No. 3 Texas vs. Kentucky live updates: Longhorns find rhythm as Jaydon Blue scores 5-yard TD for 14-7 lead

AUSTIN, Texas — The effort for no. 3 Texas Longhorns remain the same this week — win vs Kentucky Wildcats Saturday at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Senior Day and next week in College Station against No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies and head coach Steve Sarkisian’s team will play in the SEC Championship game and make a second straight appearance in the College Football Playoffs.

A loss would cloud both situations significantly, something the Horns hope to avoid on an emotional day when the team recognizes a group of seniors who helped turn the program around after Sarkisian’s arrival and the 11-11 start to his tenure, winning 21 of the last . 24 games, including 10 straight in real road games.

With Kentucky in Austin, it’s about protecting Campbell-Williams Field in a sold-out stadium against an opponent hoping to find a way to get an early lead and then shorten the game to protect a turnover-prone quarterback.

Two players with remaining eligibility received recognition on Senior Day — redshirt junior quarterback Quinn Ewers, who is confirming reports that he will declare for the 2025 NFL Draft, and safety Michael Taaffe, who has one redshirt season available.

Damage reports

After listing sophomore wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. as questionable and redshirt freshman edge Colton Vasek and senior linebacker Mo Blackwell as probable heading into Saturday, the Longhorns removed all three players from the pregame injury report.

First quarter

A check down to sophomore running back Quintrevion Wisner and a handoff to the DeSoto product set up the horns on 3rd-and-11, but Ewers was on time with his delivery to junior wide receiver Matthew Golden for 19 yards and a first down, then hit Golden again on a run-pass option for 14 yards. Back on the ground, Wisner moved the chains again after consecutive runs. Another run pass option went to Golden, who picked up 20 yards into the red zone.

One run only went for one yard before Ewers checked down to freshman Ryan Wingo in the flat for a seven-yard gain. On 3rd and 2, Ewers drew the run-pass option but was unable to connect with Golden, who had a defender draped over him. Typically aggressive, Sarkisian went for it and Ewers was forced out of the pocket but was able to connect with senior tight end Gunnar Helm, who threw on the move to the left for a three-yard touchdown.

The Texas defense allowed a run to trickle into the secondary on Kentucky’s first play from scrimmage before a blitz by sophomore linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. helped produce a sack on the next play. After a two-yard run, the Wildcats faced 3rd and 15. Vandagriff left the pocket quickly and without pressure and gained three yards before being tackled by a long line of Longhorns.

Ewers had to scramble to convert a 3rd and 5 to extend the second Texas drive, which set up an explosive run by junior running back Jaydon Blue, who found a seam for 21 yards. Targeting Golden for the sixth time in 10 pass attempts, Ewers hit the Houston transfer for 13 yards. The Blues’ second carry of the drive went up the middle for five yards. Attempting to punt, the ball from Ewers came out a little late and was underthrown targeted at junior wide receiver Isaiah Bond, allowing the Kentucky defensive back in coverage to break up the pass. When Blue was unable to pick up the necessary yardage on a third-down run, Sarkisian went for it again on fourth down, but Ewers had to throw the ball away under pressure for a turnover on downs.

A second-down pass by Vandagriff was nearly intercepted by Texas senior safety Andrew Mukuba, forcing Kentucky on 3rd-and-7 and an incompletion by Vandagriff to set up another punt by the Wildcats.

Wisner gained 17 yards on the first play for the Horns, but senior center Jake Majors was flagged for a bad team penalty on the next play to negate an eight-yard gain and put the Longhorns behind the chains. An eight-yard completion to senior wide receiver Silas Bolden and a short gain by Wisner initially set up 3rd-and-8, but Wingo was called for a false start and then couldn’t adjust to the third-down throw by Ewers.

Two runs by Kentucky gained eight yards and ended the first quarter.

Second quarter

Texas senior defensive tackle Alfred Collins was called for a delay of game penalty that kept Kentucky from having to convert the third down. The Wildcats were content to pick up six yards with a first down run, then tried to throw the ball, an incompletion by Vandagriff. The Kentucky quarterback finally completed his first pass on the ensuing third down, busting coverage by the Texas secondary for a 42-yard gain into the red zone.

A five-yard completion and a four-yard run set up third-and-short for the Cats near the goal line. Backside pursuit by Longhorn junior edge Trey Moore resulted in a tackle for loss and a fumble that the running back was able to recover. Going for it on fourth down, Vandagriff was able to get back to his tight end late for a four-yard touchdown catch, just the fourth passing touchdown allowed by Texas this season.

The Longhorns started their drive at the 35-yard line when the kickoff went out of bounds. Blue opened the possession with a six-yard gain, Ewers scrambled for three yards, and Blue moved the chains with a 7-yard run on third down from a short yard formation that included all three healthy scholarship runners in a diamond formation.

Wisner picked up seven yards that spelled Blue, and Ewers laid a pass over coverage to Bond for 17 yards as the Texas offense regained some rhythm. Two runs by Blue moved the chains again as the Horns entered the red zone where the Wildcats were finally able to stop a running play that held Wisner to one yard. When Ewers overthrew a pass intended for Helm at the line of scrimmage, Texas had to convert 3rd and 9 to keep the drive going, a throw by Ewers, but Kentucky was called for a personal foul, giving the Longhorns a first down . , quickly converted by Blue for a five-yard touchdown run and a 14-7 lead for Texas midway through the second quarter, which was on review as to whether Blue lost the football before breaking plan for the end zone.