When Kentucky returns from its bye week, it won’t be catching a break, it’ll be catching a reborn buzzsaw.
The Texas Longhorns are rolling into Lexington after a commanding 23–6 win over Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. It was a defensive masterpiece that sent a message to the rest of the SEC: this team is built for November football.
After falling from number 1 to unranked after a disastrous loss to Florida, the Longhorns looked to have righted the ship against the top 10 Sooners down in Dallas. Arch Manning looked much more comfortable, and the defense was back to being elite.
A defensive masterpiece in the Red River Rivalry
The game started sluggishly, with Texas trailing 6–3 at halftime, but the second half was all Longhorns. They scored 20 unanswered points, dominated both lines of scrimmage, and never let Oklahoma recover.
Quarterback Arch Manning was poised and efficient, going 21-of-27 for 166 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t need to be flashy, Texas’ defense made sure of that. Freshman linebacker Colin Simmons was nearly unblockable, posting 2.5 sacks and multiple pressures.
Worse than a bye week hangover?
For Kentucky, the timing couldn’t be worse. The Wildcats are fresh off a bye, but historically, Mark Stoops’ teams have struggled in those situations. And the last bye resulted in a 35-13 beatdown in Columbia. Now, they’re facing a top-10 Texas squad that’s gaining steam at the perfect time.
By the numbers: What Kentucky is facing
- Texas Offense: Arch Manning – 21/27, 166 yards, 1 TD
- Texas Defense: Allowed only 48 total rushing yards and zero touchdowns vs. Oklahoma.
- Texas Defensive Stars: Colin Simmons (2.5 sacks) and Malik Muhammad (2 INTs).
Texas didn’t just beat Oklahoma, they streamrolled them. Kentucky, meanwhile, will need its best offensive performance of the season just to hang around.
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