Kentucky defeated No. 10 LSU 35-34 in overtime, marking the second consecutive week the Wildcats secured a win via a walk-off two-point conversion. The victory makes Kentucky the first team in FBS history to win back-to-back overtime games by a single point, a feat accomplished since the overtime format was first implemented in 1996.
LSU and Kentucky Coaches Trade Tactical Timeouts
The game-winning play followed a period of intense gamesmanship between Kentucky head coach Will Stein and LSU coach Lane Kiffin. After LSU secured the first possession of overtime, quarterback Sam Leavitt threw a 10-yard pass followed by a 15-yard touchdown run. LSU kicker Scott Starzyk successfully converted the extra point, placing the pressure back on Kentucky to answer.
The sequence saw both coaches trade timeouts, with Stein using his own to prevent a penalty after his team lined up for a crystal-clear false start. When the play finally commenced, quarterback Kenny Minchey executed a run that found an open path to the end zone.
Turnovers Hinder LSU Offensive Performance
The matchup remained competitive through regulation, ending in a 27-27 tie. LSU’s offensive efforts were hampered in the second half by turnovers, including a fumble at the LSU 13-yard line and a separate interception that forced Kentucky to turn the ball over on downs in the third quarter.
LSU’s performance against Kentucky reflects a broader struggle for Leavitt, who has thrown eight interceptions across six games in 2026. For comparison, Leavitt threw nine interceptions across 589 pass attempts during his 20 games at Arizona State in 2024 and 2025.
Back-to-Back Overtime Wins
The win against LSU mirrors Kentucky’s performance the previous week against South Carolina, where the Wildcats also utilized a two-point conversion in overtime to secure a 35-34 victory. That game marked the program’s first win over the Gamecocks since 2021 and snapped a four-game losing streak against them. In that contest, Kentucky overcame a 17-0 deficit, representing the second-largest comeback win in the history of the program.
With this latest result, Kentucky moves to 5-1 on the season. The team is expected to return to the rankings on Sunday.
LSU Playoff Outlook
For LSU, the loss brings the team to a 4-2 record and complicates their trajectory toward the 12-team College Football Playoff. The team faces a challenging schedule in the coming weeks, with games remaining against Mississippi State, Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee.
