Kentucky’s Hot Streak Rolls On At Oklahoma

Heading into Saturday night, Kentucky was one of the hottest teams in college football. Not only were they the winners of four straight, but they are the only FBS team in history to win back-to-back one-point overtime games. In addition,

Will Stein became the first coach since Alpha Brumage in 1913 to start his UK career 5-1. To keep the momentum going, they’d have to win at a place where they’ve never won. If they did, they’d be tied for first place in the SEC. On a night where the offense struggled, the defense had their backs. Put it all together and Kentucky’s hot streak rolls on at Oklahoma 21-13.

Heading into Saturday night’s game, Oklahoma was 5-5 in stopping teams on the opening drive as every team had punted. That was until Kentucky came to town.

Taking the opening kick, the Wildcats went 67 yards in 13 plays, holding the ball for nearly seven minutes. The final two came on a pass from Kenny Minchey to Willie Rodriguez, and Kentucky led 7-0. We’ve said it for years, and it still holds.

Throw the ball to the tight end and good things will happen.

On their first possession, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer led a very nice drive down the field before the Wildcat defense held. Tate Sandell picked up where he left off against Texas and was true from 46, making it 7-3.

Kentucky went quiet on their second possession, and the Sooners got another long drive. This time they got to the Wildcat 10 before Jay Bateman’s group held again. After lining up for another Sandell field goal, coach Brent Venables called for the fake, which did not work. Jordan Castell picked it off in the end zone, and the lead remained 7-3.

Following another punt, Kentucky had the Sooners pinned back in their own territory at the 10. For a third straight time, OU had a drive of over 10 plays. The third time was the charm as Mateer found Rocky Beers on a 20-yard strike, and it was 10-7 Oklahoma at the half.

After getting 63 yards on their first drive, the Wildcat offense barely equaled that for the rest of the half. On the other side of the ball, Oklahoma, who struggled on third down, went 7-10 in the first half.

Not much happened for most of the third period. In fact, a Sandell 28-yard field goal was the only scoring as Oklahoma extended their lead to six. However, near the end of the quarter, Stein’s Cats needed a boost as their offense struggled.

They got it from their defense as they took over.

In our game preview, we talked about how Mateer can be turnover-prone. On a 1st and 10 from the UK 38, Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace tipped a Mateer pass, and Ty Bryant was waiting, picking it off and taking it all the way to the OU 44.

Minchey marched the Cats down the field, and UK took the lead on a 12-yard strike to Rodriguez, and the Cats led 14-13.

Again, tight end play has been so instrumental to Kentucky’s success this season.

Not happy with just tipping a pass, Humphrey-Grace sacked Mateer twice on the next possession. After a punt, UK drove it down to the Sooners’ five-yard line. On a fourth and three, Stein went for it rather than kick a field goal. However, Minchey was sacked, and momentum seemed to shift.

Once again, the defense came up big as Kentucky’s hot streak rolls on at Oklahoma.

A 58-yard punt by Wilson Berry pinned Oklahoma at their own four. Mateer got his team moving before the turnover bug hit again. Again, Castell read the throw perfectly and took it to the house for the Cats.

Trailing by eight, Mateer had one more shot, but Bryant picked him off again, and that was it as Kentucky’s hot streak rolls on to 21-13 at Oklahoma.

With the win, the Wildcats go to 6-1 and 4-1 in the SEC. Not only are they bowl-eligible for the first time since 2023, but they are tied for first in the league. They’ve also won three straight road SEC games for the first time since 2009.

They look to keep things rolling next Saturday when they host Vanderbilt at 7:30 on the SEC Network. The Cats have lost three of the last four to the Commodores. Clark Lea’s team is coming off a 31-21 home loss to Arkansas, the Razorbacks’ first league win since 2024.

On the other side of the ball, the Sooners drop to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the SEC. They travel to Mississippi State next week.

A lot of national pundits asked, “Who could be this year’s Indiana?” A team coming from out of nowhere to being a national contender. Seven games into the season, Kentucky certainly looks like they fit the bill. Most likely they will move from the Reliaquest Bowl into the playoff in our next bowl projections. A team picked to finish 14th in the pre-season is now tied at the top of the SEC. It’s certainly a new day in Lexington.

On a night when the offense struggled, the defense stepped up and forced three turnovers. This despite having five less first downs (19-14) and being outgained 346-230. However, what matters is the scoreboard, and the Wildcats were on the smiling side of it. Kentucky’s hot streak rolls on at Oklahoma, 21-13. The Cats get their first-ever win in Norman after losing 29-7 in 1980.

Main Photo: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images