Kentucky entered Saturday’s matchup against No. 12 Georgia needing a near-perfect effort to pull off an upset at Sanford Stadium. Instead, the Wildcats left Athens with another lopsided SEC loss, falling 35-14 in a game defined by defensive lapses and costly mistakes.
Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton set the tone early, rushing for two first-quarter touchdowns to build a 14-0 lead. The Bulldogs dominated possession and repeatedly converted on third down, leaving Kentucky’s defense on its heels.
The Wildcats finally showed life late in the first quarter with Cutter Boley leading a quick four-play, 75-yard drive in just 1:34, highlighted by a 38-yard pass to Kendrick Law and capped with a 29-yard touchdown strike to tight end Josh Kattus, cutting the deficit to 14-7. A Jordan Lovett interception moments later gave Kentucky a chance to tie the game, but the offense stalled and punted. Georgia answered with a short-field drive, helped by a defensive holding call, and Dillon Bell punched in a three-yard score to push the lead to 21-7.
Kentucky pieced together a promising 12-play, 57-yard drive before halftime, but kicker Jacob Kauwe missed a 26-yard field goal that would have kept Kentucky within striking distance.
The second half unraveled quickly. Running back Seth McGowan fumbled on the opening possession, and Bell scored again to make it 28-7. Kentucky’s offense produced just two punts and a turnover in the third quarter, never regaining momentum.
By the end, Georgia’s physical dominance and Kentucky’s mistakes sealed another disappointing road loss.
Georgia entered this game 0-15-1 against the spread as a 20-point favorite since 2022. It was evident Kirby Smart called off the dogs after going up 35-7, yet Georgia still managed to win by 21 points and break that streak.
Oh well. Here are three things to know from this one.
1. Cutter Boley Is Gaining Confidence
Redshirt freshman quarterback Cutter Boley remains a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing game. His first career start in 2025 came in a win against Eastern Michigan, where he showed poise and accuracy, but two weeks later against South Carolina, he was not nearly as confident, with two interceptions, one a pick-six, and fumbling for a scoop-and-score.
Against Georgia, Boley looked far more composed. In the first half, he went 12-of-17 for 125 yards and a touchdown, orchestrating two solid drives, one of which ended with a strike to Josh Kattus and another that should have produced points if not for a missed field goal. His chemistry with Law and Kattus is growing, and while the offense sputtered in the second half, Boley has shown the type of confidence Kentucky needs to build on moving forward.
Boley finished the game on 25/41 with a 61% completion rate, 225 passing yards, averaging 5.5 per attempt, to go with two touchdowns and one interception he threw on 4th down late in the game.
As long healthy, Boley should be the starting quarterback for the rest of this season.
2. The Defense Has Major Issues
Kentucky’s defense simply couldn’t get off the field. Georgia opened the first half by converting its first six third downs, consistently putting itself in manageable situations. At one point, the Bulldogs had 17 first downs and 241 yards before halftime, with a near-even split of rushing and passing production.
Injuries didn’t help with Cornerback DJ Waller Jr. missing his third straight game, and Jordan Lovett exiting the game after his interception and never returning. Those losses in the secondary left Kentucky exposed against a Georgia offense that thrived in both the air and on the ground.
While the final third-down conversion numbers weren’t kind, the story remains the same: if Kentucky wants to compete in the SEC, its defense has to improve drastically. Giving up long drives has become very normal this year, and it’s holding the program back.
3. Costly Mistakes Continue to Haunt Kentucky
Kentucky simply cannot afford the type of problems if they want to win. Six penalties for 41 yards may not look like much on paper, but the timing was brutal, especially JQ Hardaway’s hold that extended Georgia’s third touchdown drive.
Clock mismanagement once again reared its head at the end of the first half. Kentucky burned precious time before calling a timeout with under a minute, but at least got into the red zone before settling for a field goal that was missed.
Then the turnovers, Kauwe’s missed chip-shot field goal took away critical points, while McGowan’s fumble on the opening possession of the second half was a backbreaker. Instead of pulling within a score, Kentucky gifted Georgia the chance to go up three touchdowns, and the Bulldogs did that.
If Kentucky wants to win an SEC game this season, it has to tighten the details. The margin for error is already slim, and right now, the Wildcats are making too many mistakes to stay competitive.
Final Thoughts
Georgia showed why it remains among the SEC’s elite, while Kentucky showed why it still has a long way to go. The Wildcats flashed moments of promise behind Cutter Boley and their offensive playmakers, but defensive breakdowns, injuries, and costly miscues defined the night.
At 21-7 at halftime, the game was still within reach. But the second-half collapse, starting with McGowan’s fumble, sealed Kentucky’s fate. For Mark Stoops’ program, the challenge ahead is not just about finding answers on the field, but it’s about eliminating self-inflicted wounds.
The road doesn’t get easier, and unless Kentucky sharpens its discipline, the SEC gauntlet will continue to expose the same issues.
