UK Football

Kentucky football’s downward spiral continues with blowout loss at Georgia

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Gameday: No. 12 Georgia 35, Kentucky 14

Click below for more of the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky-Georgia football game at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.


For the second straight week, Kentucky football looked overmatched against an SEC foe, this time in a 35-14 loss at No. 12 Georgia.

With the win, the Bulldogs extended their streak in the series to 16 games. Georgia outgained Kentucky 426 yards to 270.

After Georgia scored touchdowns on each of its opening drives, Kentucky briefly showed some life in the second quarter with a four-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on its second possession and an interception on the following Bulldogs’ drive.

Kentucky went three-and-out after the interception, though.

Georgia added a third touchdown later in the half for a 21-7 lead, and Kentucky kicker Jacob Kauwe, who had made his first eight field goal attempts of the season, missed a 26-yarder at the halftime buzzer. UK running back Seth McGowan then lost a fumble on the fourth play of the second half, and the rout was on from there.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Cutter Boley fared better than a week ago when he had back-to-back turnovers returned for touchdowns in the second quarter at South Carolina, but the Kentucky offense still struggled to find any momentum. Boley completed 25 of 41 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns and one interception, but he was 13-for-25 in the second half.

To make matters worse, McGowan, who ranked second in the SEC in rushing yards per game entering the weekend, was sidelined by a leg injury in the third quarter and did not return.

UK coach Mark Stoops will have a a bye week to ponder any changes before returning to action Oct. 18 against No. 9 Texas at home.

Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley (8) reacts after the Wildcats failed to convert on third down during Saturday’s game at Georgia.
Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley (8) reacts after the Wildcats failed to convert on third down during Saturday’s game at Georgia. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com

Turning point

Kentucky’s defense had no answers for Georgia in the first quarter. The Bulldogs marched 75 yards on 12 plays to score a touchdown on their first drive, then went 96 yards on 13 plays on the second drive for a 14-0 lead before Kentucky had even started its second possession. Considering it has been 10 years since Kentucky rallied from a 14-point deficit to win a game, that second drive pretty much wrapped things up for the Bulldogs. Georgia was 5 for 5 on third down on the first two drives.

Player of the game

Georgia quarterback Gunnar Stockton completed 15 of 23 passes for 196 yards, one touchdown and one interception before heading to the bench at the end of the third quarter, but it was his running ability that was most important Saturday. He finished the afternoon with six carries for 48 yards and two touchdowns. He converted four third downs with his legs.

Key stat

Kentucky has now gone 12 consecutive games against power-conference competition without scoring more than two offensive touchdowns.

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This story was originally published October 4, 2025 at 3:27 PM.

Jon Hale
Lexington Herald-Leader
Jon Hale is the University of Kentucky football beat writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. He joined the Herald-Leader in 2022 but has covered UK athletics for more than 10 years. Hale was named the 2021 Kentucky Sportswriter of the Year. Support my work with a digital subscription
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Gameday: No. 12 Georgia 35, Kentucky 14

Click below for more of the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky-Georgia football game at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.