Senior Day games can be tricky. They’re emotional, often uneven, and sometimes just harder than they should be. Couple that with how, historically, under Mark Stoops, Kentucky has played with just enough sloppiness to let overmatched opponents hang around longer than they should, and many thought this could be close.
Against undefeated, top-10 FCS foe Tennessee Tech, the Wildcats didn’t just avoid a letdown, they sent Kroger Field into the night feeling like a team rediscovering its identity, rhythm, and purpose.
From the first drive, Kentucky imposed its will, honoring its outgoing veterans by doing the very thing Stoops’ program has been built on for a decade: physicality, discipline, and total control. Tennessee Tech entered with promise, balance, and confidence. Kentucky stripped every bit of that away over four quarters of sheer dominance.
Cutter Boley's flawless game leads a vintage Stoops performance
Kentucky didn’t play with its food. They didn’t waste possessions. They didn’t let Tennessee Tech breathe. This is how the game unfolded, and how quickly it got out of hand.
1st Quarter
- Touchdown (6:55): Seth McGowan capped an 11-play, 88-yard march with a 1-yard plunge. It set the tone: long, sustained dominance.
- Touchdown (2:23): Cutter Boley pulled the ball and sprinted 30 yards untouched. Six plays, 59 yards. Total control.
2nd Quarter
- Touchdown (3:46): McGowan again. A 4-yard touchdown after another bruising, clock-choking drive.
- Tennessee Tech Touchdown (1:18): The Golden Eagles finally showed life with a 65-yard touchdown drive.
- Touchdown (0:19): Any momentum disappeared instantly as McGowan punched in his third touchdown of the half. That immediate, forceful answer is something Kentucky lacked earlier this season.
3rd Quarter
- Tennessee Tech Field Goal (9:15): Kentucky 28, Tennessee Tech 10
- Touchdown (2:24): Cutter Boley found freshman Hardley Gilmore IV for a gorgeous 45-yard score.
4th Quarter
- Touchdown (10:37): Dante Dowdell, who ran with power all afternoon, bowled in from 19 yards to cap Kentucky’s offensive day.
From there, Stoops emptied the bench. Brennan Ward got snaps at quarterback. Young defenders got real, game-speed reps. And Kentucky coasted to the finish.
Statistically, it was a complete performance.
Cutter Boley: Efficient and Mature
Boley played perhaps his best all-around game as a Wildcat:
- 18/21 passing
- 236 yards
- 1 TD
- 0 turnovers
- Plus a 30-yard rushing score
He didn't turn it over, and he looked poised all afternoon.
Ground-and-Pound Returns
Kentucky’s run game was vintage Stoops:
- 207 rushing yards
- 5 touchdowns
- 5.3 yards per carry
- McGowan (72 yards, 3 TD), Dowdell (87 yards, 1 TD), and Boley (24 yards, 1 TD) all punished the Golden Eagles.
Perhaps the best the running backs have both looked at the same time, and they should have. Kentucky's offensive line clearly dominated just like they should. That didn't always happen, so a nice step up for the unit here today.
Defense: No Drama, No Stress
Kentucky held Tennessee Tech to just 121 passing yards and 144 rushing yards. Cam Dooley hauled in an interception, JQ Hardaway’s sack added pressure, and the defense never allowed Tech’s run game to flip the script.
The most notable thing: No letdown.
Coming off a four-game losing streak earlier in the season, the Wildcats have now strung together three straight wins (at Auburn, vs. Florida, vs. Tenn Tech).
Momentum is real again. The Cats need one more win to reach bowl eligibility. Given where this team was three weeks ago, the mood has shifted for some in BBN. They’re healthier, confident, and playing cleaner football.
Now does that mean everyone wants Mark Stoops back? No, there is still a large portion of the fanbase who desires a change, 3 wins over 3 bad teams is not going to change that. A ranked Vanderbilt and a rivalry game on the road may be where Mark Stoops wins or loses the fanbase heading into 2026.
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