Kentucky's overtime win over LSU puts Wildcats in top three for 2029 QB Khayel Sam Fong-Talia

Kentucky's overtime win over LSU did more than move the Wildcats to 5-1. It also made an impression on one of the top young quarterbacks in the country.

Khayel Sam Fong-Talia, a quarterback in the 2029 class from Georgia, watched the game in Lexington and left with Kentucky firmly in his top three, On3's Chad Simmons reported. On3 calls him an elite prospect, and he plays at South Forsyth High School. According to the report, he has built a growing connection with the Kentucky staff and likes how he would fit in the Wildcats' offense.

The visit is another sign that the program's momentum under Will Stein is reaching recruits well before they can sign. Fong-Talia's class won't sign for several years, and recruitments that early can change a lot. Still, having Kentucky in the top tier of a highly regarded quarterback's list this early matters for a program that has usually had to work hard to land top passers from talent-rich states like Georgia. The On3 report covers what stood out most to him during the trip. It does not say which other schools are in his top three.

Winning big games in front of visitors is still one of the most direct recruiting tools a staff has. Beating LSU in overtime in a full stadium gave Stein and his assistants the kind of backdrop they want when a quarterback prospect is on campus. That win has also shaped how the rest of the country sees Kentucky this fall. The Wildcats are ranked No. 15 heading into the middle of October.

The next test comes on the road. Kentucky visits Oklahoma (3-2) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. EDT on SEC Network. The Wildcats have the better record and the ranking, but the market still leans toward the Sooners at home. Oklahoma is favored at -228 on Novig, one of the venues pricing the game, and is listed at -245 at FanDuel, the best sportsbook price on the Sooners. The spread is Oklahoma -6.5, and the total sits at 44.5, which points to a lower-scoring game. Full prices are on the Kentucky at Oklahoma odds page.

The stakes are clear for Stein's team. A win in Norman would back up the LSU result and keep Kentucky in the upper half of the SEC race. A loss would put the Wildcats at 5-2 with much of the conference schedule still ahead. Either way, the recruits who came through Lexington for the LSU game will be watching to see whether the momentum holds.

LSU, meanwhile, is trying to recover from the overtime loss. The No. 22 Tigers (4-2) host No. 16 Mississippi State at noon Saturday on ESPN and are favored at -471 on Novig, with a 14.5-point spread.