4 takeaways from Texas's resolute win over Kentucky

Texas's defense dominates Kentucky

Coming into this game, the Longhorns ranked No. 1 in the P4 conferences in total defense and passing defense.

Led by sophomore linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and sophomore safety Jelani McDonald, Texas's defense came up huge again in this game against Kentucky. Throughout this game, Hill and McDonald both made game-changing plays that kept the Texas defense together through some difficult points of the contest.

In the first half, McDonald had a highlight-reel interception for the first pick of his collegiate career. Texas scored on the offensive drive after the circus catch interception by McDonald.

It didn't take long for Hill to make his mark on this game. In the first half alone, he registered over a half dozen combined tackles, four defensive stops, two quarterback pressures, two tackles for loss, and one sack.

Hill continued to make huge plays for the Texas defense in the second half. When Kentucky had the ball near Texas's goal line in the third quarter, after a fumble by junior running back Jaydon Blue, Hill had a massive third-down sack that resulted in a loss of a dozen yards by the Kentucky offense.

On the ensuing field-goal attempt, Kentucky missed a 30+ yarder that kept the Texas lead at 24-7 late in the third quarter, and avoided a swing of momentum in the Wildcats favor after the bad Longhorns turnover.

Had it not been for multiple Texas turnovers on offense in the second half, Kentucky would've probably been held to single-digits scoring in this game. But the fumble-return for six by the Kentucky defense obviously isn't any fault of the Texas defense.