Kentucky Rushing Attack Set Up for Success vs Eastern Michigan

Aug 30, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats running back Seth McGowan (3) runs the ball during the first quarter against the Toledo Rockets at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

The focus of Big Blue Nation has been on Kentucky’s woeful passing attack. The numbers are not good at all, and a change is imminent at quarterback, but from a matchup standpoint, the name of the game against Eastern Michigan is on the ground.

Chris Creighton‘s program has been decimated by the transfer portal, which is probably why their defense has been decimated on the ground by their first two opponents this season. Texas State ran for 392 yards and three touchdowns in the opener, before FCS Long Island gashed the Eagles for 231 yards and four scores.

The Eastern Michigan defense ranks in the 130s in all of the advanced stats, while allowing 7.42 yards per carry, the second-worst mark in FBS. This week, they’ll line up against a unit that’s found some early success on the ground.

“We played them when they had Benny Snell and it looks like they’re getting back to what they started out as, or maybe they built their program by running the football,” said Eastern Michigan head coach Chris Creighton.

“It’s going to be a huge task. It was going to be a huge task whether we shut out the previous two opponents and held ’em to less than 50 yards. They’re really good at it. We’re putting a plan together, but I absolutely expect for us to take a step forward this week, and we’re doing to do everything we can to stop and limit their run game, but they’re really good at it.”

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[READ: The KSR+ Scouting Report on Eastern Michigan]

Dante Dowdell is averaging 6.6 yards per carry and has a 79-yard rushing touchdown on his resume. Seth McGowan scored twice against Ole Miss and is also getting more than 5 yards per touch. It’s early in the season, but the two backs are on pace to each have 1,000-yard seasons.

“It’s not just those two guys. That offensive line is massive and old. I say old in terms of experience. They’re graduates and seniors. They’re huge, they’re well-coached, and those two backs are really, really good players. Earlier in their careers — they’re both transfers — they were really productive backs at their previous institutions,” said Creighton.

All of Big Blue Nation’s attention will be on the quarterback play this Saturday. Can Cutter Boley elevate the passing game? Even if the Wildcats are not crisp through the air, they should be able to effectively move the ball on the ground against Eastern Michigan.