For the first time in more than a year, Kentucky won a Southeastern Conference game on Saturday night.
The Wildcats (3-5, 1-5 SEC) snapped a five-game losing streak and a 10-game conference skid with a 10-3 victory over Auburn. Kentucky had lost its previous four games against Auburn, including a 29-13 setback a year ago at Kroger Field. Kentucky’s previous conference win was a 20-17 victory at Ole Miss on Sept. 28, 2024.
A week after surrendering 56 points in a loss to Tennessee, the Wildcats limited the hosts to just 241 total yards and collected seven sacks for a loss of 49 yards in their first win at Auburn since a 21-14 victory in 2009.
“Really proud of our defense,” UK coach Mark Stoops said. “We didn’t have our best effort a week ago and we bounced back. That’s the pride that we’re looking for.”
Stoops said he was proud of his team for hanging in there during some tough times this season.
“Just a team effort,” he said. “So happy, so proud. We’ve been getting better, we’ve been up and down. Just grateful for this team, these players, they hung in there. They believe. They don’t flinch. I love them.”
While Stoops admitted that it’s just one win, he also admitted that it meant a lot to him.
“It means an awful lot. We’ve been through a lot,” he said. “It means a lot. It’s one victory but we’ve been through a lot.”
The Wildcats recovered a fumble following an interception and collected a crucial sack on 3-and-10 on Auburn’s final drive. Jordan Lovett sealed the win with an interception on a Hail Mary attempt as time expired.
Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley threw for 161 yards, a touchdown and a pair of interceptions. Boley completed his first 11 passes of the second half and was a perfect 6-6 on the Wildcats’ opening drive of the second half. The impressive 75-yard scoring drive was enough to overcome the Tigers on their own home turf.
Boley's 13-yard touchdown pass to Kendrick Law capped the team’s only touchdown drive that proved to be the difference in the outcome. Fred Farrier hauled in two passes for 45 during the drive and caught a 32-yard pass from Boley on third-and-long.
Seth McGowan returned to the lineup and led the Kentucky with 53 yards on 21 carries.
Auburn fell to 4-5 and 1-5. The Tigers had won 19 of the previous 20 games in the series between the two teams.
GAMETRACKER: Florida at Kentucky, 6:30 p.m.CT, Saturday. TV/Radio: SECN, UK Radio Network on 94.7 The Mix and WiLLiE 102.
Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
