Texas aims to keep playoff hopes alive at Kentucky amid injuries

The No. 21 Texas Longhorns travel to Kroger Field in Lexington on Saturday to face the Kentucky Wildcats in a game that could shape both teams' seasons. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. Texas, coming off a 23-6 win over Oklahoma that returned it to the Top 25, needs a victory to keep realistic hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff alive. Kentucky, mired in a three-game SEC losing streak, is searching for its first conference win.

Injuries are a central storyline for both programs. The Southeastern Conference released injury reports that leave Texas without several contributors. The Longhorns already lost one of their top offensive linemen, Cole Hutson, earlier in the season. The team plans to move veteran center Connor Robertson into the starting lineup, and head coach Steve Sarkisian indicated confidence in Robertson’s familiarity with the system and play calls. Texas will also be without wide receiver Aaron Butler, defensive back Xavier Filsaime and Jonathan Cunningham, while defensive lineman Maraad Watson is listed as questionable. Offensive lineman Connor Stroh is out and redshirt junior Neto Umeozulu is expected to take his spot.