SEC Team Benches Starting Quarterback in Final Game of Regular Season

The SEC is unforgiving. It's the deepest conference in all of college football. Even this season, no team is absolutely separating themselves from the pack. 

Programs like Vanderbilt and Kentucky have been giant slayers. Florida has done their part. A five-loss Oklahoma program just upset Alabama to knock them out of playoff contention.

However, while Kentucky has been competitive in some big games, they also have a 4-7 record and have taken plenty of big losses. 

Mark Stoops has been consistent during his time with the Wildcats, but there's a hill he's been unable to climb. His success in the SEC seems to hit a limit each and every season. 

The program will be getting a glimpse into the future next Saturday, though. During the team's 31-14 loss to Texas, Cutter Boley took over under center for former five-star Brock Vandagriff. 

Boley is a true freshman, and he played meaningful snaps against a championship-contending Texas team. He tallied 180 yards while completing 10 of his 18 passes. And he earned a start to end the team's season.

On Monday, Mark Stoops confirmed that Boley will have the keys in the team's final matchup of the season.

"I thought he did great things and he's earned the opportunity to start this week," Stoops said. 

With a bowl game now out of reach, it makes sense for Kentucky to give Boley a full game of reps. The four-star true freshman, evidently, dictates just how Stoops' and the team's future goes. 

With Vandagriff being a junior and capable of returning to Kentucky for another season, there's a possibility he will return and eventually become the starter once again. However, signs might be pointing towards Boley being the starter long-term, starting in their season finale against their in-state rival Louisville.

Boley looks to be the best quarterback on the roster while giving the team the most life of any other signal-caller in the program.