Just in time for Halloween, Kentucky football is staring down its oldest and most terrifying demon: the backup quarterback.
Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze officially announced Friday that he is benching starting quarterback Jackson Arnold in favor of senior transfer Ashton Daniels. For any other program, this might signal an opponent in disarray. For Big Blue Nation, it's a familiar, stomach-churning omen that triggers flashbacks of games lost and seasons derailed.
The curse is real
If you're a newer Kentucky fan, you might not understand the dread. Allow us to take you back to 2019. Kentucky was dominating Florida at Kroger Field, leading 21-3 in the third quarter. Gators QB Feleipe Franks went down with a gruesome injury. In came the backup, Kyle Trask.
What happened next is seared into the memory of every UK fan. Trask, playing with nothing to lose, led three separate fourth-quarter touchdown drives as Florida roared back to win 29-21, ripping the heart out of a sellout crowd. It's the blueprint for the "Backup QB Curse," and it has haunted Kentucky for years.
Or how about A.J. Swann getting hurt in the South Carolina game for Vandy, and being replaced by Mike Wright who lit the Cats up the following weekend. He finished with 184 passing yards, seems modest. He also had 126 rushing yards in a huge upset for then 3-6 Vandy over 6-3 Kentucky.
Why the change was made
The switch at Auburn wasn't surprising. Jackson Arnold, the high-profile transfer with a big arm and mobility, has been inconsistent. While his career numbers show promise, his 2025 season has been rocky, culminating in a costly pick-six against Arkansas last week that put the Tigers in a deep hole.
Enter Ashton Daniels. The veteran transfer, who started games at Stanford, came off the bench and immediately sparked the offense, leading Auburn to a 33-24 comeback victory. Daniels is a true dual-threat, with over 4,000 career passing yards and more than 1,100 career rushing yards. He proved last week he can be a poised and effective leader.
A Halloween haunting?
Now, Kentucky (2-5, 0-5 SEC) travels to Auburn (4-4, 1-4 SEC) in a game both teams desperately need to win. Mark Stoops is looking to find any sort of life for his team after a 22-point home loss to the Vols. Instead, he gets to face the one thing that has historically tormented his teams: a confident, talented backup quarterback.
Will the "Backup QB Curse" continue to haunt the Wildcats the day after Halloween? Or can Mark Stoops and a defense hungry for a win finally put a stake through the heart of this painful narrative? We'll find out tomorrow night.
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