Offense carries Kentucky to blowout win over Eastern Michigan

Kentucky’s football program has a winning recipe. The Wildcats typically want to win football games with a punishing run game and defense. That will likely remain the plan this season. The former delivered in Saturday’s 48-23 win over Eastern Michigan, but the latter had its worst performance of the season to this point.

UK’s typical stingy big-play defense was nowhere to be found today. Eastern Michigan was often one step ahead of the UK defense, and forced the Wildcats to make some plays on the perimeter. Kentucky had some issues making plays on the perimeter. This is starting to become a theme.

There was some good and some bad as Kentucky improved to 2-1 heading into the first bye week of the season. We’re unpacking it all from the Kroger Field press box in a night where Bush Hamdan‘s offense carried the team to the winner’s circle.

Kentucky nearly drops fiftyburger in Cutter Boley’s first start in 2025

The Wildcats were forced to make a quarterback change in Week 3. Zach Calzada was out with a shoulder injury. Redshirt freshman Cutter Boley stepped in to make his second career start on Saturday night at Kroger Field.

This one finished much better than the last.

Kentucky finished the game with 48 points in 11 non-end of half drives with 252 rushing yards (5.5 yards per rush) and 240 passing yards (11.4 yards per pass). Kentucky found explosives with seven different pass catchers recording a reception. Seth McGowan rushed for 104 yards and finished three drives with touchdowns. Boley threw Kentucky’s first two touchdowns passes of the season. Tight ends Josh Kattus and Willie Rodriguez combined to record five receptions on seven targets for 89 yards and two touchdowns. UK was efficient on third down (5-for-10), averaged over seven yards per play, and finished each scoring opportunity with points including six touchdowns in seven red zone possessions.

Eastern Michigan might just be the worst defense that Kentucky sees this season but there is no denying that this group took a step in the right direction in Week 3. The Cats did exactly what they should on Saturday. The game ended with the most points scored in a game for this program since the 52-21 win over Louisville on Thanksgiving weekend in 2021.

Boley’s first start in 2025 went well. Now it’s time to build off of it.

Kentucky’s defense has long night

The game started just like every other Kentucky game has started for the defense. The Cats recorded their fourth interception in the first quarter on the first possession, and that allowed the team to play from the lead after Tehryon Nichols‘ pass breakup led to a Daveren Rayner‘s first career interception.

FIRST PLAY OF THE GAME AND IT'S AN @d9veren INT 😺

📺 – ESPNU pic.twitter.com/apM6wZ3DmF

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) September 13, 2025

But things weren’t pretty after that first play.

Eastern Michigan rolled up 461 total yards (6.3 yards per play) as former Michigan State and Coastal Carolina quarterback Noah Kim finished the game with a career-high 330 yards on 7.9 yards per attempt. The Eagles also rushed for 153 non-sack rushing yards and posted a solid offensive success rate (45.2%). Kentucky only gave up two touchdowns in 12 possessions, but one came on a double move for a 64-yard score against backup cornerback Kevis Thomas. EMU created six total scoring opportunities in the other 11 possessions.

The road team consistently got the ball out on the perimeter and some of their misdirection gave Kentucky some problems in play recognition. When Nichols went out with an injury, there were some major problems that would not get solved until halftime. True freshman Grant Grayton helped settle things in coverage after the half, but this was a very disappointing performance for the Kentucky defense.

This group simply has to play better. Explosive pass plays (four completions of 20-plus yards allowed on Saturday) have been a problem over the last two games. The end of the half also remains an issue as EMU scored 17 total points after each two-minute timeout.

Defensive coordinator Brad White and his unit has much to work on during the bye week.

Kentucky enters the first bye week with a lot to prove

Kentucky’s offense took a step in the right direction on Saturday night at Kroger Field. Kentucky’s defense took a step back on Saturday night at Kroger Field. We leave Week 3 knowing that this football team still has plenty to prove.

It feels like Cutter Boley time for the extended future, and Seth McGowan is quickly looking like one of the best tailbacks in the SEC. The offensive line has not been dominant, but they are clearly much improved. Kentucky’s defense is starting games fast and the early takeaways are allowing UK to play from ahead. The defensive front has been stout throughout 12 quarters and the kicking game continues to impress.

Kentucky has some positive things to build on but there are some concerns. Cornerback depth is clearly getting tested early in the season. UK’s wideouts only produced six receptions in the win despite facing a very bad defense. Tackling remains a concern.

The Cats now enter a bye week where they will look to get healthy and hopefully continue to add to some of those strengths. Awaiting Kentucky in Week 5 will be a South Carolina team with all kinds of offensive issues and now a quarterback injury to deal with. The Gamecocks must travel to Missouri next week before hosting UK. A huge game is coming for both programs at Williams-Brice Stadium at the end of the month.

We will learn a lot more about this football team in two weeks, but for now, the offense showed that they can help this team win football games. Only time will tell if this will ultimately translate to power conference competition.