Ole Miss holds on, defeats Kentucky 30-23
An SEC matchup highlights the Week 2 slate. Ole Miss and Kentucky will play their first conference game of the year Saturday afternoon in the coveted 3:30 p.m. ET window.
Both teams saw new starting quarterbacks debut last week. Austin Simmons officially has the keys to Lane Kiffin’s offense in Oxford and Zach Calzada is now under center in Lexington after transferring from Incarnate Word.
Now, the two teams will get ready for a Saturday showdown. On3 is tracking the matchup between Ole Miss and Kentucky with live updates, analysis and instant reaction.
Final: Ole Miss 30, Kentucky 23
09/06/2025 06:25:44 PMOle Miss recovered the onside kick and took a knee to seal the 30-23 win. Austin Simmons led the way with 235 yards and a rushing touchdown while Kewan Lacy led the running game with 138 rushing yards and a score on the ground.
Kentucky opts for field goal
09/06/2025 06:23:46 PMWith eight seconds left, Jacob Kauwe’s 39-yard field goal attempt was good. That put Kentucky within one score, trailing 30-23 as the Wildcats set up for an onside kick.
Ole Miss goes up two scores in final minute
09/06/2025 06:17:54 PMFacing a decision on 4th and 11 with 1:10 to go, Ole Miss chose to try and go up two possessions. Lucas Carneiro nailed the 36-yard kick to make it a 30-20- Rebels lead heading into the final minute of action.
Trinidad Chambliss takes over at QB for Ole Miss
09/06/2025 06:08:17 PMEven though Austin Simmons was back on the sideline, Ferris State transfer Trinidad Chambliss took over at quarterback. However, ESPN’s Molly McGrath said Simmons looked like he wanted to try and get back in the game.
“You saw Austin Simmons couldn’t put any weight on that left leg,” McGrath said on the broadcast. “He was in visible pain when he went into the injury tent. But he came out with his left ankle heavily taped, threw the football and looked determined to return. He even sniffed some smelling salts [and] told trainers he’s good to go. So he’s itching to get back out on the field.”
Kentucky turns it over on downs
09/06/2025 06:01:07 PMAfter Cutter Boley entered the game, Kentucky faced a key 4th and 7 as it looked to tie things up. But Ole Miss got its third sack of the day, meaning the ‘Cats turned it over on downs with just over four minutes remaining.
Zach Calzada leaves with injury, Cutter Boley enters
09/06/2025 05:57:25 PMKentucky is also dealing with a quarterback injury after Zach Calzada was favoring his shoulder on the sideline, according to the UK Sports Network. Cutter Boley then came in to take over.
Austin Simmons injured
09/06/2025 05:52:54 PMIn the fourth quarter, Austin Simmons got caught at the bottom of a pile on a sack. He left the field with assistance from the training staff.
End 3Q: Ole Miss 27, Kentucky 20
09/06/2025 05:37:55 PMHeading into the fourth quarter, it’s a one-possession game in Lexington. Ole Miss still holds a 27-20 lead over Kentucky entering the final 15 minutes.
Austin Simmons takes it himself, Ole Miss back in front
09/06/2025 05:27:05 PMOle Miss didn’t waste much time responding to the Kentucky game-tying touchdown with an eight-play, 75-yard drive of its own. Austin Simmons ran it in himself, taking the seven-yard score into the end zone to put the Rebels back on top, 27-20.
Kentucky storms back, tie things back up
09/06/2025 05:18:34 PMAt long last, the explosive play occurred for Kentucky. Zach Calzada found Ja’Mori Maclin for a 44-yard strike, and Seth McGowan ran the game-tying touchdown in to make it a 20-20 game with 5:38 left.
3Q: Ole Miss 20, Kentucky 13
09/06/2025 05:10:18 PMAn Ole Miss touchdown got called back due to a holding call, and the Rebels eventually had to settle for a 28-yard field goal from Lucas Carneiro. That put the Rebels ahead 20-13 with 8:48 left in the third quarter.
Halftime: Ole Miss 17, Kentucky 13
09/06/2025 04:34:02 PMKentucky had a final possession before halftime, but couldn’t get any points out of it. That meant Ole Miss headed into the locker room with a 17-13 lead. UK will get the ball to start the second half.
Ole Miss tacks on FG before halftime
09/06/2025 04:24:23 PMOle Miss faced a decision with a 4th and 3 at the Kentucky 33-yard line. Lane Kiffin ultimately chose to kick the 43-yard field goal, and Lucas Carneiro came through to make it a 17-13 lead with just over a minute to go in the half.
2Q: Ole Miss 14, Kentucky 13
09/06/2025 04:13:13 PMKentucky’s second-quarter drive stalled in the red zone, and the Wildcats had to settle for a field goal. Jacob Kauwe’s 31-yard attempt was true as UK cut the Ole Miss lead to 14-13.
Rebels jump out in front
09/06/2025 04:01:03 PMAustin Simmons got Ole Miss near the goal line, but came up just short of a rushing touchdown. Damien Taylor was there to break through, though, and his 1-yard rush gave the Rebels a 14-10 lead with 8:24 left in the first half.
Ole Miss rolls the dice, gets on the board
09/06/2025 03:43:20 PMFacing 4th and 1 in its own territory, Ole Miss opted to go for it. Austin Simmons found Harrison Wallace III for the big 55-yard pass, and Kewan Lacy punched in the 1-yard score to put the Rebels on the board and make the Kentucky lead 10-7 with 12:25 to go in the first half.
2Q: Kentucky 10, Ole Miss 0
09/06/2025 03:38:15 PMAfter the turnover, Kentucky again put points on the board to extend the lead. Jacob Kauwe hit the 33-yarder to make it a 10-0 advantage less than a minute into the second quarter.
Austin Simmons intercepted again
09/06/2025 03:30:57 PMFor the second consecutive drive, Ty Bryant picked off Austin Simmons. This time, the Ole Miss quarterback overthrew his receiver, and Bryant was there for the interception to give Kentucky the ball right back.
UK strikes first
09/06/2025 03:27:12 PMKentucky was able to capitalize on the Austin Simmons interception and take a 7-0 lead. Seth McGowan took the 9-yard carry into the end zone, putting UK on top with just under two minutes to go in the first quarter.
Kentucky picks off Austin Simmons
09/06/2025 03:18:22 PMAfter a low snap in the first quarter, Austin Simmons threw his first interception of the game. Ty Bryant was there for the pick, putting Kentucky at the Ole Miss 31-yard line.
Ole Miss FG attempt hits the upright
09/06/2025 03:05:10 PMFacing a 4th and 10, Lane Kiffin opted to send the Ole Miss field goal unit onto the field. Lucas Carneiro’s attempt banked off the left upright, keeping things at a scoreless tie through the early part of Saturday’s matchup.
Austin Simmons received treatment on sidelines
09/06/2025 03:02:10 PMAfter Ole Miss’ opening drive against Kentucky, Austin Simmons received treatment on the sidelines, ABC’s Molly McGrath reported. Simmons had both ankles taped, though immediately returned to the game when the Rebels got the ball back.
Coin toss
09/06/2025 02:48:47 PMKentucky won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Ole Miss will get the ball to start Saturday’s game.
Ole Miss, Kentucky injury updates
09/06/2025 02:17:55 PMBoth Ole Miss and Kentucky released their final injury reports Saturday ahead of kickoff. The Rebels listed six players as out for the game, including tight end Luke Hasz and cornerback Jaylon Braxton. As for the Wildcats, cornerback DJ Waller is one of six players ruled out for the matchup.
Pregame: Ole Miss at Kentucky
09/06/2025 02:11:30 PMOle Miss is a 9.5-point favorite over Kentucky for Saturday’s game at Kroger Field, according to BetMGM. The over-under is set at 50.5.
Kickoff time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Announcers: Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy