matchups dominate the slate. Most of those are out the window.
|
|
On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
Talk about a flip of emotions for Kentucky true freshman Kenny Darby , who went from dropping the easiest touchdown of his life at Texas A&M to catching another, putting an Aggie defender on skates before scampering up the right sideline for the score to put the Wildcats up 14-7…
|
|
On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
We’re still riding the high of Kentucky ‘s win over Texas A&M and preparing for the Wildcats’ matchup against South Alabama this weekend—plus Big Blue Madness in just over a week!—but don’t forget that it’s going to be a star-studded affair in Lexington in the coming days. Why?
|
|
Google News — UK Basketball
Kentucky is a top contender for a 2027 stock-rising big man Sports Illustrated
|
|
On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
It’s been quite a week for Kentucky Football. Grab a Modelo and let’s talk about it on an all-new KSR Happy Hour.
|
|
On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
When you go viral for resembling the main character of a 2006 Nickelodeon comedy about a Mexican monastery cook moonlighting as a lucha libre wrestler, you have to embrace it, right? What a day it was for Reed Sheppard , who showed up to Media Day with the Houston Rockets and…
|
|
Nation of Blue
No. 3 Kentucky opened Southeastern Conference play with a 3-1 (21-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-19) win over previously unbeaten Vanderbilt.
|
|
Google News — Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky football commit set to take visit to familiar foe Yahoo Sports
|
|
Kentucky Kernel — Sports
Kentucky dropped its seventh game of the season Tuesday night after falling to Lipscomb 2-1 in a game mainly controlled by the Cats. Game in, game out, Kentucky is continuing to struggle to find the back of the net.
|
|
On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
Will Stein is bringing offensive wizardry to Kentucky. We knew this going into the season, but what exactly does that look like?
|
|
On3 — Kentucky Wildcats
We’re used to the Kentucky Basketball team getting special shoes from Nike; after the Texas A&M win, it was the Kentucky Football team that received a special delivery from the Swoosh. This morning, UK posted a video of strength coach Brandon Roberts showing off the team’s new…
|
|
Google News — Kentucky Wildcats
One Kentucky forwards athleticism will surprise BBN this season si.com
|
|
Thanks for subscribing to Big Blue Dispatch! For breaking news throughout the day, visit bigbluedispatch.com — we update every 15 minutes.
If you enjoy the site, consider supporting it at ☕ buymeacoffee.com/bigbluedispatch. Go Cats! 🐾
Follow us on @BB_Dispatch on X and Bluesky for breaking news between editions.
|
|
bigbluedispatch.com
• All stories link to original sources
|
