Kentucky Wildcats Face Off Against Texas Longhorns in Rare Matchup

The Kentucky Wildcats and the Texas Longhorns are set to clash in a rare and highly anticipated matchup on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. This game marks the first time these two teams have faced each other since 1951, a year in which the Longhorns edged out the Wildcats 7-6 in a closely contested game.

The Texas Longhorns, with a strong record of 9-1, are favored to win, with ESPN Bet listing them as 20.5-point favorites and ESPN‘s matchup predictor giving them a 94.6% chance of victory. The Longhorns have been impressive this season, ranking 19th in total offense with 450.1 yards per game and leading the nation in total defense, allowing just 249 yards per game. They also boast a top-25 passing offense and the best passing defense in the country.

In contrast, the Kentucky Wildcats have a record of 4-6 and have struggled on offense, particularly in the passing game, where they rank 21st-worst in the FBS with 183.4 passing yards per game. However, Kentucky’s defense has been solid, allowing just 19.3 points per contest, which ranks 22nd-best in the FBS.

The game will be broadcast nationally on ABC, with Joe Tessitore and Jesse Palmer providing the commentary. It is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and can also be streamed on ESPN+.

Historically, the only previous meeting between these teams was in 1951, when the Wildcats, coached by Bear Bryant, were coming off a national championship season. Despite Kentucky’s strong performance in that game, Texas secured a narrow 7-6 victory.