KSR Today: Led by Cutter Boley, Kentucky's offense finally hums

The offense dominated to make up for some inconsistent defensive play. Just like we all expected, right?

It was a season debut to remember for Cutter Boley, leading his side of the football to 492 total yards — the most for Kentucky against an FBS opponent since 2021 with 511 at Louisville. That included a perfectly balanced 252 yards on the ground and four touchdowns with a career-high 240 yards and two scores for Boley through the air, making it the first 240-yard day for both rushing and passing since, again, 2021 vs. New Mexico State. To add to the feel-good stats, that offensive attack featured eight rushes of 10-plus yards and seven passes of 20-plus yards, consistently hitting on explosives for the first time all season. That included a 7-of-7 finish in the red zone, execution a thing of beauty.

Maybe the Wildcats have finally figured things out — and they have the quarterback to get them there? Let’s not get too crazy yet, but it’s undoubtedly a step in the right direction. Let’s talk about it on this beautiful Sunday morning, shall we?

Cutter Boley slings the rock to the tight ends

Watching grass grow was more entertaining than watching this offense in the first two weeks — specifically with whatever they were trying to accomplish in the non-existent passing attack. Then Boley stepped in and managed eight explosives through the air, nearly matching the entire season total in 21 total balls thrown. He spread the love, too, with seven pass-catchers splitting the receptions and five going to the tight ends with six players racking up at least 25 receiving yards.

That’s pretty darn good, folks.

Josh Kattus led the way with 61 yards and a score on three catches, followed by Hardley Gilmore IV with 48 on two, Ja’Mori Maclin with 36 on one, Fred Farrier II with 33 on one, Willie Rodriguez with 28 and a touchdown on two and Kendrick Law adding 25 on two.

“It was good, it was fun. I had a lot of fun out there today,” Boley said of his first start of the season. “A ton (more comfortable) and it’s a lot of thanks to the other 10 guys on the field, the five guys up front doing a lot of work. I don’t know if there are another five guys in front of me I’d rather have in the country. They play good ball and give me a lot of time. The dudes on the outside — we’ve got weapons all over the place. It’s really easy being out there with all those guys.”

Mark Stoops said it’d be ‘reckless’ to immediately name long-term starter

The Kentucky head coach saw what we all saw, obviously, Boley moving the ball with consistency and showing off real chemistry with his pass-catchers. It was the best the operation has looked all year by a mile and certainly inspired confidence going into the bye week and SEC play set to ramp back up.

But Stoops couldn’t stand at the podium and name him the permanent starter after a single performance — especially against a winless MAC opponent. You don’t make that decision in the heat of the moment minutes after the victory; it takes time.

“I don’t think that’s right for me to make that decision right now,” Stoops said. “I have to watch the film. I have to see where Zach (Calzada) is at, and talk to my players, get on the same page. So, I think that would be reckless to make that decision right now. I was pleased with the way Cutter played, and that doesn’t surprise me. I felt like he would play well.”

Where can I buy a Seth McGowan jersey?

The running game may not earn the same attention because it’s not as sexy on the surface, but goodness gracious, the Wildcats are cooking with gas in that department, led by Seth McGowan. My guy went for 104 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries with no rush longer than 17 yards. Just steady, consistent dominance — and he now leads the entire conference in scores.

And how about Jason Patterson stepping up with Dante Dowdell (eight carries for 29 yards) a little banged up? The redshirt freshman finished second on the team with 80 yards on 13 carries with his first career touchdown. Like the guys ahead of him on the depth chart, he ran hard and earned every yard — especially on his scoring run.

.@JPatterson_5 hammering through for 6️⃣💪

📺- ESPNU pic.twitter.com/Q4IZ43GYtf

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) September 14, 2025

It’s a very good room and all of those guys deserve a ton of credit. In a year of ups and downs through three games, they’ve been the constant.

Defense has its first real letdown of the season

The defense had been right up there with the rushing attack among near-guarantees on the year — then Saturday night happened. And Brad White was not pleased about it.

As good as the offense was, the defense gave up 461 yards with an average of 6.3 yards per play, forcing just two punts. Eastern Michigan threw for 330 yards and a touchdown with seven pass-catchers earning multiple receptions — essentially all up from the opening-drive interception Noah Kim threw to put Kentucky on the board in the first minute.

23 points allowed on six total scores (two touchdowns, four field goals) simply won’t cut it for this defense.

“Having the bye week will be good, but they better be ready to strap it up and let’s go,” White said. “This is not an easy bye week, happy-go-lucky scenario. We have to freaking redial-in, get back to the standard we play with and that was anything but tonight.”

Stoops, Hamdan, White and Cutter speak after win

The offense was mostly positive and the defense was mostly negative, those vibes properly reflected at the podium with Stoops and in the postgame media scrums with Bush Hamdan, Brad White and the players on both side of the football.

KSR was right in the thick of it all to get the footage.

Mark Stoops

Bush Hamdan, Cutter Boley, Seth McGowan, Josh Kattus

Brad White, Jordan Lovett and Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace

KSR’s Rapid Reaction

What did the KSR crew of Drew Franklin, Nick Roush and Adam Luckett have to say after the 25-point win? Check out the Rapid Reaction outside of Kroger Field.

BBNFL Sunday Schedule

Big Blue Nation fell asleep happy on Saturday night, but will they do the same on Sunday? New UK Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Josh Hines-Allen and the Jacksonville Jaguars are in Cincinnati to take on the Bengals while Ray Davis and Deone Walker (Bills), Wan’dale Robinson (Giants) and Za’Darius Smith (Eagles) are among the other former Wildcats taking the field today.

Take a look at the full schedule:

• Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens – 1 PM ET (CBS)
• Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals – 1 PM ET (CBS)
  • Josh Hines-Allen (JAX)
• New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys – 1 PM ET (FOX)
  • Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG)
  • Dru Phillips (NYG)
• Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions – 1 PM ET (FOX)
• New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins – 1 PM ET (CBS)
• San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints – 1 PM ET (FOX)
  • Luke Fortner (NO)
• Buffalo Bills at New York Jets – 1 PM ET (CBS)
  • Ray Davis (BUF)
  • Deone Walker (BUF)
• Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers – 1 PM ET (FOX)
  • Brandin Echols (PIT)
• Los Angeles Rams at Tennessee Titans – 1 PM ET (CBS)
  • Bryce Oliver (TEN)
• Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals – 4:05 PM ET (CBS)
  • Trevin Wallace (CAR)
• Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts – 4:05 PM ET (CBS)
• Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs – 4:25 PM ET (FOX)
  • Za’Darius Smith (PHI)
• Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings – 8:20 PM ET (NBC)

Enjoy your Sunday, BBN. You’ve earned it.