AUSTIN, Texas — Quinn Ewers threw two first-half touchdown passes to Gunnar Helm as No. 3 Texas beat Kentucky 31-14 Saturday to stay on top of the Southeastern Conference in the Longhorns' first year in the league.

What You Need To Know

  • No. 3 Texas rolled to a 31-14 win Saturday over Kentucky to stay on top of the Southeastern Conference 

  • Backup quarterback Cutter Boley replaced starter Brock Vandagriff in the third quarter and put some life in the Wildcats' offense with 160 passing yards

  • However, Kentucky's eight-year bowl game streak was snapped with the loss 

  • Kentucky hosts Louisville Saturday, Nov. 30

Quintrevion Wisner ran for 158 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown for Texas (10-1, 6-1, No. 3 CFP). The Longhorns can earn a berth in the SEC title game when they face No. 15 Texas A&M next week as that rivalry resumes after a 12-year break.

Texas' final home game of the regular season also looked like it could be Ewers' last home game in burnt orange if the Longhorns don't host a College Football Playoff game. The three-year starter has a year of college eligibility left but took part in Texas' senior day pregame celebrations.

Ewers was 20-of-31 passing for 191 yards in an uneven performance to push his record to 24-7 as starter.

His first touchdown pass to Helm came on Texas' opening drive. Ewers rolled to his left on 4th-and-goal and found Helm roaming in the back of the end zone. The second came on a touch pass where Helm had to reach high and absorb a big hit at the touchline to make it 21-7.

“I really like throwing the football to him,” Ewers said.

Kentucky (4-7, 1-7) cut the lead to 24-14 on Jamon Dumas-Johnson's 25-yard touchdown return after an Ewers fumble in the third quarter.

Wisner's power running took over late in the fourth quarter before he pushed in for a 1-yard score. Texas bled 8 minutes off the clock and ran 12 times in a 15-play drive.

Sarkisian called it a “culture, attitude drive.”

“Being able close out the clock and send it home means a lot,” Wisner said.

The Takeaway

Kentucky: Backup quarterback Cutter Boley replaced starter Brock Vandagriff in the third quarter and put some life in the Wildcats' offense with 160 passing yards. But Kentucky needed to beat Texas and then Louisville next week to keep its eight-year bowl game streak alive.

“The bowl game streak is gone," Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. "It hurts. It's not fun. It's something we were proud of, and you can't take that stuff for granted." 

Texas: The defense continued its dominant form. Texas has not allowed an opponent to score in the first quarter in eight times this season. The defense held again in the third quarter when the Wildcats had first down at the Texas 1-yard line. The drive went back 15 yards before a missed field goal.

Up Next

Kentucky hosts Louisville Saturday, Nov. 30.

Texas plays at Texas A&M Saturday, Nov. 30.

Related Stories