LEXINGTON, Ky. – In an intense overtime showdown, Mason Shipley successfully kicked a 45-yard field goal, lifting No. 21 Texas to a 16-13 victory over Kentucky on Saturday night.
“Every season has its moments where the game isn’t particularly polished, but the team’s unity pulls through,” Shipley expressed. “Tonight, our guys found a way to win even as things seemed to be slipping away.”
Shipley had earlier put the Longhorns (5-2, 2-1 in the Southeastern Conference) ahead with a crucial 39-yard field goal, leaving just a minute on the clock and giving Texas a slim 13-10 lead.
However, Kentucky (2-4, 0-4) managed to level the playing field. Jacob Kauwe’s impressive 45-yard field goal with only nine seconds left forced the game into overtime.
Despite being limited to a mere 179 total yards, the Longhorns capitalized on two significant punt returns by Ryan Niblett, which proved pivotal in fending off the Wildcats.
The Longhorns’ defense was remarkable, executing a decisive goal-line stand at their own 1-yard line, successfully halting four consecutive run attempts by the Wildcats within the 5-yard mark.
Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian praised his team’s ability to overcome the struggling Wildcats.
“Absolute credit to our defense,” Sarkisian said. “What a tremendous goal-line stand in overtime. What a tremendous job by our special teams … half the SEC lost today, and we were on the other half that won.”
Niblett’s 43-yard return in the fourth quarter set up Shipley’s late field goal. Shipley also connected on a 53-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning threw for 132 yards, while running back Quintrevion Wisner ran for Texas’ lone touchdown in the second quarter.
Kentucky’s defense limited Texas to 93 total yards in the first half. The Longhorns scored their only touchdown following Niblett’s 45-yard punt return on DJ Campbell’s fumble recovery in the end zone with 6:22 remaining in the first half.
Trailing 10-3 in the fourth quarter, Kentucky tied the score on quarterback Cutter Boley’s 16-yard run with 12:04 remaining.
Boley threw for 258 yards and rushed for for 27 more for the Wildcats, who doubled the Longhorns’ offensive output with 395 yards.
“What a win,” Sarkisian said. “I’ve said this all along. You go on the road at night in the SEC this league is tough. It’s hard, and for us to find a way to win this game tonight.”
Takeaway
Texas: The Longhorns have won five of their past six games after opening the season with a 14-7 loss at No. 1 Ohio State. Texas visited Lexington for the first time in program history and a first appearance in the Bluegrass State since a 41-10 loss to Louisville in 1993. Texas improved to 3-0 against Kentucky. Texas is 32-8 in its last 40 games and has won 15 of its last 17 conference games, dating back to its membership in the Big 12. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian won his 90th game as a head coach and his 43rd at Texas. The Longhorns are 21-1 after scoring first since the 2023 season.
Kentucky: The Wildcats fell to 0-3 against ranked teams this season and haven’t defeated a ranked team at home since a 33-14 win over then-No. 22 Florida in 2023. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops is now 31-66 against conference foes. Kentucky has averaged just 15 points per game in four conference games this season. Those struggles continued against the Longhorns. Kentucky was stopped on fourth-and-1 at the Texas 16-yard-line on its opening drive and missed a 53-yard field-goal attempt with 8 seconds remaining in the first half.
Rich returns
Former Kentucky coach Rich Brooks was in attendance for homecoming. Brooks coached the Wildcats from 2003-09 and guided Kentucky to four consecutive bowl appearances, including three visits to the Music City Bowl in Nashville.
Up Next
Texas: At Mississippi State on Saturday.
Kentucky: Host Tennessee on Saturday.
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