Big Blue Preview: Kentucky at Texas
Info to Know
| Kentucky at Texas | When: Sat., Nov. 23, 3:30 ET | Where: Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas | TV: ABC | Radio: UK Sports Network |
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Preview
For the third time this season, the Kentucky football team will hit the road to face a Top 10 opponent. This weekend, the Cats visit Austin for just the second time ever, facing No. 3 Texas (3:30 ET, ABC).
Kentucky is coming off a 48-6 win over Murray State last weekend at home. Freshman Jamarion Wilcox had his second straight 100-yard rushing game, posting a career high 123 yards against the Racers.
Texas won its third in a row last weekend, beating Arkansas 20-10 in Fayetteville. The Longhorns’ only loss this season was a 30-15 setback to Georgia on Oct. 19.
This is just the second meeting all-time between the schools. In 1951, Kentucky traveled to Texas and lost 7-6.
Cat Scratches: Kentucky Defense Preparing for ‘Skilled’ Texas
The Kentucky defense faces a huge challenge this weekend, facing No. 3 Texas and its Heisman Trophy candidate, quarterback Quinn Ewers.
UK co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Chris Collins spoke to the media following Wednesday’s UK practice. Collins believes that Ewers is directing one of the best offenses in the country.
“Quinn is a phenomenal quarterback. Does a great job in terms of understanding where he wants to go with the football,” Collins said. “And not only understanding where he wants to go with it because he has good players, but based off what the scheme of the defense gives him. They’ve got a plethora of receivers, from outside to inside, and tight ends and the backs do a great job in the passing game as well. We’ve got a challenge, and we’re excited.”
Collins admires the job that Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has done in building his offensive unit and in how he coaches them…Read More
Kentucky vs. Texas
The Series
• The Wildcats and the Longhorns have only ever played each other once in program history, when Kentucky lost to Texas, 7-6, in Austin on Sept. 22, 1951.
The Ties
• Kentucky has four players on its roster from the state of Texas, including defensive back Zion Childress (Houston), wide receiver Josh Terrell (Fort Worth), long snapper Trent Baker (Friendswood), offensive lineman Anfernee Crease (Tomball).
• Jay Boulware, running backs coach and special teams coordinator, also spent four seasons at Texas, most recently serving as the associate head coach, tight ends coach and special teams coordinator in 2020.
• He also served as a student assistant (1994-95) and a graduate assistant (1996) at Texas.
• Boulware graduated from Texas in 1996 with a degree in economics.
By the Numbers
1
Kentucky’s rank in the SEC in red zone defense
2
Sacks needed by UK’s J.J. Weaver to move him into a tie for third on Kentucky’s all-time sacks list
18
Consecutive field goals made by Kentucky kicker Alex Raynor, tied for the sixth-longest streak in SEC history
46
Receiving yards needed by Barion Brown for the junior to reach the top 10 in that category in UK history
582
Yards of total offense for Kentucky last week, a season high
