Texas vs Kentucky usually refers to a college-sports matchup between the Texas Longhorns and Kentucky Wildcats, particularly football or basketball. In football, Texas defeated Kentucky 16–13 in overtime on October 18, 2025 in Lexington. The schools also meet in other SEC sports, including men’s basketball and baseball.
Key Takeaways
- Texas beat Kentucky 16–13 in the most recent football meeting on October 18, 2025.
- The 2025 football game was played at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.
- Texas and Kentucky are both members of the SEC, creating regular conference matchups in several sports.
- Kentucky defeated Texas 85–80 in men’s basketball on January 21, 2026.
- In 2025 baseball, Texas and Kentucky played a three-game series in Lexington, with Texas winning the series 2–1.
Texas vs Kentucky: What Does the Matchup Mean?
When someone searches “Texas vs Kentucky,” the meaning depends on the sport.
The two universities compete against each other in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), so their teams can meet during regular-season conference play. That includes sports such as football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball.
University of Texas at Austin represents the Texas Longhorns, while University of Kentucky represents the Kentucky Wildcats.
For football, the matchup has been relatively infrequent historically. The schools met in 1951 and then again in 2024 and 2025. Texas won all three football meetings, according to the recorded series history.
Because the phrase is used for several sports, checking the sport and season is important before comparing scores or schedules.
Texas vs Kentucky Football
The football matchup is one of the most recognizable meanings of this search term.
Texas and Kentucky became SEC opponents after Texas joined the conference. Their recent meetings have produced two different types of games: Texas won 31–14 in 2024, while the 2025 contest was much closer.
2025 Football Result
The most recent Texas vs Kentucky football game took place on October 18, 2025, at Kroger Field in Lexington.
Texas won 16–13 in overtime. The game was tied 13–13 after regulation, and Texas kicked the decisive field goal in overtime.
| Category | Texas | Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 16 | 13 |
| Location | Kroger Field | Lexington, KY |
| Date | Oct. 18, 2025 | Oct. 18, 2025 |
| Passing yards | 132 | 258 |
| Rushing yards | 47 | 137 |
| Total offense | 179 | 395 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Result | Win | Loss |
Interestingly, Kentucky produced considerably more total offense, recording 395 yards compared with Texas’s 179. Kentucky also controlled possession for more than 39 minutes, but Texas made enough plays to win the low-scoring overtime contest.
How the 2025 Game Was Decided
The game was not an offensive shootout.
Texas scored first on a short touchdown run, while Kentucky answered with a field goal in the third quarter. The Wildcats then tied the game at 10–10 in the fourth quarter.
Both teams added late field goals, sending the game into overtime at 13–13. Texas then converted its overtime opportunity with another field goal to finish the game 16–13.
The statistical contrast makes the result especially interesting. Kentucky had more first downs, more rushing yards, more passing yards, and substantially more total offense. Texas, however, avoided turnovers and made all three of its field-goal attempts.
Recent Football Series History
The recent football series is short but easy to summarize:
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 1951 | Texas 7, Kentucky 6 |
| 2024 | Texas 31, Kentucky 14 |
| 2025 | Texas 16, Kentucky 13 OT |
Texas therefore entered the current period with a 3–0 record against Kentucky in football, according to the available series history.
One important current-season detail: Texas and Kentucky are not scheduled to play each other in the 2026 regular-season football schedule. Texas’s 2026 schedule includes opponents such as Tennessee, Oklahoma, Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, LSU, Arkansas, and Texas A&M. Kentucky’s schedule includes Alabama, Texas A&M, South Carolina, LSU, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Florida, Missouri, and Louisville.
Texas vs Kentucky Basketball
The basketball interpretation is also important because Texas and Kentucky regularly meet as SEC opponents.
In their men’s basketball meeting on January 21, 2026, Kentucky defeated Texas 85–80 at Rupp Arena in Lexington. Texas entered the game 11–8 overall, while Kentucky entered at 13–6.
Texas had a strong individual performance from Dailyn Swain, who scored 29 points, but Kentucky finished the game with the five-point advantage.
2026–27 Upcoming Meeting
The two programs are scheduled to meet again during the 2026–27 men’s basketball season, with Kentucky traveling to Texas for an SEC game at the Moody Center in Austin. Kentucky’s official schedule lists the matchup for January 30, 2027.
Texas’s 2026–27 SEC schedule also identifies Kentucky as one of its home conference opponents.
That means someone searching Texas vs Kentucky basketball may be looking for a completely different result, schedule, or matchup than someone searching for the football game.
Texas vs Kentucky Baseball
Texas and Kentucky also met in a three-game SEC baseball series in April 2025 at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington.
The teams split the first two games:
- April 11: Texas defeated Kentucky 6–3.
- April 12: Kentucky defeated Texas 5–4 in 15 innings.
- April 13: Texas defeated Kentucky 5–4.
Texas therefore won the series 2–1.
The April 12 game was particularly long, lasting 15 innings before Kentucky secured the 5–4 victory. The deciding game the following day went back to Texas, which won 5–4.
Texas vs Kentucky: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Texas Longhorns | Kentucky Wildcats |
|---|---|---|
| University | University of Texas at Austin | University of Kentucky |
| Location | Austin, Texas | Lexington, Kentucky |
| Conference | SEC | SEC |
| Football nickname | Longhorns | Wildcats |
| Football stadium | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium | Kroger Field |
| Men’s basketball venue | Moody Center | Rupp Arena |
| 2025 football result | Won 16–13 OT | Lost 13–16 OT |
| 2026 men’s basketball meeting | Lost 80–85 | Won 85–80 |
The table shows why adding the sport and year to a search makes the result much clearer.
Are Texas and Kentucky in the SEC?
Yes. Texas and Kentucky are both SEC members.
That conference relationship explains why the teams can appear together in football, basketball, baseball, and other college-sports searches.
However, being in the same conference does not mean they play every sport every season or necessarily meet every year in every sport. Conference scheduling varies by sport and season.
For example, Texas’s official 2026 football schedule does not include Kentucky, while the 2026–27 men’s basketball schedule does include Kentucky as a home SEC opponent.
Texas vs Kentucky: Which Sport Are You Looking For?
If you search Texas vs Kentucky score, check the sport first.
For football: the most recent meeting was Texas’s 16–13 overtime victory on October 18, 2025.
For men’s basketball: Kentucky won 85–80 on January 21, 2026.
For baseball: Texas won the 2025 three-game series 2–1 in Lexington.
This distinction is useful because a generic search for Texas vs Kentucky can return results from several sports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the last Texas vs Kentucky football game?
Texas won the most recent football matchup 16–13 in overtime on October 18, 2025. The game was played at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky. Texas also defeated Kentucky 31–14 in their 2024 meeting.
Are Texas and Kentucky SEC teams?
Yes. Both the Texas Longhorns and Kentucky Wildcats compete in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Their conference membership allows them to meet in multiple sports, although schedules differ by sport and season.
Did Texas and Kentucky play basketball?
Yes. In men’s basketball, Kentucky defeated Texas 85–80 on January 21, 2026, at Rupp Arena. The programs are also scheduled to meet again during the 2026–27 SEC men’s basketball season in Austin.
Where was the 2025 football game played?
The October 18, 2025 football game was played at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky. Texas won 16–13 in overtime in front of an announced attendance of 60,937.
Do Texas and Kentucky play baseball?
Yes. They played a three-game SEC baseball series in Lexington in April 2025. Texas won the first and third games, while Kentucky won the middle game in 15 innings, giving Texas the series victory 2–1.
Conclusion
Texas vs Kentucky is not limited to one sport. The phrase most commonly points to a college matchup between the Texas Longhorns and Kentucky Wildcats, with football and basketball being especially relevant.
In football, Texas won the latest meeting 16–13 in overtime in 2025. In men’s basketball, Kentucky won the latest meeting 85–80 in January 2026. The schools are both SEC members and continue to meet in conference competition across different sports.
