Kentucky Wildcats Beat LSU Tigers 35-34 in Overtime for…

Kentucky Wildcats needed overtime and a gutsy two-point call to get past LSU Tigers, and it worked.

Final score: Kentucky Wildcats 35, LSU Tigers 34 in overtime at Kroger Field on Saturday, October 10, 2026. Kentucky moves to 5-1 on the season while LSU falls to 4-2. This one went the distance, tied at 27 after regulation before both offenses traded scores in the extra period.

Box score

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	OT	Final
LSU Tigers	10	7	3	7	7	34
Kentucky Wildcats	7	14	0	6	8	35

See full player stats and game details

How it turned

LSU came out ahead 10-7 after the first quarter, with S. Starzyk hitting a 24-yard field goal and Sam Leavitt finding Z. Grace for a 22-yard touchdown sandwiched around a CJ Baxter short touchdown run for Kentucky.

Kentucky flipped the script in the second quarter, grabbing a 21-17 lead at the half. A 55-yard punt return touchdown from B. Coffman off a G. Chadwick punt was the backbreaker, and Kenny Minchey capped the half with a 1-yard touchdown run with no time left on the clock. LSU answered in between with Leavitt connecting with J. Harris for a 10-yard score.

The third quarter was quiet by comparison. LSU's only points came on another Starzyk field goal, and Kentucky still led 21-20 heading into the fourth.

The fourth quarter turned into a shootout. Kentucky's A. Zouagui hit a 28-yard field goal, LSU answered with a 41-yard touchdown strike from J. Harris to R. Mothershed, and Zouagui's 33-yard field goal with twelve seconds left forced overtime at 27-27.

Overtime settled it. Leavitt scampered in from 15 yards out to put LSU up, but Baxter punched in a 1-yard touchdown for Kentucky and Minchey converted the two-point run himself to seal it.

Scoring plays

Q1 8:45 LSU: S. Starzyk 24 yd FG GOOD
Q1 8:09 UK: CJ Baxter run for 3 yds, for a TD (A. Zouagui KICK)
Q1 1:39 LSU: S. Leavitt pass to Z. Grace for 22 yds, for a TD (S. Starzyk KICK)
Q2 13:06 UK: G. Chadwick punt for 37 yds, B. Coffman returns for 55 yds for a TD (A. Zouagui KICK)
Q2 6:11 LSU: S. Leavitt pass to J. Harris for 10 yds, for a TD (S. Starzyk KICK)
Q2 0:03 UK: K. Minchey run for 1 yd, for a TD (A. Zouagui KICK)
Q3 2:13 LSU: S. Starzyk 24 yd FG GOOD
Q4 11:54 UK: A. Zouagui 28 yd FG GOOD
Q4 9:42 LSU: J. Harris pass to R. Mothershed for 41 yds, for a TD (S. Starzyk KICK)
Q4 0:12 UK: A. Zouagui 33 yd FG GOOD

Top performers

Sam Leavitt kept LSU in it all game, going 25/34 for 275 yards with two touchdowns and an interception through the air, then adding 15 carries for 39 yards and a rushing touchdown on the ground. Dilin Jones chipped in 16 carries for 56 yards rushing and caught seven passes for 84 yards. Winston Watkins Jr. added six catches for 62 yards, and TJ Dottery led the defense with 12 tackles.

For Kentucky, CJ Baxter was the workhorse, running 19 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns, including the overtime winner. Kenny Minchey went 23/36 for 246 yards without a touchdown or a turnover through the air but delivered the two-point conversion that mattered most. Kenny Darby hauled in four catches for 79 yards and DJ Miller added four for 54. Elijah Barnes matched Dottery with 12 tackles on defense.

Top performers

LSU Tigers

Sam Leavitt (QB) — 25/34, 275 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Dilin Jones (RB) — 16 car, 56 yds, 0 TD
Sam Leavitt (QB) — 15 car, 39 yds, 1 TD
Dilin Jones (RB) — 7 rec, 84 yds, 0 TD
Winston Watkins Jr. (WR) — 6 rec, 62 yds, 0 TD
TJ Dottery (LB) — 12 tkl, 0 sck, 0 INT