No. 3 Texas vs. Kentucky final score: Longhorns regain composure late in 31-14 win

The Longhorns kept their conference title and playoff aspirations alive with a win on Senior Day.

AUSTIN, Texas — The stakes for the No. 3 Texas Longhorns remain the same this week — win against the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Senior Day and next week in College Station against the No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies and head coach Steve Sarkisian’s team will play in the SEC Championship game and make a second straight appearance in the College Football Playoffs.

A loss would cloud both situations considerably, something the Horns hope to avoid on an emotional day with the team recognizing a group of seniors that helped turn the program around following Sarkisian’s arrival and the 11-11 start to his tenure, winning 21 of the last 24 games, including 10 straight in true road games.

With Kentucky in Austin, it’s about protecting Campbell-Williams Field in a sold-out stadium against an opponent that hopes to find a way to gain an early lead and then shorten the game to protect a turnover-prone quarterback.

Two players with remaining eligibility received recognition on Senior Day — redshirt junior quarterback Quinn Ewers, confirming reports that he’ll declare for the 2025 NFL Draft, and safety Michael Taaffe, who has a redshirt season available.

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Injury reports

After listing sophomore wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. as questionable and redshirt freshman edge Colton Vasek and senior linebacker Mo Blackwell as probable heading into Saturday, the Longhorns removed all three players from the pre-game injury report.

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First quarter

A check down to sophomore running back Quintrevion Wisner and a handoff to the DeSoto product put the Horns in 3rd and 11, but Ewers was on time with his delivery to junior wide receiver Matthew Golden for 19 yards and a first down, then hit Golden again on a run-pass option for 14 yards. Back on the ground, Wisner moved the chains again after consecutive runs. Another run-pass option went to Golden, who picked up 20 yards into the red zone.

A run by only went for a yard before Ewers checked down to freshman Ryan Wingo in the flat for a seven-yard gain. On 3rd and 2, Ewers pulled the run-pass option, but wasn’t able to connect with Golden, who had a defender draped all over him. Typically aggressive, Sarkisian went for it and Ewers was forced out of the pocket, but was able to connect with senior tight end Gunnar Helm throwing on the move to his left for a three-yard touchdown.

The Texas defense allowed a run to leak into the secondary on Kentucky’s first play from scrimmage before a blitz by sophomore linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. helped produce a sack on the next play. After a two-yard run, the Wildcats faced 3rd and 15, Vandagriff left the pocket quickly and without facing pressure, gaining three yards before he was tackled by a host of Longhorns.

Ewers had to scramble to convert a 3rd and 5 to extend the second Texas drive, setting up an explosive run by junior running back Jaydon Blue, who found a seam for 21 yards. Targeting Golden for the sixth time on 10 pass attempts, Ewers hit the Houston transfer for 13 yards. Blue’s second carry on the drive went up the middle for five yards. Trying to hit a shot play on play action, the ball from Ewers came out a little bit late and underthrown targeting junior wide receiver Isaiah Bond, allowing the Kentucky defensive back in coverage to break up the pass. When Blue wasn’t able to pick up necessary yardage on a third-down run, Sarkisian went for it again on fourth down, but Ewers had to throw the ball away under pressure for a turnover on downs.

A second-down pass by Vandagriff was nearly intercepted by Texas senior safety Andrew Mukuba, forcing Kentucky into 3rd and 7, an incompletion by Vandagriff to set up another punt by the Wildcats.

Wisner gained 17 yards on the first play for the Horns, but senior center Jake Majors was flagged for a bad holding penalty on the next play to negate an eight-yard gain and put the Longhorns behind the chains. An eight-yard completion to senior wide receiver Silas Bolden and a short gain by Wisner initially set up 3rd and 8, but Wingo was called for a false start and then couldn’t adjust to the third-down throw by Ewers.

Two runs by Kentucky gained eight yards and ended the first quarter.

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Second quarter

Texas senior defensive tackle Alfred Collins was called for a delay of game penalty that kept Kentucky from having to convert the third down. The Wildcats were content to pick up six yards with a first-down run, then tried to throw the ball, an incompletion by Vandagriff. The Kentucky quarterback finally completed his first pass on the ensuing third down, a busted coverage by the Texas secondary for a 42-yard gain into the red zone.

A five-yard completion and a four-yard run set up third and short for the Cats near the goal line. Back-side pursuit from Longhorns junior edge Trey Moore resulted in a tackle for loss and a fumble that the running back was able to recover. Going for it on fourth down, Vandagriff was able to come back to his tight end late for a four-yard touchdown catch, only the fourth passing touchdown allowed by Texas this season.

The Longhorns started their drive at the 35-yard line when the kickoff went out of bounds. Blue opened the possession with six-yard gain, Ewers scrambled for three yards, and Blue moved the chains with a seven-yard run on third down from a short-yardage formation that included all three healthy scholarship running backs in a diamond formation.

Wisner picked up seven yards spelling Blue and Ewers layered a pass over coverage to Bond for 17 yards as the Texas offense regained some rhythm. Two runs by Blue moved the chains again as the Horns entered the red zone, where the Wildcats were finally able to stuff a running play, holding Wisner to one yard. When Ewers had a pass intended for Helm knocked down at the line of scrimmage, Texas had to convert 3rd and 9 to sustain the drive, a throwaway by Ewers, but Kentucky was called for a personal-foul penalty that gave the Longhorns a first down, quickly converted by Blue for a five-yard touchdown run and a 14-7 lead for Texas midway through the second quarter, which stood on review of whether Blue lost the football before breaking the plane of the end zone.

As the officials reviewed the play, Ewers was in the medical tent receiving attention after he came up hobbling on his third-down throwaway.

Kentucky started its drive inside its own 10-yard line after a poor decision on the return and strong coverage by Texas. After a four-yard gain on first down, the Wildcats called their first timeout of the half before another run moved the chains. An inaccurate throw by Vandagriff was intercepted by Longhorns sophomore safety Jelani McDonald on a spectacular diving catch that stood on review.

Back on the field, Ewers completed a pass to Golden for 14 yards, but the Texas offense started to stall with a short run by Blue and a short reception by the Longhorns running back. Ewers made up for it with a pretty touch pass to Helm for a 17-yard touchdown.

Two two-yard gains by Kentucky set up 3rd and 6 for the Wildcats at the two-minute timeout with the Horns coming out of the break and pressuring Vandagriff immediately with senior Jack end Barryn Sorrell and freshman linebacker Ty’Anthony Smith combining for the sack.

Completions to Blue and Helm secured a fresh set of downs for Texas, but took plenty of time off the clock prior to a penalty on Helm as an ineligible receiver downfield on a 15-yard completion to Bond, who made a reception on the next play for a five-yard gain. Working into space, Texas senior wide receiver Silas Bolden picked up 16 yards and benefitted from a fortunate bounce when he fumbled at the end of the play and recovered it himself. After Helm caught a pass just short of a first down, Sarkisian used his second timeout near the edge of field-goal range with 26 seconds remaining. Ewers tried to hit Bond on a double move, but the ball was slightly underthrown and Bond couldn’t come up with the reception in the end zone. When the third-down pass by Ewers was broken up by Kentucky when Ewers targeted the wrong crossing route, Texas senior place kicker Bert Auburn came out to attempt a 49-yard field goal, a line-drive kick that split the uprights to extend the lead to 24-7.

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Third quarter

With Cutter Boley into the game for Vandagriff, Kentucky opened the second half by attempting a play-action pass that resulted in a sack, but Boley bounced back, completing a 43-yard pass by Barion Brown when Texas senior cornerback Jahdae Barron lost his eye discipline in zone coverage. Boley hit another long completion on the ensuing 3rd and 6, but the play was negated by a holding penalty on the Kentucky offensive line that marked a change in field position of 48 yards when the Wildcats had to punt after a short third-down completion.

Wisner picked up eight yards on first down, but lost a yard on his second-down carry and the third-down throw by Ewers to Golden was at the line of scrimmage and Kentucky rallied quickly to force the three and out with the Texas quarterback moving poorly on his injured right ankle.

Hill nearly came up with an interception on a tipped pass as the Wildcats opened their drive past midfield prior to a first-down run by Kentucky. Texas freshman edge Colin Simmons made a tackle for loss on a zone read and an incompletion set up 3rd and 12, a run that nearly gained the necessary yardage, but was enough to allow Kentucky to go for it. On a simple handoff up the middle, the Longhorns defense won the line of scrimmage with the help of a well-timed blitz by senior linebacker Mo Blackwell and forced the turnover on downs.

Sarkisian tried to hit a play-action pass as Texas opened its drive, but the pocket was pushed back into Ewers and he had to throw the ball away. The next play went even more poorly as Blue fumbled for the fourth time this season.

Kentucky took advantage of the sudden change as Boley escaped pressure and made an impressive throw on the run for a 25-yard completion. On first down, the Wildcats picked up six yards down to the goal line, where Sorrell made a tackle for loss. Then Boley made a critical mistake by holding the ball too long on a pass play and Hill came through with a sack. The problems compounded for Kentucky when Alex Raynor missed the 33-yard field goal, ending a streak of 18 consecutive made field goals.

The offense completely melted down after taking possession of the ball — freshman running back Jerrick Gibson fumbled, his third of the season, then Ewers lost control of the ball trying to throw a pass and it fluttered out of his hand into the arms of Jamon Dumas-Johnson, who returned it 26 yards for a touchdown.

After Kentucky blew up a throwback screen on the first down, Wisner ripped off a first-down run and managed to hold onto the football. A well-executed screen on 1st and 5 following an illegal substitution penalty went to Helm for 17 yards before Wisner ran for 17 yards on 2nd and 7. The third quarter ended after a three-yard run by the sophomore back.

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Fourth quarter

The drive stalled when Ewers dropped the snap and then threw a lateral out of bounds for an 11-yard loss. Auburn missed the 47-yard field goal.

Kentucky hit a pass over the middle for a 19-yard gain on a busted coverage by Texas. Good coverage by sophomore cornerback Manny Muhammad broke up a long pass attempt by Boley to forced the Wildcats into 3rd and 7. Boley scrambled and was able to find his intended target for a first down on the 16-yard gain.

Then Kentucky suffered a mishap when Boley couldn’t handle the shotgun snap, forcing the running back to fall on the football for a 10-yard loss. Another strong play in coverage, this time from junior nickel back Jaylon Guilbeau, resulted in another pass break up. Scrambling out of the pocket, Boley nearly hit another big third-down throw, but overthrew his intended receiver to force a punt.

Calling for a fair catch, Bolden muffed the punt, but was able to fall on it for the recovery.

As Texas tried to regain its composure, Wisner picked up a first down on three carries. Finding a crease on outside zone, Wisner broke several tackles and received some late help from his offensive line on a 16-yard gain. Another explosive run picked up 13 yards before Wisner had to give way to Blue, who nearly broke into the open field but was tripped up for an eight-yard run. When Blue was stopped near the line of scrimmage, setting up a third-down conversion by Wisner, who moved the chains with two more runs. Blue kept the momentum going on a 13-yard gain and three more runs iced the game as Wisner found the end zone.

Mukuba closed the game out with an interception to fully secure the 31-14 victory.