LEXINGTON, Ky. — Thanks to an effective combination of Kenny McIntosh and Jack Podlesny, top-ranked Georgia got all the actual points it needed on a day when style points weren't possible.
McIntosh rushed for a career-best 143 yards, including a crucial 9-yard touchdown late in the third quarter, and the Bulldogs withstood Kentucky's fourth-quarter rally Saturday for a 16-6 win, finishing undefeated against Southeastern Conference opponents in the regular season for the second straight year.
The Bulldogs (11-0, 8-0) had already clinched the SEC's East Division title with last week's win at Mississippi State and sought another perfect finish in league play. They came away as just the third SEC team since 1992 to post consecutive 8-0 league marks, following Alabama (2008-09) and Florida (1995-96).
Georgia's success wasn't easy in cold, windy conditions, and the visitors settled for Podlesny field goals covering 27, 24 and 37 yards before McIntosh's run to the end zone and Podlesny's extra-point kick made it 16-0.
"With these weather conditions, we're going to play these kind of games like this," coach Kirby Smart said. "But I'm really proud of when our guys' backs are against the wall, how they come out fighting with what they do.
"Certainly we could've played better, probably in the red area. They could have stopped some drives defensively; we gave them a couple of conversions on penalties. I have to give Kentucky a lot of credit for bouncing back and being a really physical football team."
Georgia's chance to pad the lead ended on downs at Kentucky's 1-yard line as the fourth quarter began. The Wildcats tried to made it interesting with a 99-yard drive that ended with Will Levis' 8-yard touchdown pass to Barion Brown, but Levis' pass on a 2-point conversion attempt failed. Georgia then had a three-and-out possession, but Kentucky's chance to make it a one-score game died when Matt Ruffalo's field-goal attempt hooked left after a low, rolling snap with a little more than four minutes left.
Georgia punted on the fifth play of the ensuing possession, but Kentucky (6-5, 3-5) then turned it over on downs and lost for the fifth time in seven games. The Wildcats have dropped 13 in a row to Georgia.
McIntosh's career-high 19 carries included a 26-yarder for the Bulldogs, who outgained Kentucky 365-297 in total offense and 247-89 on the ground.
"It was real big," McIntosh said of his score. "We had been driving the ball the whole field, but we knew that we needed to score on that drive to come out strong and get the ball rolling on the ground. We had preached during halftime that we needed to go out there and start stronger and be physical on the line of scrimmage."
The senior's previous best was 90 yards on 16 carries against Florida last month.
"Kenny ran the ball really well tonight," Smart said. "Probably could've had more, but he had to share with some other guys."
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett was 13-of-19 passing for 116 yards with an interception. He'll be among the seniors playing their Sanford Stadium finale next week as nonconference rival Georgia Tech visits to close the regular season before the Bulldogs, No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings, face LSU in the SEC title game Dec. 3 in Atlanta.
Levis was 20-of-31 for 206 yards but was picked off in the end zone by Kelee Ringo. Kentucky, the preseason pick to finish second behind Georgia in the East, was ranked as high as No. 7 in the AP Top 25 in late September before spiraling downward with painful losses to South Carolina, Tennessee and last weekend's shocking 24-21 home loss to Vanderbilt that snapped the Commodores' 26-game SEC losing streak.
Georgia's defense, ranked second nationally at 11.6 points allowed per game coming in, remained stingy while holding Kentucky to 119 yards before halftime and scoreless through three quarters. The hosts' touchdown drive after making a goal-line stand spoiled the shutout bid, but the Bulldogs limited the Wildcats to 3-of-11 success on third-down conversions and a 1-of-3 rate on fourth down.
Georgia was 6-of-12 on third down and edged the Wildcats in time of possession (30:02-29:58), and the Bulldogs ultimately held off Kentucky's last-ditch attempts to make it close.
"After a tough loss a week ago, getting them motivated to compete at a high level" was the Wildcats' priority, coach Mark Stoops said. "It took a lot of digging and soul searching and the competitive nature of our players to reinvest and commit and to put in that kind of effort. We came up short, but the effort, the preparation was there."
Bowl-eligible Kentucky hosts nonconference rival Louisville in the regular-season finale next weekend.