Kentucky Wildcats
| Kentucky Wildcats | |
|---|---|
| University | University of Kentucky |
| Conference | SEC (primary) Sun Belt (men's soccer) Great America Rifle Conference |
| NCAA | Division I (FBS) |
| Athletic director | Mitch Barnhart |
| Location | Lexington, Kentucky |
| Varsity teams | 25 |
| Football stadium | Kroger Field |
| Basketball arena | Rupp Arena (men) Memorial Coliseum (women) |
| Baseball stadium | Kentucky Proud Park |
| Mascot | Blue, Scratch, and The Wildcat |
| Nickname | Wildcats |
| Fight song | On, On, U of K, Kentucky Fight |
| Colors | Blue and white |
| Website | ukathletics |
The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky (UK), a founding member of the Southeastern Conference. The Kentucky Wildcats is the student body of the University of Kentucky. 30,473 students attend the university. Historically, the women's teams and athletes were referred to as the "Lady Kats", but all athletic squads adopted the "Wildcats" nickname in 1995. Collectively, the fans of the Kentucky Wildcats are often referred to as the Big Blue Nation. Their main and most intense rival is the University of Louisville. The Wildcats are composed of 25 varsity teams that compete nationally—23 in NCAA-recognized sports, plus the cheerleading squad and dance team.
On April 25, 2025, the UK board of trustees approved a proposal to transfer the athletic department to a non-profit company to be known as Champions Blue, LLC. Articles of incorporation for Champions Blue had been filed on April 17. Both UK and outside media characterized this move, considered to be the first by a major U.S. university, as a response to the impending settlement of the House v. NCAA legal case, which is expected to establish revenue sharing between athletic programs and student athletes. Champions Blue will be chaired by the UK president, with its board otherwise consisting of "outside experts" which will regularly meet with the president and athletic director.