Kentucky was clinging to a slim four-point lead with under three minutes to play and facing a punting situation on fourth down.
Special teams’ play has been horrific throughout the season and reared their ugly head again.
Punter Colin Goodfellow had to chase down a poor snap all the way back to the two-yard and was somehow able to get a punt off. He was hit hard and injured on the kick, resulting in a roughing the kicker penalty.
Kentucky kept the football and ran out the clock, securing a 24-17 win at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday.
Goodfellow, who was carted off the field, sacrificed his season to save his teams as the Wildcats moved to 6-3, becoming bowl eligible for the seventh straight year.
A loss would have been four in the last five games.
Quarterback Will Levis passed for 170 yards and three touchdowns, including a pair to Dane Key, including the game winner from 22 yards out with 5:16 left to play. Key had a nine-yard TD catch to open the scoring back in the first quarter.
Running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. carried 29 times for 112 yards. It marked the third time in five games this season with 100 plus yards.
Kentucky will return to Kroger Field to host Vanderbilt (3-6) on Saturday. Kickoff is set for Noon.
At Columbia, Mo.
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
UK (6-3)….7 0 7 7 – 21
MO (4-5)…3 0 0 14 – 17
Scoring
First Quarter
UK – Dane Key, 9-yard pass from Will Levis (Matt Ruffolo kick), 9:33
MO – Harrison Mevis, 44-yard field, 5:17
Second Quarter
No scoring
Third Quarter
UK – Jordan Dingle, 1-yard pass from Will Levis (Matt Ruffolo kick), 5:47
Fourth Quarter
MO – Brady Cook, 1-yard run (pass failed), 13:09
MO – Brady Cook, 20-yasrd run (Tauskie Dove pass from Brady Cook), 8:07
UK – Dane Key, 22-yard pass from Will Levis (Matt Ruffolo kick), 5:18
Next up: Kentucky (6-3) vs. Vanderbilt (3-6), Noon, Nov. 12.