KSR Staff Predictions: Kentucky vs. Texas

Kentucky heads to Texas on the final road trip of 2024, seeking to keep bowl hopes alive for another week. The Wildcats are underdogs against the third-ranked Longhorns; however, Kentucky’s best games have come against its best opponents this year, even winning as a road dog at Ole Miss.

Will Kentucky play up to its competition again? The KSR crew gives its predictions for Kentucky-Texas below before the game kicks off Saturday afternoon in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

---

Drew Franklin

Texas is a playoff contender, so Kentucky’s history would tell you that this game will go down to the wire. I’m afraid that trend will end on Saturday in Austin, though. The third-ranked Longhorns are staring down a spot in the SEC Championship, and Texas will use the Kentucky game to flex before playing rival A&M a week later.

If Kentucky’s offensive line were better, I would find a way to talk myself into an upset. After all, I will be at the game, screaming from the nosebleeds with fellow UK fans, not in my usual place in the press box. I’d love an upset in this game more than any, but I worry Kentucky will be unable to score any points, even if UK’s defense can hold its ground and create opportunities.

I look forward to seeing Austin. I do not expect a Saturday night celebration. I predict the Longhorns officially end Kentucky’s bowl game streak with a lopsided win.

Score: Texas 34, Kentucky 10

---

Nick Roush

It feels good to have the gang back together. For the first time since September, Kentucky will have four — Hairston, Weaver, Walker, Dumas-Johnson — of its top five defensive players on the field at the same time. They’ll be facing an offense that isn’t particularly great at any one thing, but good at everything.

Quinn Ewers had four picks in his first three games back from injury and Texas has turned it over 15 times this season. The Longhorns’ offense ranks No. 107 in Havoc Rate Allowed and the Kentucky defense ranks No. 8 in Havoc Rate. The Cats are getting their hands on passes and creating tackles for loss, but they haven’t had that big 3-4 turnover game.

This is an ideal opportunity for that to happen and I think Kentucky turns it into a slobber-knocker for the first half. Once the page turns into the second half, the Cats will have a chance to seize momentum and it will slip through their fingers. That’s when a big play from Isaiah Bond will get Texas rolling for a run-away win in the fourth quarter.

Score: Texas 34, Kentucky 17

---

Tyler Thompson

Kentucky must win this game to avoid snapping the school’s record eight-year bowl streak. I don’t think that will happen for a variety of reasons, but even in a loss, the Cats’ performance could be telling.

First, the obvious: Kentucky’s offense is not good. Texas’ defense is really, really good. Expecting the light to suddenly come on for the Cats ten games in against the nation’s best defense is a fool’s errand; to have any shot at winning, defense and special teams will have to play a major part. Thankfully, the Cats get Maxwell Hairston, Deone Walker, Jamon Dumas-Johnson, and maybe even JJ Weaver back. That could help them slow down the Longhorns, but they’ll really need some turnovers. A Barion Brown return touchdown would be great, too. Some kind of life, any kind of life, on offense is essential.

That’s a lot of things that need to happen for a team whose season has spiraled. Hopefully, the Cats show some fight and don’t get embarrassed on national television; as much as I’d love an upset, that’s what I’m really hoping for.

Score: Texas 31, Kentucky 10

---

Zack Geoghegan

Mark Stoops said during his final pre-Texas press conference on Thursday that Texas’ defense is elite at every position. On top of that, there are impactful depth players at all of those spots too. Brock Vandagriff was beating himself up after what he called a poor performance against a bad Murray State team. But even a “good” day from Vandagriff against the Longhorns won’t be enough. I also don’t see that happening.

Kentucky has a track record this season of playing up to the level of the best of the best. I actually see a close score by the end of the first quarter. A much healthier Wildcats’ defense will knock Texas off its game early on, but Sark will settle his boys from there and take a multi-touchdown lead into the halftime break. UK will fail to score a touchdown as the bowl streak officially comes to an end.

Score: Texas 38, Kentucky 6

---

Jack Pilgrim

I am a weak, spineless coward who goes back on his word. Yes, I’m completely aware I picked Kentucky to travel down to Austin and pull off the upset during our preseason predictions, but the gift of hindsight is a magical thing. That was when I expected the offense to take a major step forward under Brock Vandagriff with Chip Trayanum stiff-arming should-be tacklers to the turf using a hand that isn’t surgically repaired. I hated — HATED (!!!) — the decision to bring back Eric Wolford, but then became a sucker and bought the boys from Youngstown nonsense and came around on the move. If Stoops could forgive him, why couldn’t I? WRONG. That unit has been a disaster and injuries haven’t helped. Not going to get any better against a tough Texas front seven.

Alex Raynor will be so good Bill Belichick drafts him on day two as the head coach of the Jaguars, but that’s about all there will be to love about Kentucky’s performance at Texas. The defense is healthy, but are they mentally prepared with little to play for and Brad White eyeing other jobs? Eh. I’ll expect the worst and hope for the best.

Score: Texas 35, Kentucky 12

---

Adam Luckett

This Kentucky football team has played well against every College Football Playoff contender on the schedule. Will that remain true in the program’s first trip to Austin since 1951? The challenge will be difficult.

The Texas defense is outstanding at every level with playmakers all over the place. UT’s pass rush could take over this game, and the secondary has produced takeaways all season. A healthier Kentucky defense should give the Wildcats a chance to get to a fast start, but a balanced Texas offense with a lot of answers will eventually figure out how to create scoring opportunities sooner rather than later.

The Kentucky defense gives the team a chance but Texas pulls away in the second half. This game could get ugly on offense facing this Texas defensive front. The Wildcats fail to cover against a ranked team for the first time this season.

Score: Texas 30, Kentucky 7

---

Kentucky vs. Texas: How To Watch, Listen

• Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC (Joe Tessitore, Jesse Palmer, Katie George)
• Watch college football games live – try Fubo for free! Click HERE NOW.
• Local Radio: UK Sports Network (Tom Leach, Jeff Piecoro, Dick Gabriel)
• AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
• FM: 98.1 WBUL
• Online: iHeart Radio
• Sirius XM: 106 or 190 (UK) or 81 (Texas)
• Live Stats: StatBroadcast

You can also keep up with the game and chat with other fans on our game thread on KSBoard, with Nick Roush and Adam Luckett providing updates from Austin and the rest of us from home.