Kentucky football followed a heartbreaking overtime loss to Texas with a blowout loss to Tennessee to fall to 2-6. Next on the schedule, the Wildcats travel to take on the Auburn Tigers to fight for their first SEC win of the calendar year. Game time is set for 7:30 PM ET on the SEC Network.
Looking at the teams on paper, the Wildcats are less talented, but they match up well with the Tigers and will have a shot. Both teams are ranked within ten spots of each other in offensive and defensive efficiency. However, if you look at the series history, the Wildcats have beaten Auburn just once since Adolph Rupp retired.
Advertisement
Let’s take a look at the matchup.
Rising Offense
The end result has been two losses, but Kentucky has put up 390+ yards in back-to-back games for the first time since 2021. A big part of that has been the play of redshirt freshman quarterback Cutter Boley, who was named Kentucky’s starting quarterback in week three.
Boley has not been perfect, but has shown tremendous promise. Against Tennessee, Boley threw for five touchdowns, a Kentucky freshman record, but also the most by any Wildcat quarterback since André Woodson in 2007.
Looking ahead to this week, Auburn’s defense is among the best in the country at stopping the run, but among the worst nationally in defending the pass.
Advertisement
Kentucky’s leading rusher, Seth McGowan, should be able to take some carries after sitting out last weekend. The latter bodes well for Boley, whose confidence is growing with every outing, but the receivers have to continue to prove they can be consistent.
Quarterback Battle
While Cutter Boley is the clear starter for Kentucky, Auburn has an “open quarterback competition” going into Saturday’s game. The options: Jackson Arnold and Ashton Daniels.
Arnold, a transfer from Oklahoma, has been the starter for every game this season, but after a poor start against Arkansas last week, Freeze led him to see what he had in Daniels. Daniels, a Stanford transfer, led the Tigers to a 23-3 finish to win the game.
Advertisement
Brad White and the Wildcat defense will have to prepare for both, but if the QB battle carries into the game, it could make it difficult for Auburn to find a rhythm. Then again, Kentucky football has often fallen victim to the opposing backup quarterback.
Hot Seat Coaches
Mark Stoops. Hugh Freeze. Two coaches who are riding the hottest hot seats in the country.
Stoops’ troubles have been well documented by Kentucky media to this point, including 10 consecutive SEC losses and 10 consecutive SEC home losses. Meanwhile, Freeze, in a make-or-break year, is fighting for his job after Auburn has lost four of its last five games.
Advertisement
One could coin this the ‘Buyout Bowl’ as there is a case to be made that whoever loses this game will have their fates sealed and soon be on their way out.
Key Players
Jeremiah Cobb, RB
-
717 yards (18th nationally, 2nd in SEC)
-
117 carries, 6.1 yards per rush
Xavier Atkins, LB
-
45 solo tackles (2nd nationally. Leads SEC)
-
7 sacks (T-7th nationally, 3rd in SEC)
Kentucky Wildcats Football vs. Auburn Tigers
-
Game Time: 7:30 PM EST on November 1st, 2025
-
Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama
-
Satellite Radio: XM Channel 203, Sirius Channel 98, Internet Channel 966
-
Replay: ESPN+ and SEC Network (check local listings).
-
Odds: FanDuel Sportsbook has Kentucky as a 10.5-point underdog with an over/under of 44.5 points. ESPN gives the Wildcats just a 22.9% chance of victory.
-
Predictions: TeamRankings and DRatings.com have Auburn winning by double digits, 28-17. Sportsbook Wire has the Tigers winning by two scores and a two-point conversion, 32-17. While Auburn is just .500, three of their SEC losses are by one score or less. This is a more talented team, and I am taking them to beat Kentucky 28-20.
