Kentucky football snaps SEC losing streak with third-ever win at Auburn
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Gameday: Kentucky 10, Auburn 3
Click below for more of the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky-Auburn football game in Auburn, Ala.
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When Kentucky looked in danger of another collapse, a freshman made the key play
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Let’s set aside Mark Stoops’ future to salute a UK football team that hasn’t quit
Kentucky football snaps SEC losing streak with third-ever win at Auburn
Five things you need to know from Kentucky football’s 10-3 win vs. Auburn
See stats from Kentucky football’s 10-3 win over Auburn
Even as the losses piled up this season, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has insisted his team is improving.
That improvement finally translated to a win Saturday as the Wildcats rode a dominant defensive showing to a 10-3 win over Auburn in a battle of coaches on the proverbial hot seat. The win snapped an 11-game losing streak against power-conference competition for Kentucky and kept the Wildcats’ slim hopes of reaching bowl eligibility alive.
Kentucky held Auburn to 241 yards and recorded 12 tackles for loss to go with seven sacks. The Tigers’ only points came on a 27-yard field goal just before halftime that resulted from a Cutter Boley interception returned to the UK 35-yard line. The Wildcats held Auburn to 123 passing yards despite playing without two of their top three cornerbacks due to injury.
Auburn’s defense was equally dominant for most of the night, but the Wildcats’ offense did just enough with one touchdown drive to open the second half. Boley completed 18 of 29 passes for 161 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. His second interception actually resulted in a first down after Kentucky recovered a fumble during the return.
With the win, Stoops earns at least a temporary reprieve from the calls for an in-season coaching change. Kentucky’s schedule actually sets up with an opportunity to build some momentum.
The Wildcats host Florida, which is playing for an interim coach next week. Senior night against FCS Tennessee Tech follows before UK closes the season at Vanderbilt and Louisville.
Turning point
After Kentucky bungled a chance to take control of the game just before halftime, the Wildcats posted their best drive of the night on the first possession of the second half. That 10-play, 75-yard drive ended with a 13-yard catch-and-run from Kendrick Law for a touchdown, but the key play came on a 32-yard completion to Fred Farrier on third-and-11. An Auburn defender appeared to go for the interception rather than the breakup on the play but just missed the ball. That left Farrier standing alone for the reception. Two plays later, Kentucky regained the lead with the first touchdown for either team.
Player of the game
The entire defense deserves recognition one week after its worst showing of the season in a blowout loss to Tennessee. Defensive lineman Kahlil Saunders and linebacker Alex Afari were each credited with 1.5 sacks. Linebacker Daveren Rayner led the team with eight tackles. He added one tackle for loss. Sam Greene essentially clinched the win with a late sack. Jordan Lovett then intercepted a Hail Mary attempt in the end zone as time expired.
Key stat
Kentucky won for just the seventh time in 36 meetings with Auburn and just the third time in 18 games against the Tigers in Alabama.
This story was originally published November 1, 2025 at 10:45 PM.