After a 4-0 start, Kentucky came into its Senior Day game reeling at 6-5. But a 4th consecutive win over rival Louisville made things right in a hurry. Kentucky rode its defense, a surprisingly solid kicking game and an opportunistic offense to a 26-13 victory to finish the regular season 7-5.

Will Levis threw a pair of touchdown passes, Chris Rodriguez topped 100 yards rushing for the program-record 20th time, and Kentucky’s defense won the battle of turnovers against a Lousiville team that was +12 on turnover margin coming in. Kentucky had averaged over 50 points in its past 3 wins over the Cardinals, and while Louisville held the offensively challenged Wildcats under that mark, it wasn’t enough to keep the game competitive.

After both teams traded punts, Kentucky opened the scoring with a 5-play, 86-yard drive, with 70 of the yards coming on a connection between Levis and freshman tight end Josh Kattus. Kentucky reached the end zone on an 8-yard connection between Levis and receiver Dane Key. The extra point made it 7-0 with 7:46 left in the first quarter.

UK extended the lead with a drive that ended the first quarter and opened the second. Matt Ruffolo, who has missed 8 field goals this season, connected on a 43-yard kick with 12:48 left in the first half to extend the Wildcats’ edge to 10-0. Ruffolo added to the edge on a 29-yard kick with 10:28 to play.

Louisville answered late in the half with a 64-yard march that culminated in a 6-yard scoring run by Malik Cunningham. The injured Cunningham came into the game in the second quarter and had to leave in the third quarter after apparently reinjuring his shoulder. His TD trimmed UK’s halftime edge to 13-7.

In the second half, Kentucky’s defense made an opening stand and then the Wildcats drove for a third Ruffolo kick, this time from 35 yards out to make it 16-7. On the ensuing series, Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace intercepted a Cunningham pass and returned it to the Louisville 16-yard line. Three plays later, Levis connected with freshman Barion Brown from 3 yards out to make it 23-7 Wildcats.

Kentucky extended its edge to 26-7 on a 4th successful kick from Ruffolo, this time from 40 yards out with 12:06 to play.

Louisville answered with a 75-yard drive, reaching the end zone on a 25-yard connection from QB Brock Domann to Tyler Hudson. Louisville’s 2-point conversion was initially ruled good, but on review, Domann was brought down shy of the goal line, leaving Kentucky’s edge at 26-13 with 7:03 to play.

Kentucky now will wait on its bowl bid. Othan than the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Kentucky hasn’t had a losing regular season since 2015. Given the chaos of the end of the SEC regular season, Kentucky’s bowl destination remains very much up in the air. Louisville likewise finished its regular season at 7-5, and will be bowling as well under coach Scott Satterfield.