Cutter Boley has his first SEC win as a starter. That is a good thing. The bad thing is it was ugly, it was gritty, and it was defined more by what his defense did to the other team, but it's a win all the same. The freshman quarterback's performance in Kentucky's 10-3 victory at Auburn was a mix of poise and problems. Let's break it down.
Analyzing Cutter Boley's stats and performance vs Auburn
Boley (18-of-29, 161 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT) looked golden compared to his Auburn counterparts, who combined for a miserable 123 passing yards and an interception on 31 attempts. Boley was the more composed quarterback, managing the game effectively, especially on the game's lone touchdown drive. His 32-yard completion to Fred Farrier II down the sideline was a big-time throw that set up the score. He also engineered the game-sealing drive, bleeding the clock when it mattered. But the win came despite his mistakes, not because of a flawless performance. He continues to be plagued by turnovers. One interception was a terrible read. The other, an interception by AnQuon Fegans, was a catastrophic mistake where his arm was hit, thankfully freshman Cam Miller played above his freshman status, hustled and caused a fumble that helped Kentucky retain possession.
One big worry is that Cutter Boley now has at least one interception in five straight games and in six of his seven career starts. That is a troubling trend that championship-level (or even bowl-level) quarterbacks cannot have. In the end, Boley did just enough. He went on the road in a hostile environment, bounced back from two turnovers, and led a game-winning touchdown drive in the SEC. It was far from perfect, but it was another step forward in his development as a winner.
Grade: C+
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion