Jovantae Barnes News, Rumors, Updates - Kentucky Wildcats

Kentucky expects RB Jovantae Barnes to return against Alabama In Kentucky's 45-13 season-opening win against Youngstown State, the running back room provided a lot of promise. The combination of CJ Baxt...

4 DAYS AGO • SI.COM

Available for Week 2 Barnes (undisclosed) is not listed on the injury report for Saturday's game against Alabama.

Impact Barnes is set to make his season debut after missing Kentucky's opener against Youngstown State. The running back will look to carve out a role in the backfield and see snaps against the Crimson Tide.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Ruled out for Week 1 Barnes (undisclosed) is out for Saturday's game against Youngstown State, Pete Nakos of On3.com reports.

Impact As expected, Barnes won't be an option in Week 1, meaning Jason Patterson and Martels Carter will be the primary backups to the team's RB1, CJ Baxter. Barnes' next chance to return to the field will come in Week 2 at home against Alabama.

SEPTEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

In line to sit Week 1 Barnes (undisclosed) is trending toward not being available for Week 1 against Youngstown State on Saturday, Cole Parke of 247Sports.com reports. "He's on a really, I think, good p...

Impact Barnes wasn't available for the start of the fall camp, and while Stein's words suggest he's trending in the right direction, Week 1 comes too soon for the tailback. That means Jason Patterson and Martels Carter will be the primary backups to the team's RB1, CJ Baxter.

SEPTEMBER 2 • ROTOWIRE

Kentucky's Sam Greene available for opener vs. Youngstown State; Jovantae Barnes out Good news and bad news for the football Cats entering their 2026 opener.

SEPTEMBER 1 • ASEAOFBLUE.COM

Kentucky turns the page: Will Stein ready after replacing the SEC's longest-tenured coach

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AUGUST 17 • Associated Press

Not available to start camp Barnes (undisclosed) is not available to start fall camp but should return at some point before the season opener against Youngstown State on Sep. 5, according to Adam Luckett of K...

Impact Barnes won't be available as the Wildcats open camp, but the star RB should return to practice at some point in the coming weeks. A former Oklahoma player who transferred to Kentucky in the offseason, he appeared in four games for the Sooners in 2025, tallying 45 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

AUGUST 5 • ROTOWIRE

Sits out spring game Barnes isn't participating in Kentucky's spring game Saturday, per Ryan Black of the Courier's Journal.

Impact Barnes is currently dealing with an undisclosed injury that forced him to sit out Saturday's game. While there's currently no timetable on his return, he will look to be healthy in time for the start of the regular season.

APRIL 18 • ROTOWIRE

Chooses Wildcats Barnes will transfer to Kentucky, per Hayes Fawcett of On3.com.

Impact Barnes spent four years at Oklahoma, but saw his involvement fluctuate. His freshman and junior seasons, he ran for over 500 yards and five touchdowns, but was limited as a sophomore and senior. With one more year of eligibility, he'll look to bounce back with the Wildcats in 2026.

JANUARY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Writing was on the wall for Oklahoma RB Jovantae Barnes transfer move Jovantae Barnes expected to enter Transfer Portal

DECEMBER 24, 2025 • STORMININNORMAN.COM

To enter portal Barnes plans to enter the transfer portal, Hayes Fawcett of On3.com reports.

Impact Barnes appeared in just four games this season due to injury, allowing him to redshirt and come back for a fifth collegiate season. He had spent all of his first four years with Oklahoma, totaling 294 carries, 1,281 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.

DECEMBER 23, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Good to go Friday Barnes (undisclosed) is available for Friday's game against Alabama.

Impact Barnes was initially expected to play and was listed as probable in Tuesday's report, but the bump in status on Wednesday makes it clear, and the tailback will feature Friday. Barnes hasn't played since the Week 4 matchup against Auburn, but he should be in the mix for backfield touches in this postseason matchup.

DECEMBER 17, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Probable to play vs. Bama Barnes (undisclosed) is probable for Friday's game against Alabama.

Impact Barnes has a depth role in the Sooners' backfield, so he's not expected to have a significant impact in this matchup even if he receives the green light. Barnes missed the last eight games of the regular season due to an undisclosed injury and hasn't played since Week 4, when he logged one carry and 11 snaps versus Auburn.

DECEMBER 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Could "potentially" play vs. Bama Barnes (undisclosed) could "potentially" have a role in Oklahoma's playoff game against Alabama on Friday, Dec. 19 according to head coach Brent Venables, per Jesse Crittenden of O...

Impact Barnes missed the last eight games of the regular season for the Sooners with an undisclosed injury. However, seeing as he only played in four contests, he could still play in the playoffs and preserve his eligibility from 2025, as postseason games don't count against one's eligibility. Still, it's unclear what kind of role Barnes is healthy enough for; Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock still look poised to dominate the carries Friday night in Norman.

DECEMBER 15, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

No-go Saturday Barnes (undisclosed) won't play in Saturday's game against LSU.

Impact Barnes will miss an eighth straight contest with an unspecified injury. The tailback was initially labeled questionable, which is a good sign for his postseason availability.

NOVEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Questionable against LSU Barnes (undisclosed) has been listed as questionable ahead of Saturday's game against LSU.

Impact Barnes, who has missed seven-straight games for the Sooners, remains questionable ahead of Saturday's game against the Tigers. The 6-foot senior, who has logged 61 total yards on 20 touches this season, could potentially be considering a redshirt given that he has appeared in just four games this season.

NOVEMBER 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Brent Venables shares insight on Jovantae Barnes' unique situation with Sooners Oklahoma RB Jovantae Barnes could miss rest of season to redshirt

NOVEMBER 25, 2025 • STORMININNORMAN.COM

Out against Tigers Barnes (undisclosed) is out for Saturday's game against Missouri.

Impact Barnes will miss his seventh straight game as he works back from an unknown injury. The senior ball carrier will now target a return for next Saturday vs. LSU. He's recorded 19 rushes for 45 yards and one touchdown this season.

NOVEMBER 21, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Questionable vs. Missouri Barnes (undisclosed) is listed questionable for Saturday's game against Missouri.

Impact Barnes has missed several weeks as he continues to work his way back from an undisclosed injury. The senior running back had totaled 19 carries for 45 yards and one touchdown across four appearances this season.

NOVEMBER 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Kendel Dolby, Taylor Tatum ruled out vs. Ole Miss as late additions to Oklahoma availability report Defensive back Kendel Dolby and running back Taylor Tatum were ruled out on Saturday's availability report for Oklahoma. Gentry Williams and...

OCTOBER 25, 2025 • 247SPORTS.COM

Out for Week 9 Barnes (undisclosed) is out for Saturday's game against Mississippi.

Impact Unsurprisingly, Barnes' injury status has been downgraded from doubtful to out rather swiftly. After the Oklahoma team's upcoming game, the Sooners will focus on Tennessee, their Week 10 opponent Nov. 1.

OCTOBER 25, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Listed as doubtful Barnes (undisclosed) has been downgraded to doubtful ahead of Saturday's game against Ole Miss.

Impact Barnes hasn't played since Week 4, and the downgrade in status suggests that he might not be able to suit up against Ole Miss this weekend, either.

OCTOBER 24, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Officially questionable Barnes (undisclosed) is listed as questionable for Week 9 against Ole Miss.

Impact Barnes hasn't played since Week 4. The backup tailback, who has 19 carries for 45 yards and one score this season, will get his next chance to suit up against Tennessee on Nov. 1 if he is indeed forced to miss another contest.

OCTOBER 22, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Oklahoma Friday availability report: The latest on Jovantae Barnes, Keontez Lewis ahead of South Carolina The latest on Jovantae Barnes, Keontez Lewis ahead of South Carolina.

OCTOBER 18, 2025 • 247SPORTS.COM

OU football to be without RB Jovantae Barnes, WR Keontez Lewis vs South Carolina OU football's Jovantae Barnes, Keontez Lewis and Kade McIntyre are now listed as out on the Friday night availability report.

OCTOBER 18, 2025 • OKLAHOMAN.COM

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Kentucky turns the page: Will Stein ready after replacing the SEC's longest-tenured coach