Kentucky Wildcat News: J Batt contract buyout controversy

July 7, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

University of Kentucky athletics director J Batt speaks with members of the media during an interview session in Lexington, Ky., on June 16, 2026. Batt was introduced this week as the successor to retiring athletics director Mitch Barnhart. | Jeff Faughender/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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There was plenty of new starting up on Monday as the US faced off with Belgium, and the NBA Summer League is getting heated up. However, for Kentucky Wildcat fans, the biggest news of the day came from off the court.

After being announced as the new Athletic Director a few weeks back, J Batt has already won fans over in Lexington and the Bluegrass State. Well, Champions Blue and UK Athletics got a scare as Michigan State President Kevin Guskiewicz announced he was returning to East Lansing.

That raised the question: Will Batt still make it to Lexington?

Eli Capiluto took to Twitter to confirm that the new UK AD will still be on his way to Lexington, the buyout could now be raised to the original $5 million number in the contract with his return to the school, according to several reports.

Will it rise? It seems like it might.

Should it? That feels like a no, as Batt accepted the job at UK after Guskiewicz accepted the job at Clemson all the way back in May. It’s not really fair for UK to have to pay an extra $2.5 million because someone backed out of a job over a month later.

Despite the setback, the argument for adding Batt is still a good one. Glad to see he will still be in Lexington.

Tweet of the Day

That man @Terrytouchdown3 was COOKING against Louisville 🔥

Throwback to when Terry Wilson threw for 261 Yards against the Cards in a 56-10 BEATDOWN of our in-state rivals 😼

61 Days until @UKFootball returns 👀 pic.twitter.com/NB5RPel1nt
— Blue Chips Media (@BlueChipsBBN) July 6, 2026