4 takeaways from Texas's resolute win over Kentucky

Texas receivers step up amid injuries at the skill positions

Junior wide receiver Isaiah Bond and sophomore DeAndre Moore Jr. were both on limited snap counts in this game against Kentucky due to lingering injuries. Bond has been dealing with an ankle injury since the second half of the Red River Rivalry game against Oklahoma in October.

Moore has also dealt with a lower-body injury (foot) over the past few weeks for the Longhorns. Despite the injuries, Moore and Bond were active for the Longhorns against Kentucky today.

Bond and Moore are two of Texas's three leading receivers in conference play this season. They've accounted for over 500 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns for the Longhorns in SEC play.

With Bond and Moore limited due to lower-body injury issues against Kentucky, junior wide receiver Matthew Golden and senior tight end Gunnar Helm stepped up big-time for Texas's offense in the receiving corps. Golden was a favorite target of Ewers to set the tone in this game through the air for the Longhorns.

Golden's hot streak, with four receiving touchdowns in the past two games and five in the last three continued at the beginning of this matchup against Kentucky. On the game's first two drives, Golden had five catches for over 50 receiving yards.

Helm had some crucial plays that helped Texas build a big lead early in this game, with a couple of first-half receiving touchdowns. The big showing for Helm in this game put him in rare company among SEC tight ends this season. He's now got over 300 receiving yards and four touchdown catches in SEC play.

Texas's depth and talent in the receiving corps and at tight end really showed up when the offense needed it through the air against a physical Kentucky defense that's solid in the secondary.