Cutter Boley’s run as Arizona State’s starter is ending, at least for now.
According to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, Kenny Dillingham is preparing to hand the job to backup Mikey Keene this week against Kansas State, a sharp turn after Boley opened the season with a six-touchdown outing in a win over Morgan State.
The setback adds another twist to a quarterback journey that already included a departure from Kentucky. When Will Stein took over as the Wildcats’ head coach, one of his first major calls was deciding how to handle Boley.
Stein saw enough talent to believe the Hodgenville, Kentucky native could develop into a strong SEC starter, but the turnover issue was too glaring to ignore. Kentucky offered him only a minimal NIL deal and made it clear the program would bring in more quarterback competition through the transfer portal.
That push led Boley to explore other options before he landed at Arizona State, while Kentucky eventually brought in Notre Dame transfer Kenney Minchey.
Boley’s season started with promise, but the momentum has faded fast. Over his last five games, he has thrown seven touchdown passes and five interceptions, and he has also been charged with multiple pick-sixes, including one in Saturday’s lopsided loss to Texas Tech.
The numbers from the full season show a rough stretch in the pocket, too. Boley has been sacked nine times and has fumbled twice, losing one. Last season at Kentucky, he finished with 15 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 21 sacks and five fumbles, with two of those lost.
In Other News...
Will Stein Had The Perfect Response To Kentuckys Viral TV Moment
Kentuckys win over Oklahoma was already a notable one, but the postgame scene that followed quickly became its own talking point. In a clip that spread fast on social media, SEC Networks Tori Petry accidentally framed the Wildcats as the underdog in the matchup, asking Will Stein how it felt to beat a ranked team on the road when Kentucky was the ranked team.
Stein handled it exactly the way a coach would want, responding with grace in the moment and then making it clear he understands the work sideline reporters do. He stressed that everyone makes mistakes, a timely reminder in a sport where those exchanges are often dissected almost as closely as the game itself, and it also set the stage for Kentuckys next broadcast look as the Wildcats move on to their upcoming matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Underwood Just Became A Wild Kentucky QB Storyline
Bryce Underwoods sudden benching at Michigan has turned one of college footballs biggest young storylines into an immediate guessing game, and Kentucky naturally belongs in that conversation. The Wildcats have already been mentioned among the potential landing spots if Underwood chooses to explore a transfer, thanks in part to the kind of recruiting intrigue that tends to resurface fast when a high-profile quarterback situation changes.
There is still a long way between speculation and anything concrete, of course, and it is not even confirmed that Underwood will enter the portal. But with programs like LSU, Miami, Texas Tech, Georgia and Kentucky all floating around the discussion, the attention around his next move is only going to intensify, especially given the size of the NIL commitment he is already tied to at Michigan. [Read more 🡒]
Mark Stoops Knows Kentucky Cannot Sleepwalk Through This SEC Spot
Kentuckys recent surge has put Mark Stoops in a familiar spot, with his team riding a five-game winning streak and sitting in a share of first place in the Southeastern Conference. The Wildcats have leaned on a defense that has been generating turnovers, and Stoops has made it clear the groups edge has been a big part of why Kentucky has climbed into the league race.
But the next test carries its own danger, especially against a Vanderbilt team Stoops has been willing to praise in advance of the matchup. He had good things to say about Clark Leas program and the challenge it can present, which is part of why this feels like the kind of SEC week Kentucky cannot afford to treat lightly, even with momentum on its side. [Read more 🡒]