Kentucky has a Texas-sized opportunity to turn the season around tonight. KSR’s LIVE BLOG will bring you all the sights and sounds from Kroger Field as the Cats host the No. 21 Texas Longhorns (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Kentucky is coming off its second bye week, a spot that hasn’t been kind to the Cats in the Mark Stoops era. They were able to score two touchdowns against Georgia two weeks ago. The challenge gets even tougher tonight vs. a Texas defense that ranks No. 3 in the country. On the other side of the ball, Arch Manning will be looking to build on a promising performance vs. Oklahoma last week. Can Kentucky’s defense take advantage of the Longhorns’ offensive line, which is down two starters, to put pressure on the young QB? How will Kentucky’s own young QB, Cutter Boley, perform against an elite defense?
Refresh the feed below for updates and KSR’s takes on the game from Kroger Field. You can also join the conversation on the KSBoard Game Thread or by texting your observations to 859-710-3556 (standard messaging rates apply).
Special thanks to our live blog sponsor this season, Friends of Coal.
Friends of Coal is dedicated to informing and educating Kentucky citizens about the coal industry and its vital role in the state’s future. We provide a united voice for an industry that has been and remains a critical economic contributor to Kentucky. By working together, we can provide good jobs and benefits for future generations. Coal is RESILIENT, RELIABLE, and AFFORDABLE.
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Texas 16, Kentucky 13
10/18/2025 09:50:14 PM
The game ends with a Mason Shipley 45-yard field goal as Texas survives the upset bids. Kentucky’s long losing streaks get extended tonight.
Kentucky ruins a golden opportunity
10/18/2025 09:45:02 PM
A quick screen to Kendrick Law gains 22 yards on the first play of overtime. So Kentucky should be up seven, right? You guessed wrong. Four run plays gain just two yards. Texas can now win with a field goal.
We are headed to overtime at Kroger Field for the first time since 2020
10/18/2025 09:36:41 PM
Kentucky will be playing in an overtime game for the first time in five years. These are the rules.
Kentucky will get the ball first
10/18/2025 09:39:38 PM
Texas wins the toss and chooses defense. Kentucky will get the ball at the 25-yard line to begin overtime moving in the direction of the Kroger Field student section.
WE ARE TIED
10/18/2025 09:32:43 PM
How about that? Cutter Boley goes 3-of-4 for 25 yards after a 16-yard scramble got the drive started. Jacob Kauwe then pours in a 45-yard field goal. Kentucky finally delivers on a two-minute drive.
Kentucky 13, Texas 13 (0:09 | 4th Quarter)
Texas takes the lead
10/18/2025 09:26:42 PM
Mason Shipley calmly nails a 39-yard field goal to give Texas the lead again after the Horns went run, pass, run for nine yards. However, DeAndre Moore Jr. ran out of bounds on second down and that ultimately saved some time for Kentucky.
Texas 13, Kentucky 10 (0:57 | 4th Quarter)
Texas could be attempting a game-winning field goal soon
10/18/2025 09:23:16 PM
That big punt return is going to lead to a scoring chance. Texas finally picks up a Kentucky pressure on third-and-seven. That leads to a nine-yard completion for Arch Manning. The Horns are well within range now. UK only has one timeout remaining on second-and-10.
Kentucky 10, Texas 10 (1:10 | 4th Quarter)
Texas offense will get another swing — with field position
10/18/2025 09:13:11 PM
Two Seth McGowan runs got the drive started but a false start after a terrific sideline catch by Hardley Gilmore IV led to a punt. And what couldn’t happened happened. Ryan Niblett rips off a 43-yard punt return and now Texas is in field goal range.
Kentucky forces another three-and-out, Cutter Boley and Seth McGowan return
10/18/2025 09:06:59 PM
A short 34-yard punt doesn’t burn Kentucky. The Cats get a tackle for loss on first down and that leads to a three-and-out. Texas doesn’t hit a short punt. UK starts yet another possession inside their own 20. Cutter Boley and Seth McGowan are both back on the field.
Kentucky 10, Texas 10 (6:38 | 4th Quarter)
Cutter Boley is down on the field
10/18/2025 08:59:44 PM
Future top-10 pick Colin Simmons got three straight pressure and nearly turned it into three sacks, but Cutter Boley somehow got out of it and gained 13 yards on third-and-15. However, Kentucky’s QB1 took a big shot. The redshirt freshman later hobbled off the field. Zach Calzada is warming up on the sideline.
Kentucky 10, Texas 10 (8:18 | 4th Quarter)
Things are happening
10/18/2025 08:50:26 PM
Kroger Field is on fire. The momentum is building after a quick three-and-out for the Texas offense. After allowing five yards on two runs, Kentucky heats Arch Manning up on third down and forces an incompletion. The Cats then avoid disaster as Ty Bryant recovers a muff punt. Can the offense put a drive together?
Kentucky 10, Texas 10 (10:47 | 4th Quarter)
TOUCHDOWN KENTUCKY!!!!
10/18/2025 08:44:24 PM
Josh Kattus got the drive started with a first down reception, Jason Patterson rushed for another long gain, and Hardley Gilmore drew a pass interference to get Kentucky into the red zone. Texas brought heat and Boley made them pay with a 16-yard touchdown, the first rushing score of his Kentucky career.
We got a tie ballgame with 12:04 to play.
Sack Em Soles Time
10/18/2025 08:34:36 PM
Texas did not keep its foot on the gas, thanks to one Steven Soles. Kentucky brought the blitz on third down. Manning made a few miss, but couldn’t get away from No. 35. The Cats are getting the ball to start the fourth quarter.
A Switch has been Flipped
10/18/2025 08:31:51 PM
Kentucky had something going. Then Texas got an explosive play that turned into points. The defense that has dominated foes all year returned for the ensuing Kentucky possession. The Wildcats lost yards before punting the ball away. It feels like Kentucky needs a turnover or Texas could run away with this.
Texas gets a Quick Field Goal
10/18/2025 08:25:31 PM
After a long, methodical Kentucky drive, Texas hit this Kentucky defense in a hurry. On the second play of the drive. Manning found Emmett Mosley for a 31-yard gain. The Horns had a wide open receiver on the next snap, but the ball fell to the turf. Kentucky made the most of that opportuntity and put enough pressure on Arch on third down to get a stop.
Kentucky missed its 53-yard attempt. Texas’ Mason Shipley did not. It’s 10-3 Horns after the 2-minute scoring drive.
Seth McGowan Injury
10/18/2025 08:22:50 PM
The Kentucky running back was spotted heading back to the locker room. It’s unclear when or how he was injured, but McGowan has been nursing an injury for the last couple of weeks.
Kentucky is on the Scoreboard
10/18/2025 08:14:36 PM
It took a long time, but Kentucky found a way to get on the scoreboard. In addition to the crazy scramble you saw below, Boley connected with Hardley Gilmore on 4th and 2 to put the Cats in scoring range. Jason Patterson was better than expected, racking up a 7-yard run and a 10-yard completion. The drive finally stalled after 15 plays, 53 yards, and 8:44, with Jacob Kauwe drilling a 46-yard field goal.
How Did Boley Get Away?
10/18/2025 08:13:14 PM
The Kentucky QB looked dead to rights. Some how, some way, he got away.
Texas 3-and-OUT
10/18/2025 08:04:46 PM
Texas handed it off to Wisner a couple of times to set up a third and short. Arch Manning’s QB power was stuffed at the line of scrimmage, giving the ball right back to Kentucky. Cats are going to start at their own 20-yard line. Let’s see what this offense has left in the tank.
Ochocinco is Ready to Remove Goalposts
10/18/2025 07:47:16 PM
Sack Spoils 2-Minute Drill
10/18/2025 07:44:21 PM
DJ Miller caught his first pass as a Wildcat to put Kentucky comfortably within scoring range. That’s when Texas brought the blitz. Boley was sacked, forcing the Cats to attempt a 53-yard field goal. Jacob Kauwe gave it enough leg, but it missed wide left. To make matters worse, “THE KICK IS GOOD” covered the Kroger Field scoreboard after the miss.
Texas leads 7-0 and gets the ball first to start the second half.
Great Two-Minute Play by Kentucky?
10/18/2025 07:34:33 PM
The Wildcats were able to hold, thanks to a sack by David Gusta and Grant Godfrey, forcing a Texas punt. It lookedl ike Kentucky would be content taking it into halftime, but a couple of explosives to Seth McGowan and Kendrick Law have the Cats in scoring range.
Interception Boley
10/18/2025 07:23:28 PM
Cutter Boley was under pressure on third and a mile. It looked like he was trying to get rid of the ball, but it didn’t get close to the sideline. Anthony Hill intercepted the ball in Kentucky territory. Texas has a chance to take all of the game’s momentum with a score.
Forced Fumble at the Goal Line is Still a Texas Touchdown
10/18/2025 07:10:30 PM
Cam Dooley jarred the ball loose from Wisner, but the Horns had an offensive lineman fall on the loose ball in the end zone. Wisner was not credited with the touchdown.
Texas 7, Kentucky 0.
Texas Nearly Houses a Punt
10/18/2025 07:07:44 PM
Kentucky caught a break when Cutter Boley was slammed down into the end zone and officials gave him forward progress at the 1-yard line. They still lost the field position battle. Ryan Niblett nearly had his second punt return touchdown in as many weeks, but the Texas return man was tripped up at the 5-yard line.
Ochocinco Made it to the Student Section
10/18/2025 07:06:42 PM
More Former Cats Back in Lexington
10/18/2025 07:06:29 PM
The Kentucky women’s basketball and volleyball teams were the first introduced at Kroger Field. In this timeout, it was all former Cats: Wesley Woodyard, Randall Cobb, Deone Walker, Ray Davis, Maxwell Hairston, and Keenan Burton got an ovation from the crowd. Also spotted Dicky Lyons Jr. heading to a suite before the game, but he didn’t make his way down to the field in the second quarter.
Impressive Stop
10/18/2025 07:01:25 PM
Kentucky let Texas get its second third down conversion with 12+ yards to go. The Horns got inside the 40, but the defense once again held strong. On third and 8, Texas tried a QB draw to get it close enough to kick a field goal. The Kentucky blitz gobbled it up, forcing another Texas punt.
The punt was a beauty, downed at the Kentucky 9-yard line where the Cats will get the ball in a 0-0 ballgame.
Another Punt
10/18/2025 06:53:56 PM
Kendrick Law made an outstanding catch on the sideline to get the Cats into Texas territory. Unfortunately, they couldn’t do anything with it. On third and five, the Cats went empty. Boley looked to the boundary where five Texas defenders were guarding two. In the blink of an eye, Colin Simmons had Boley on the ground.
Scoreless Tie After One Quarter
10/18/2025 06:50:01 PM
Kentucky has a manageable third down near midfield to open the second quarter.
Mark Stoops is Mad About Something
10/18/2025 06:48:39 PM
What exactly? Your guess is as good as mine.
Kentucky Avoids Catastrophe
10/18/2025 06:41:37 PM
Tavion Gadson and Kam Olds put a hurting on Manning. The sack set Texas WAY behind the chains, but the Horns still converted on third and long. Like the possession before, Kentucky dug deep and didn’t give up another first down. However, the Cats did nearly give the ball to Texas inside the red zone when Ty Bryant muffed the punt. Fortunately, he fell on it right away, evading an epic disaster.
That Was Weird
10/18/2025 06:33:04 PM
Kentucky went 3-and-out. The three plays:
9-yard run by Dowdell
Fade to Gilmore incomplete
Fade to Gilmore incomplete
The second attempt felt like the right idea. It was a pretty pass, and Gilmore made a great play on the ball, but the cornerback ripped it away as they approached the turf. The third-down decision? Woof.
Celebrity Sightings!
10/18/2025 06:29:23 PM
Quick Stop for the Cats!
10/18/2025 06:26:28 PM
It didn’t feel like things were going to go well for the Cats. On the first third and long of the day, Kentucky brought a blitz and manned up. Texas picked it up, giving Manning an open running lane to get nearly 20 yards on the ground.
The defense didn’t let the drive get sideways. On third and 3, Sark dialed up a double-reverse flea-flicker. Kentucky didn’t take the bait, and nearly picked off the pass. Cats start the next drive on their own 32.
From Humble Beginnings to ESPN Stardom
10/18/2025 06:21:39 PM
Wow. What an incredible moment for Matt Jones. Cheers to KSR’s Fearless Leader!
Zero Points in the Red Zone
10/18/2025 06:18:30 PM
A great drive ended in zero points. Seen that before?
Cutter Boley had a couple of nice third-down completions to Hardley Gilmore and Seth McGowan to get the Cats rocking and rolling. His long scramble appeared to be enough for a first down inside the red zone. The issue is that he slid. Slides always take away a yard or two. If he dove forward, the sticks were moving.
Instead, the slide made it 3rd and 2. Kentucky decided to try a QB sneak into the teeth of the Texas defense. It got a yard. Dante Dowdell did not get one more on the next play, giving the Horns the ball at the 16.
Kentucky vs. Texas will start on ESPN
10/18/2025 06:05:55 PM
Good news! Even though Texas A&M vs. Arkansas started late on ESPN, they’re getting booted to ESPN News so Kentucky vs. Texas can take the ESPN spotlight. Here we go…
DJ Waller Jr. was injured in warmups
10/18/2025 06:01:22 PM
Kentucky spokesperson confirms that the the starting cornerback was injured in warmups and will miss tonight’s game. It’s the 10th game over the last two years that Waller was unavailable.
DJ Waller Jr. will miss another game
10/18/2025 05:48:28 PM
Kentucky was supposed to get starting cornerback DJ Waller Jr. back in the lineup for the first time since Week 1. Well, it looks like that won’t happen. Despite not being listed on the availability report and showing on up on the big screen at Kroger Field when the starting lineups were announced, Waller was not dressed out during warmups.
Lots of burnt orange at Kroger Field
10/18/2025 05:15:45 PM
We knew Texas would bring a lot of fans to its first-ever game in Lexington, but there is reportedly a TON of burnt orange at the game and around town. The fact that Keeneland is running sweetened the pot, I’m sure. Nick Roush says this is the most people he’s seen around the stadium for a game this year; unfortunately, a huge chunk of them are wearing the opposing team’s color.
Kickoff will now be 7:10 PM ET
10/18/2025 04:58:25 PM
After pushing kickoff back to 7:15 PM ET due to the late start of Arkansas vs. Texas A&M, it’s been moved up five minutes to 7:10 PM ET. I hope you didn’t have big plans for those extra five minutes.
Change in Kickoff Time!
10/18/2025 04:40:49 PM
Thunderstorms in Fayetteville forced Arkansas to delay kickoff against Texas A&M until 5:30 ET. That means kickoff will be pushed back in Lexington. Texas and Kentucky will kick off at 7:15 PM ET on ESPN.
Here’s a question I don’t know the answer to. The Arkansas-A&M game will NOT be over in less than two hours. Will they move that game to another network, or will Kentucky-Texas start on a different ESPN channel? We’ll let you know as soon as we know the answer to that question.
Final Availability Report
10/18/2025 04:35:21 PM
Texas is waiting to see if defensive tackle Maraard Watson can give it a go at game time. The run-stuffer has started in every game this season for the Horns.
How to Watch/Listen
10/18/2025 04:06:24 PM
We’re officially two hours from kickoff. As you make your evening plans, here’s how to watch or listen to the game:
- Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN (Dave Flemming, Brock Osweiler, Stormy Buonantony)
- Local Radio: UK Sports Network (Tom Leach, Jeff Piecoro, Dick Gabriel)
- AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
- FM: 98.1 WBUL
- Online: iHeart Radio
- Sirius XM: 162 or 192 (UK)
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