On the surface, Kentucky’s 48-23 victory over Eastern Michigan was the perfect "get right" game. The Wildcats scored their most points of the season, a new quarterback provided a major spark, and they secured their 19th straight win against a MAC opponent. But for anyone who watched the game, the comfortable final margin conceals a much messier and more concerning reality.
The win was necessary, but it did little to answer the serious questions surrounding this team as they head into a crucial bye week.
The Cutter Boley debut is a glimpse of the future
The biggest bright spot of the night was undoubtedly the first start of 2025 for redshirt freshman quarterback Cutter Boley. He looked poised and confident, finishing an impressive 12-of-21 for 240 yards and two touchdowns. His 11.4 yards-per-attempt average showcased the big-play ability the offense has desperately needed. While the completion percentage is lacking, there was a lot of deep throws thrown. The offense looked different.
He wasn't alone. The rushing attack was a force all night, with Seth McGowan leading the way with a powerful 104 yards and three touchdowns. In total, the offense put up 492 yards, a welcome sight for a unit that has struggled to move the ball. For a large part of the game, the offense looked like a functioning offense, but there were again concerns.
A scoreboard that lies
Despite the offensive fireworks, this game was uncomfortably close until a third-quarter gift from Eastern Michigan. After a disastrous final two minutes of the first half—where Kentucky allowed 10 points in under two minutes to let EMU close the gap to 28-16—the second half started slow.
The true turning point came late in the third quarter. With the score 31-16 and momentum hanging in the balance, Eastern Michigan inexplicably attempted a fake punt deep in their own territory. It failed miserably, giving Kentucky the ball at the EMU 27-yard line. The Wildcats scored four plays later to make it 38-16, and the game was finally out of reach.
Familiar mistakes and lingering questions
Even with the high point total, the game was plagued by familiar red flags that will be disastrous in SEC play.
- Sloppy execution: Deep in Eastern Michigan territory, a fumbled snap exchange between center Jager Burton and Cutter Boley turned a guaranteed touchdown into a field goal. There were several other low or hard snaps throughout the game that, while handled, show a persistent lack of cohesion on the offensive line.
- Defensive woes: The most glaring issue remains the pass defense. An overmatched Eastern Michigan team was able to throw for 330 yards, consistently finding receivers open downfield. This has been a problem against every opponent this season and allowing a MAC quarterback to look like a star is a massive concern with a schedule full of elite SEC offenses ahead.
In the end, Kentucky got the win. Cutter Boley provided hope, and even backup Beau Allen got to take the field for the final drive. But as we asked before the game, what could we really learn from this? It turns out the answer is that the offensive ceiling is higher, but the deep-rooted issues with execution and pass defense are still very much there. The bye week will need to be a time for serious corrections before the trip to Columbia, who may be without Lenoris Sellers as the star QB was taken out of the game against Vandy.