When CJ Baxter committed to Kentucky Football on January 11, 2026, Big Blue Nation was excited about the transfer portal pickup, but little did we know that he would help fuel a monumental upset just 10 months later.
Lane Kiffin brought his LSU Tigers to Kroger Field for a throwback/Power K night in Lexington. Kiffin’s Tigers, led by DC Blake Baker, came into the contest ranked No. 2 in total defense, second only to Notre Dame. The Tigers were also slotted at No. 4 in the nation in rushing yards allowed,
so a big factor in this one was whether the Kentucky running game could get going or not with such an elite defense on the other side.
CJ Baxter answered that without wasting a second, literally. The Texas transfer would get the ball on Kentucky’s first offensive play and nearly find pay dirt on the first play, but got tackled at the 3-yard line. He would clean it up himself on the very next play, making it two plays, 80 yards, and a touchdown in 30 seconds.
Throughout the game, Baxter provided exactly what Kentucky needed, backing up the 5-star rating he had while in high school.
The play that may not get enough love was Baxter’s first-down run that took us to the two-minute timeout in the 2nd quarter. Without that first-down run, LSU would get the ball with a chance to add points and potentially regain the lead at the break. Baxter ran it for ten yards, placing Kentucky’s offense in prime scoring position and keeping the ball in our hands to have the opportunity to keep the clock ticking.
Baxter would have a brief exit in this game, but it would take a ton to pull that man from this game.
Baxter’s gravity helped open up the play-action game; it even got to the lengths that Will Stein and Joe Sloan decided to spam the Willie Rodriguez button, throwing dump-offs to Rodriguez three straight plays, pushing the drive further until Adam Zouagui would hit a field goal to give Kentucky a 24-20 lead with 11:54 remaining in the game.
Another extremely crucial run came from another back, on 3rd-and-10 with a little over eight minutes remaining, as Jovantae Barnes ran for a first down when the offense needed it most.
Baxter would cap off his legendary night with the game-winning touchdown to set up the go-ahead two-point conversion. We’ll call it deja blue, repeating last week’s finish with another overtime victory for Kentucky.
Baxter finished the game with a hard-fought 128 yards and two touchdowns in the 35-34 victory over LSU. Barnes and Jason Patterson added an important 20 yards on top of that.
After the game, a very emotional Baxter made sure to thank head coach Will Stein and offensive coordinator Will Stein for giving him a chance to revive his career after injuries threatened to derail it during his time at Texas.
“It means a lot. We’re just getting started. I’m just getting started,” Baxter said. “I told Coach Stein and Coach Sloan after the game…I had an emotional moment. I’ve been through so much. I be thankful for it. I got the game took away from me. That’s why I got John 13:7 on my eye black. John 13:7 says, ‘You may not understand now, but one day you will.’
“When I went through my injuries, I didn’t understand at the time. It was hard for me. Super hard for me. Even after last year. Entering the portal. Stuff like that, it was hard for me just coming here and having that reset. Man, I’m super thankful for it.
“I told them (Stein and Sloan) after the game, I was like, ‘Thank y’all.’ That’s literally what I said. ‘Thank y’all for giving me a second chance.'”
Hats off to Baxter for an unbelievably emotional performance in the program-changing win, battling through injury, and helping Kentucky reach a 5-1 record in Year 1 of the Will Stein era.
Here’s to this being the latest chapter in a magical football journey for CJ Baxter.
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