UK football fans share their hopes and fears for the Cats vs. Eastern Michigan

On my social media accounts, I asked Kentucky football fans to share their hopes and fears about the Wildcats’ non-conference game vs. Eastern Michigan of the Mid-American Conference.

The game will kick off Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (EDT) at Kroger Field.

Among UK backers who replied to my prompt, much of the pregame excitement centered around the fact that redshirt freshman quarterback Cutter Boley, the former Lexington Christian Academy star, is expected to get playing time vs. the Eagles.

Kentucky’s starting quarterback in its first two games, transfer Zach Calzada, had to leave last week’s 30-23 loss to then-No. 20 Mississippi due to a shoulder injury.

However, other Kentucky fans were concerned that, if Boley — seen by many as a key building block in the future of the Wildcats program — does not play well, it will have a damaging impact on the morale of both the UK team and fans.

This is what some UK backers are thinking about the contest with EMU:

Hopes for UK football success vs. Eastern Michigan

• From @Lee1Blue on X: “I just want Cutter (Boley) to have fun and FORCE NOTHING. He has the talent. He was ready game one. He shoulda played .”

Mark’s comment: Will certainly be interesting to see if Boley gets a long runway to show what he can do vs. EMU.

• From @davedonaldson71 on X: “My hope is that we don’t have to be in a constant struggle to complete a downfield pass.”

Mark’s comment: Out of 134 FBS teams, Kentucky is 119th this week in passing offense, averaging only 136 yards a game through the air.

EMU is 93rd in the FBS in passing yards allowed, giving up 231 yards a game.

So maybe the Cats can throw it in this one.

• From @BrandonORLMagic on X: “Hope: Kentucky can win comfortably by at least 14. “

• From Jim Woolums on Facebook: “Hope to see the passing game pick up some momentum and we win by 40.”

Mark’s comment: With EMU having lost seven games in a row over the past two seasons combined, it’s a bad sign if UK can’t defeat the Eagles by closer to 40 than to 14.

• From Kenneth Johnson Jr. on Facebook: “My hope is that with Cutter Boley starting, the offense brings a new spark — so good it gives us flashbacks to the Air Raid days with Tim Couch and Hal Mumme.”

Mark’s comment: “Air Raid numbers” are asking an awful lot. I do think UK fans will be excited if Boley throws the ball well.

• From Donald R Mathews on Facebook: “(I) hope nobody gets hurt. Kentucky 49, EMU 7. Go, go Cats.”

Mark’s comment: The most recent time Eastern Michigan played in Lexington in 2019, UK starting quarterback Terry Wilson was knocked out for the year after he suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee after being drug down from behind by an EMU defender.

So, yeah, certainly don’t want to see anything like that again.

• From Albert A B Burks on Facebook with quarterback advice: “Step up in the pocket and hit those receivers in stride through his progression. Work the pocket to his advantage, stand tall, and pull the trigger without fear. Coaches get blamed a lot, but these kids have to deliver.”

Mark’s comment: Based off what we’ve watched the first two weeks, I think UK QBs would definitely benefit from stepping up in the pocket when under rush instead of “leaking out” to the side so often.

• From Kathy Roy on Facebook: “My hope is Cutter can be successful despite having (Bush) Hamdan as his OC. Our wide receivers can get some separation and get open down field!! For our team’s morale going forward this season, we need lots of success offensively to prove Cutter as their true leader!!”

Mark’s comment: I agree with you that Kentucky really needs to hang some points on the board this week as a confidence booster.

Fear of UK football failure vs. Eastern Michigan

• From @tclaymason on X: “My hope is they let Cutter loose, 28+ passes; my fear is EMU is horrible against the run so Stoops will run the ball 50 times.”

Mark’s comment: EMU has been worse than horrible against the run — gave up 392 rushing yards in a 52-27 loss to Texas State and 231 yards on the ground while losing 28-23 to FCS foe Long Island University.

But, if it makes you feel any better, Eastern Michigan has not played that well against the pass, either. The Eagles gave up 214 passing yards vs. Texas State, 248 vs. LIU.

• From @jncoyl2 on X: Fears: “We find out exactly why Cutter was chosen to be the backup originally.”

Mark’s comment: As much long-term hope as many UK football backers have invested in Cutter Boley, it is hard to overstate how important it is that he play well Saturday if he gets the call.

• From Mike Gillespie on Facebook: “It’s all in the hands of the defense ...”

Mark’s comment: Given how much EMU has struggled defensively in the first two games, it will be pretty dispiriting if Kentucky can’t move the ball against the EMU “D.”

• From Kathy Roy on Facebook: “My fear is Cutter (Boley) will also be terrible and it’s a close game or we lose.. If that happens, they will lose the fan base completely!!”

Mark’s comment: Having witnessed two Kentucky losses to Mid-American Conference teams (such as Eastern Michigan) in person — 30-26 to Bowling Green in 1985 when I was in college; 28-16 to Ohio in 2004 — I can attest to how much juice such defeats take out of the Kentucky fan base.

For UK’s sake, the Wildcats need to shut down the “MAC-tion” from the opening kick Saturday.

This story was originally published September 12, 2025 at 7:00 AM.

Mark Story

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-444-4731

Mark Story has worked in the Lexington Herald-Leader sports department since Aug. 27, 1990, and has been a Herald-Leader sports columnist since 2001. I have covered every Kentucky-Louisville football game since 1994, every UK-U of L basketball game but three since 1996-97 and every Kentucky Derby since 1994. Support my work with a digital subscription