LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky football will begin its season Thursday, Sept. 3 rather than its original date of Sept. 5, following the postponement of the 146th Kentucky Derby to Sept. 5. 

What You Need To Know


  • UK football's season opener moved to Sept. 3

  • Originally planned for Sept. 5, same day as rescheduled Derby

UK will play Eastern Michigan at Kroger Field with a kickoff time coming at a later date. The University of Louisville will also play against North Carolina State University the same day, often referred to as "Thurby."

This marks Kentucky's eighth Thursday night game in modern times and the first since 2015. UK also met Mississippi State on a Thursday in 2013 and 1999. The team traveled to Auburn in 1994 for a Thursday night game and South Carolina in 1993, 2003 and 2007. Kentucky's 2011 season opener was a Thursday night game against Western Kentucky. 

Having won the first two games, this will be Kentucky's third all-time meeting with Eastern Michigan of the Mid-American Conference.

Currently there are no coronavirus-related changes to Kentucky's season, and season tickets are on sale now.