AUSTIN, Texas — In a pivotal matchup, Quinn Ewers connected with Gunnar Helm for two touchdown passes in the first half, guiding No. 3 Texas to a 31-14 victory over Kentucky on Saturday. This win keeps the Longhorns tied for the top position in the Southeastern Conference during their inaugural season in the league.
Quintrevion Wisner starred for Texas with an impressive 158 rushing yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Longhorns (10-1, 6-1, ranked No. 3 in the College Football Playoff standings) have an opportunity to secure a spot in the SEC Championship game when they meet No. 15 Texas A&M next week, marking the return of their long-standing rivalry after a 12-year hiatus.
This game also marked what could be Ewers’ last appearance on home turf in burnt orange, assuming Texas does not host a College Football Playoff game. A seasoned starter in his third year, Ewers opted to remain in college rather than pursue an NFL career last season. He participated in the senior day festivities prior to the game, despite having another year of eligibility ahead.
Ewers had a mixed outing, completing 20 of 31 passes for 191 yards, bringing his record as a starter to 24-7. His opening touchdown pass to Helm occurred on Texas’ first drive, where Ewers rolled left on a 4th-and-goal situation and located Helm in the back of the end zone. Helm secured a second touchdown on a precision touch pass, managing to absorb a hit while making the reception at the edge of the field, pushing the score to 21-7.
Kentucky (4-7, 1-7) managed to narrow the gap to 24-14 after Jamon Dumas-Johnson took a fumble recovery from Ewers 25 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. However, Wisner’s strong running game dominated as the match approached its conclusion, culminating in a 1-yard rushing touchdown.
On analysis, Kentucky saw some offensive sparks with backup quarterback Cutter Boley stepping in for starter Brock Vandagriff and generating 160 yards through the air. However, the Wildcats are in urgent need of victories against Texas and Louisville next week to keep their bowl game streak alive for eight years.
Meanwhile, Texas’ defense showcased its strength, having successfully kept opponents from scoring in the first quarter on eight occasions this season. They also stifled Kentucky during the third quarter when the Wildcats found themselves at Texas’ 1-yard line but ultimately lost yardage, leading to a missed field goal.
Looking ahead, Kentucky will host rival Louisville next Saturday, while Texas will face off against Texas A&M on the same day, in what promises to be an impactful contest for both teams.