CJ Baxter scores Kentucky’s first TD of the 2026 season
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Kentucky is on the board for the first time this season.
Texas transfer CJ Baxter broke a few tackles and outraced Youngstown State defenders to the goal line for the score, culminating a perfect 5-for-5 start from Notre Dame transfer QB Kenny Minchey. A few minutes later, Baxter punched in another touchdown for the Wildcats — this time from 5 yards out.
There are many more yards and touchdowns to come for the Texas transfer. Here’s Kentucky’s first score of the season.
And here’s a look at Baxter’s second touchdown of the day:
It’s only Youngstown State, but it’s hard not to love the first glimpse we got at Kentucky under new head coach Will Stein. As mentioned, Minchey was perfect to start the game and only threw his first incompletion in the second drive of the afternoon. Minchey is getting his first college reps since making a brief appearance at Stanford last season for Notre Dame.
Baxter missed about half of last season with Texas while dealing with a knee injury from 2024 and a hamstring injury that he suffered midseason in 2025. Across his Texas career Baxter totaled 192 carries for 855 yards and 5 touchdowns, all 5 of which came during his first season in Austin back in 2023.
Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
