The Final Prep: Previewing Kentucky vs. Texas

After a rare second bye week, Kentucky returns home under the lights of Kroger Field for a primetime matchup with No. 21 Texas. The Wildcats are still searching for their first SEC win of the season and the first home SEC win in over two calendar years. The pressure is on Mark Stoops to deliver a response in front of a restless fan base.

Redshirt freshman Cutter Boley will make his first home start of 2025 and third this season since taking over at quarterback, tasked with leading a young Kentucky team against one of college football’s most talented defenses.

Texas comes to Lexington riding high after a convincing rivalry game win over No. 6 Oklahoma, a statement bounce-back after a surprising loss at Florida. Steve Sarkisian’s group can’t afford another stumble if it wants to stay in the College Football Playoff picture. With a rowdy Kroger Field crowd, an influx of visiting Longhorn fans, and Keeneland doubleheaders in full swing, Saturday night sets up as one of the biggest games of the year in Lexington. Let’s get you ready for it.

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Pregame Storylines

1. Finally Home Again: After road trips to South Carolina and Georgia with a bye week on each side, Kentucky returns to Kroger Field for the first time in over a month, marking the longest drought between home games in school history. The Wildcats hope familiar surroundings bring new energy to a season in desperate need of a spark.
2. Cutter Boley At Home Again: Cutter Boley starts in Kroger Field for the first time since he started and was pulled at halftime of Kentucky’s blowout loss to Louisville in the 2024 regular season finale. Mark Stoops mentioned Boley’s progress from one tough road start to the next in 2025, and stressed the importance of taking another step forward this week in the return home.
3. Mark Stoops Under Pressure: Kentucky’s 0-3 start in SEC play has turned up the heat on the program’s all-time winningest coach. Fans are desperate for a home SEC win, and pulling off an upset over a ranked Texas team would be one big step in the right direction for Stoops in getting his program back on track.
4. Texas Heating Up Again: After a letdown loss at Florida, Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns rebounded with a convincing win over No. 6 Oklahoma. Texas is back in the Top 25 and can’t afford another slip if it wants to stay alive in the SEC title and playoff races.
5. Arch Manning Watch: All eyes will be on Texas quarterback Arch Manning, one of college football’s biggest names. He’s been steady but still searching for a true breakout game, and Kentucky’s defense, which ranks 15th in the SEC in points allowed and 14th in passing defense, can’t afford to be the team that gives it to him.
6. Battle in the Trenches: Kentucky’s experienced offensive line will be tested by one of the SEC’s most physical defenses. If the Cats can’t protect Boley, it’ll be another long night against a ranked opponent that allows only 11 points per game.
7. First Meeting in Lexington: The two programs have met only twice before, both in Austin. Saturday marks Texas’ first-ever trip to the Bluegrass, and with a national audience on ESPN, it’s another chance for Lexington to show why it belongs on the SEC’s biggest stages.
8. A Loaded Lexington Weekend: It’s one of the busiest weekends of the year in the city: Keeneland races in the afternoon, Homecoming and Parents Weekend on campus, and the Blue-White basketball game tipping off Friday night at Rupp Arena. Expect a packed, electric atmosphere around town and inside Kroger Field. Expect traffic chaos, too.

How To Watch/Listen to Kentucky vs. #21 Texas

• Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
• TV: ESPN (Dave Flemming, Brock Osweller, 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 202 (UK); 108 or 191 (Texas)

Player Spotlight

• Kentucky QB, #8 Cutter Boley: The redshirt freshman continues to gain experience in his third start since taking over the offense. After using the bye week to reset, Boley now gets his first home start of the season against one of the best defensive units in the country. His poise and accuracy will be crucial if Kentucky hopes to sustain drives and avoid another slow start.
• Kentucky RB, #3 Seth McGowan: McGowan remains Kentucky’s offensive engine, ranking fourth in the SEC in rushing yards per game (86.2) and third in rushing TDs (7). The transfer tailback has provided toughness and big-play potential out of the backfield, forming a productive tandem with fellow transfer Donte Dowdell. Kentucky will lean on McGowan and Dowdell to control tempo. You know the drill.
• Kentucky ILB, #3 Alex Afari Jr.: A steady presence in the middle of Brad White’s defense, Afari ranks fourth in the SEC in tackles per game (7.4) and rarely leaves the field. His ability to diagnose plays and track down Texas’ versatile runners will be vital if Kentucky wants to contain the Longhorns’ balanced offense.
• Texas QB, #16 Arch Manning: Manning, who needs no introduction here, played one of his best games in the Red River win last weekend, completing a career-high 21 passes on 27 attempts for 166 yards and a touchdown. He finished 11-for-12 with 117 yards and a touchdown on third-down throws. Manning also leads Texas in rushing this season.
• Texas LB, #0 Anthony Hill Jr.: An All-American, the junior linebacker is one of the SEC’s top defensive disruptors after leading Texas in tackles (113), tackles for loss (16.5), and forced fumbles (4), while finishing third in sacks (8), in 2024. Hill had 11 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble against Kentucky last season.
• Texas EDGE, #1 Colin Simmons: Only a sophomore, Simmons starred against the Sooners with 2.5 sacks in the biggest win of the season. He leads Texas in sacks (4) and had a strip-sack last year on fellow true freshman Cutter Boley in Austin.

Depth Charts

KENTUCKY

Injury Reports

For Kentucky, the biggest piece of news on the availability report is that cornerback DJ Waller is not on it.

• RB Jamarion Wilcox: Out
• OLB Jacob Smith: Out
• CB Nasir Addison: Out
• LB Devin Smith: Out
• DL Nic Smith: Out
• WR David Washington Jr.: Out
• TE Elijah Brown: Out
• WR Troy Stellato: Questionable
• OL Aba Selm: Probable
• DB Jaden Smith: Probable

For Texas, starting center Cole Hutson is a significant absence against the Wildcats:

• WR Aaron Butler: Out
• LB Jonathan Cunningham: Out
• OL Cole Hutson: Out
• DB Xavier Filsaime: Out
• OL Connor Stroh: Out
• RB CJ Baxter: Doubtful
• DL Maraad Watson: Questionable

Last Meeting / All-Time Series

Last year in Austin, the Longhorns beat Kentucky 31-14 in their first SEC meeting, riding a dominant rushing attack and an airtight defense. Texas ran for 251 yards, led by Quintrevion Wisner’s 158 yards and a score, while limiting Kentucky to just 21 yards on the ground.

The Longhorns’ defense also pressured Kentucky’s quarterbacks (yes, plural) relentlessly, tying a season high with six sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Kentucky’s offense, which turned to Cutter Boley in the second half, was held to only 232 total yards, and the Cats managed only two scoring drives in the second-ever meeting between the two sides.

All-time series: Texas leads 2-0

2025 Team Schedules/Results

Kentucky (2-3, 0-3 SEC)

• vs. Toledo (W, 24-16)
• vs. (20) Ole Miss. (L, 30-23)
• vs. Eastern Michigan (W, 48-23)
• at South Carolina (L, 35-13)
• at (12) Georgia (L, 35-14)
• vs. (21) Texas
• vs. (11) Tennessee
• at Auburn
• vs. Florida
• vs. Tennessee Tech
• at (17) Vanderbilt
• at Louisville

#21 Texas (4-2, 1-1 SEC)

• @ (3) Ohio State (L, 14-7)
• vs. San Jose State (W, 38-7)
• vs. UTEP (W, 27-10)
• vs. Sam Houston (W, 55-0)
• @ Florida (L, 29-21)
• vs. (6) Oklahoma (W, 23-6)
• @ Kentucky
• @ Mississippi State
• vs. (17) Vanderbilt
• @ (9) Georgia
• vs. Arkansas
• vs. (4) Texas A&M

Join The Discussion over at KSBoard

Consider joining the conversation on KSBoard to interact with the KSR crew during the game. A live discussion can be found in the game thread, plus several other topics and conversations about the Wildcats and more.

Point Spread

Point Spread: Texas -12.5
Over/Under: 43.5
Moneyline: Texas -485/UK +370

Coaches’ Comments

Mark Stoops

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Pregame Link Dump

• Bio Blast: Texas Longhorns
• Mitch Barnhart opens up on Mark Stoops, Big Blue Nation’s ‘angst’ with Kentucky football
• Mark Stoops’ being tossed around behind the scenes’ at Virginia Tech
• Kentucky will need to overcome pair of woeful trends against Texas
• Kentucky Football Refuses to Quit: “Everyone Still Believes”
• Decisiveness is the Key for Cutter Boley
• Stoops breaks down Arch Manning and his own young QB before the Texas game
• ‘Tackling has been an emphasis’: Kentucky’s defense is looking to show improvement against Texas
• Mark Stoops believes Kentucky’s offense is ‘getting better’ despite the bad numbers
• What’s the Identity of this Kentucky Team? It’s about to be put to the test
• KSR Football Podcast: Back to work for Texas Week
• 11 Personnel E332: Reading the Room Ahead of Texas
• WATCH: Brad White, Kentucky defense preview Texas

Weather Report

Saturday’s forecast calls for a high of 79 while you’re tailgating, then a low of 62 around the time you’re heading home from the game. However, some rain may sneak into the area late in the evening, maybe even a thunderstorm. Dress appropriately and enjoy the day, Big Blue Nation.

Listen to the KSR Pregame Show

Tune in to the KSR Pregame Show at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, live from KSBar and Grille. Even better, get to KSBar and Grille before, during, and after the game.

Go Cats. Horns Down.