For LSU, what appeared to be a long-awaited breakthrough on the road instead turned into another excruciating SEC road loss.
No. 10 LSU watched a late three-point lead disappear before Kentucky elected to go for the win in overtime, converting a two-point quarterback draw to stun the Tigers 35-34 Saturday night at Kroger Field in Lexington.
The loss dropped LSU to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in SEC play, while Kentucky improved to 5-1 and 3-1. It also extended LSU’s road SEC losing streak to eight games, with its last conference victory away from Tiger Stadium coming Oct. 19, 2024 at Arkansas.
“We had all kinds of chances to close the game out, win the game and didn't do it,” LSU coach Lane Kiffin said. “And, you know, let people hang around on the road at night in SEC. That's going to happen.”
It was an odd first half of football.
LSU controlled the game statistically for much of the opening 30 minutes, running 17 more offensive plays than Kentucky, holding the ball for more than 20 minutes and outgaining the Wildcats by 65 yards.
But Kentucky needed only a handful of explosive plays to take a 21-17 lead into halftime.
On Kentucky’s first offensive snap, running back CJ Baxter ripped off a 77-yard run to the LSU 3-yard line before scoring on the following play.
LSU answered with a beautiful flea-flicker 22-yard touchdown pass from Sam Leavitt to tight end Zach Grace to regain the lead at 10-7.
But after LSU went three-and-out early in the second quarter, Kentucky's Brock Coffman returned the ensuing punt 55 yards for a touchdown to put the Wildcats back in front.
LSU responded again when Leavitt connected with wide receiver Jackson Harris for a 10-yard touchdown, giving the Tigers a 17-14 advantage.
Kentucky then mounted a lengthy drive before halftime, with quarterback Kenny Minchey scoring on a 1-yard sneak as time expired to give the Wildcats a 21-17 lead.
The play was reviewed, but the touchdown stood.
Kentucky would not score another touchdown in regulation.
LSU cut the deficit to 21-20 in the third quarter on Scott Starzyk’s 24-yard field goal before Kentucky answered with a 28-yard field goal from Adam Zouagui early in the fourth.
Then came one of LSU’s biggest plays of the night.
Harris, normally a wide receiver, took the ball on a trick play and delivered a dart to fellow receiver Roman Mothershed for a 41-yard touchdown with 9:48 remaining, putting LSU ahead 27-24.
The Tigers appeared to be in position to finally escape Lexington with their first victory there since the Bluegrass Miracle in 2002.
Kentucky had several chances to tie it - and initially failed to capitalize on all of them.
The Wildcats drove to the LSU 24 before kicker Adam Zouagui missed a 42-yard field goal wide left with 5:02 remaining.
LSU took over with a chance to drain the clock, but two plays later disaster struck.
Leavitt dropped back to pass and was sacked by defensive lineman Jamarrion Harkless, who knocked the ball free. Defensive lineman Tavion Gadson recovered the fumble at the LSU 13, immediately putting Kentucky back in scoring position.
LSU’s defense responded.
The Tigers held Kentucky to only 5 yards after the turnover, forcing Zouagui into a 26-yard field goal attempt. He missed again, this time to the right, leaving LSU ahead 27-24 with 3:11 remaining.
LSU still could not put the game away.
The Tigers picked up one first down but were ultimately forced to punt, giving Kentucky the ball at its own 19 with 1:37 remaining.
Minchey then drove the Wildcats down the field, completing passes to receivers DJ Miller, Ja'Kayden Ferguson and Kenny Darby to move Kentucky into field-goal range.
After missing his previous two attempts, Zouagui finally connected from 33 yards with 12 seconds remaining to tie the game at 27 and force overtime.
LSU struck quickly on the first possession of overtime.
Leavitt gained 10 yards on the opening play before keeping the ball again and scrambling 15 yards for a touchdown. Starzyk’s extra point gave LSU a 34-27 lead.
Kentucky's possession appeared to be in trouble almost immediately.
After an incompletion and a 2-yard Baxter run, the Wildcats faced third-and-8 from the LSU 23.
Minchey responded by finding Darby for a 22-yard completion down to the 1.
Willie Rodriguez was stopped for no gain on first-and-goal, but Baxter punched it in from a yard out on the next play to pull Kentucky within 34-33.
Rather than kick the extra point and extend the game, Kentucky coach Will Stein elected to go for the win.
After timeouts by both teams, Minchey kept the ball on a designed quarterback draw and found the end zone for the two-point conversion, ending the game at 35-34.
LSU finished with 410 total yards while Kentucky totaled 401.
Leavitt completed 25 of 34 passes for 275 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also scored LSU’s overtime touchdown but finished with a costly fourth-quarter fumble that gave Kentucky the ball deep in LSU territory.
Running back Dilin Jones was LSU’s leading rusher with 56 yards on 16 carries and also led the Tigers in receiving with seven catches for 84 yards.
LSU linebacker TJ Dottery led the Tigers defensively with 12 total tackles, including 11 solo stops.
Kentucky was led offensively by Baxter, who rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Minchey threw for 268 yards and added two rushing scores when including the game-winning two-point conversion.
For LSU, the loss will be defined by missed opportunities.
Kentucky missed two field goals in the final five minutes, LSU’s defense survived Leavitt’s late turnover, and the Tigers still held a three-point lead with less than two minutes remaining.
None of it was enough.
For the eighth straight time, LSU left an SEC road stadium with a loss - and its search for its first conference road victory since 2024 will continue.
