OU Falls to No. 15 Kentucky

Saturday, October 17

Norman

6:30 p.m. CT

University of Oklahoma

3-3 , 1-2

Kentucky

6-1 , 4-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Kentucky	7	0	0	14	21
Oklahoma	3	7	3	0	13

Taylor Wein makes a tackle against Kentucky on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

Photo by: Oklahoma Athletics

October 17, 2026 | Football

Box Score Final Stats Postgame Notes Postgame Press Conference

NORMAN — Oklahoma outgained Kentucky 346 to 230 in total yards and 270 to 158 in passing yards, but the No. 15 Wildcats scored 14 points in the fourth quarter and the Sooners fell 21-13 Saturday evening at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Oklahoma (3-3, 1-2 SEC) led 10-7 and halftime and 13-7 after three quarters. Kentucky (6-1, 4-1 SEC), intercepted a tipped pass deep in their own territory late in the third quarter and returned it to the OU 44-yard line, then drove to score the go-ahead touchdown and take a 14-13 lead. The interception was one of three made by Kentucky in the second half. Defensive back Jordan Castell intercepted a pass and returned in 41 yards for a touchdown to make the score 21-13 with 1:17 to play.

Oklahoma scored on two of its first three possessions of the game to take a 10-7 lead. The Sooners drove 49 yards in 7:03 and Tate Sandell made a 44-yard field goal to make the score 7-3. It was his 19th field goal make of 40 or more yards at OU, which ranks second in school history (Gabe Brkic made 21 field goals of 40-plus yards from 2019-21).

On their third possession, the Sooners drove 90 yards in 12 plays, as quarterback John Mateer connected with tight end Rocky Beers for a 20-yard touchdown to give OU a 10-7 lead.

Sandell added a 26-yard field goal with 6:32 left in the third quarter to extend the lead to 13-7.

Oklahoma held Kentucky to 230 total yards, 158 passing yards and 72 total yards, its second-lowest offensive output in all three categories this season. OU also allowed no third-quarter points for the fifth time in six games.

Mateer completed 24 of 40 passes for 270 yards. In his first career start, sophomore wide receiver Manny Choice registered career highs of five receptions and 98 yards. Wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III made eight catches for 83 yards and Beers had four catches for 45 yards.

Freshman defensive lineman Jake Kreul tallied 2.5 sacks, the most in school history by a true freshman and most by any OU freshman since 1984 when Brian Bosworth had 3.0 sacks vs. Iowa State. His six tackles were also a career high. Linebackers Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke tied with a team-high eight tackles.