Colleges in Kentucky With Football Teams

14 colleges in Kentucky, and how many players each one loses after this season.

players leave a typical team
23
lose a quarterback
79%

2026-27 rosters, read September 29, 2026

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All 14 Kentucky schools

Most players leaving first. Players leaving are players in their last season on the 2026-27 roster.

14 schools

  • Louisville logo

    Louisville

    Louisville, KY

    D1 FBS

    41players leaving

    Positions
  • Eastern Kentucky logo

    Eastern Kentucky

    Richmond, KY

    D1 FCS

    36players leaving

    Positions
  • Western Kentucky logo

    Western Kentucky

    Bowling Green, KY

    D1 FBS

    36players leaving

    Positions

See which positions each school needs.

Roster Needs is part of Pro. It shows the positions each school is losing, so you can email the coaches who need your position.

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  • Centre logo

    Centre

    Danville, KY

    D3

    29players leaving

    Positions
  • Kentucky logo

    Kentucky

    Lexington, KY

    D1 FBS

    28players leaving

    Positions
  • Kentucky State logo

    Kentucky State

    Frankfort, KY

    D2

    27players leaving

    Positions
  • Georgetown College (Ky.) logo

    Georgetown College (Ky.)

    Georgetown, KY

    NAIA

    24players leaving

    Positions
  • Murray State logo

    Murray State

    Murray, KY

    D1 FCS

    22players leaving

    Positions
  • Lindsey Wilson logo

    Lindsey Wilson

    Columbia, KY

    NAIA

    21players leaving

    Positions
  • Cumberlands-KY logo

    Cumberlands-KY

    Williamsburg, KY

    NAIA

    19players leaving

    Positions
  • Pikeville (KY) logo

    Pikeville (KY)

    Pikeville, KY

    NAIA

    14players leaving

    Positions
  • Morehead State logo

    Morehead State

    Morehead, KY

    D1 FCS

    13players leaving

    Positions
Show all 14 schools
  • Kentucky Wesleyan logo

    Kentucky Wesleyan

    Owensboro, KY

    D2

    8players leaving

    Positions
  • Thomas More logo

    Thomas More

    Crestview Hills, KY

    D2

    6players leaving

    Positions

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Questions

How many colleges in Kentucky have football?

NextCommit's coach data lists 17 colleges in Kentucky with football teams for 2026: 3 D1 FBS, 3 D1 FCS, 3 D2, 1 D3 and 7 NAIA. This page shows the 14 whose 2026-27 rosters we could read in full on September 29, 2026.

How many players does a Kentucky football program lose each year?

The typical Kentucky football program on this list has 23 players in their last season on its 2026-27 roster. Defensive linemen are the most common opening: 93% of these programs lose at least one, then defensive backs at 93%.

What does "players leaving" mean?

Players in their last season on the college's 2026-27 roster page: seniors, graduate students and fifth-year players at four-year schools, and sophomores at junior colleges. Redshirt marks do not change the count. Their spots open for recruits who start college in 2027.

Does a player leaving mean an open scholarship?

No. It means a roster spot the coaches have to refill, with high school recruits, transfers or walk-ons. How many spots carry aid depends on the level: Division I schools in the House settlement have a 105-player roster limit and no scholarship cap, Division II has 36 football equivalencies shared across the team, Division III gives no athletic aid, the NAIA allows 24 and the NJCAA 85. Some players also get an extra year through a waiver.

Which positions does each school need?

That is Roster Needs, part of NextCommit Pro. It shows the positions each school is losing and filters your coach list to the programs that need your position. This page shows each school's total only.

How should I use this list?

Find schools at your level with players leaving, check which level fits you with the free Football Recruit Score, then email the position coach or recruiting coordinator with your film, measurables and GPA. Follow up when you have something new to share.

How often is this data updated?

NextCommit reads college roster pages twice a year, after fall and spring rosters are posted. This page shows the September 29, 2026 read of 2026-27 rosters. Schools we could not read in full join the list when a later read passes.

How we got these numbers

We read each college's own roster page on September 29, 2026. Players leaving are players in their last season on the 2026-27 roster: seniors, graduate students and fifth-year players at four-year schools, and sophomores at junior colleges. Redshirt marks don't change the count.

This list shows 14 of the 17 programs in NextCommit's coach data (82%). Schools whose roster we couldn't read in full aren't listed yet. We call a list complete when we can read at least 75% of its rosters.

Divisions are for the 2026 season, including North Dakota State and Sacramento State moving to FBS and Saint Francis (PA) moving to Division III.

A player leaving is a spot to refill, not a scholarship offer. Coaches also fill spots from the transfer portal, some players get an extra year, and a roster page can lag behind the team. Use the numbers to decide where to look, then ask the coach.

Last updated November 3, 2026.

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