Lexington, Kentucky, October 19, 2025

News Summary

In a thrilling overtime battle, the Texas Longhorns defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 16-13, marking a historic first meeting at Kroger Field. Mason Shipley clinched the victory with a 45-yard field goal in overtime. Kentucky had briefly tied the game before, showcasing a tight matchup. Texas improved its record to 5-2, while Kentucky fell to 2-4, struggling in the SEC.

Lexington, Kentucky – Texas Longhorns Claim Overtime Victory Against Kentucky Wildcats in Historic First Meeting

The No. 21 Texas Longhorns clinched a nail-biting overtime victory against the Kentucky Wildcats, winning 16-13 on Saturday night. This matchup was historic, as it marked the first-ever meetings between Texas and Kentucky at Kroger Field. The victory improved Texas’s overall record to 5-2 and their Southeastern Conference (SEC) record to 2-1.

Texas has maintained an edge over Kentucky in their all-time matchups, now leading the series 3-0. The decisive moment came when Mason Shipley kicked a 45-yard field goal in overtime, solidifying the Longhorns’ win. Earlier in the game, he also nailed a critical 39-yard field goal with just one minute remaining in regulation, which briefly gave Texas a 13-10 lead.

In a dramatic finish, Kentucky’s Jacob Kauwe managed to tie the game with a 45-yard field goal with just nine seconds left on the clock, pushing the game into overtime. Despite struggling offensively, Texas leveraged key contributions from players such as Ryan Niblett, who made two impactful punt returns, including a 43-yard return that set up Shipley’s late field goal attempt.

Texas’s defense played a pivotal role in the game, demonstrating resilience in overtime with a crucial goal-line stand, successfully halting Kentucky on four consecutive plays at the 1-yard line. Defensive performance was highlighted by Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, who referred to the win as a “culture win.” Texas’s quarterback Arch Manning threw for 132 yards in the game but faced a challenging night with a completion rate of only 12-for-27.

In comparison, Kentucky’s Cutter Boley threw for 258 yards and added a 16-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game in the fourth quarter. However, the Wildcats’ defense limited Texas to just 93 total yards in the first half, exposing the Longhorns’ struggles offensively as they only managed one touchdown after a fumble recovery in the end zone.

With this win, Texas has successfully bounced back from an initial loss to Ohio State earlier in the season, now having achieved victory in five of their last six games. Conversely, Kentucky’s record has now fallen to 2-4 overall and 0-4 in SEC play. The Wildcats continue to face challenges in securing wins, particularly against ranked opponents at home, having not defeated such a team since a victory against Florida back in 2023. They have averaged only 15 points per game across their four SEC contests.

Looking ahead, Texas will take on Mississippi State next, while Kentucky is set to host Tennessee on Saturday.

Key Statistics

• Texas Total Yards: 179
• Kentucky Total Yards: 258
• Texas Record: 5-2 (2-1 SEC)
• Kentucky Record: 2-4 (0-4 SEC)

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Additional Resources

• CBS Sports: Texas vs. Kentucky Recap
• Statesman: Texas-Kentucky Game Score Overtime
• On3: Steve Sarkisian’s Comments After Win
• Burnt Orange Nation: Texas at Kentucky Gamethread
• Bleacher Report: Arch Manning and Texas vs. Kentucky
• Wikipedia: Texas Longhorns Football
• Google Search: Texas Longhorns Football
• Google Scholar: Texas Longhorns
• Encyclopedia Britannica: College Football
• Google News: Texas Longhorns vs. Kentucky Wildcats

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