The Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ky. - He's the team's leading rusher, arguably its best athlete, by all accounts a terrific fit for the offense and a hometown favorite to boot. So why in the world isn't Shane Boyd the starting quarterback for Kentucky's football team?

Boyd's status seems to be a major issue to fans and some in the media after he delivered solid relief performances in each of the Wildcats' last two games, a loss to South Carolina and a win over Ohio. But to those inside the program - Boyd, incumbent starter Jared Lorenzen and Kentucky coaches - it's not such a big deal.

Sure, Boyd would love to start Saturday, when the Wildcats (3-4, 0-3 Southeastern Conference) host Mississippi State (2-5, 1-2). But the junior out of Lexington Henry Clay High School also realizes Lorenzen, a senior who has passed for 9,280 yards and 74 touchdowns in his career, has earned the starting job. It will take more than one bad performance - like Lorenzen had against Ohio - for him to lose it, coach Rich Brooks said after a 35-14 win over Ohio on Saturday.

"I just have to go with the flow," Boyd said. "I have to practice every week like I'm the starter and continue to get better and do what I can do. It's the coach's decision, and whatever decision they make, I just have to be ready when my number is called and help the team any way I can."

Offensive coordinator Ron Hudson arrived at Kentucky this year from Kansas State, where he worked with standout quarterbacks Michael Bishop and Ell Roberson. Hudson said Boyd is the same type of player and, like Bishop and Roberson, should thrive in Hudson's system.

"I feel I'm a good fit for this offense," Boyd said.

But all along, Hudson and head coach Rich Brooks have said that while the 6-2, 220-pound Boyd is better running the football than the 6-4, 280-pound Lorenzen, that Lorenzen is a better passer. Brooks has said he's comfortable with either quarterback, but that Lorenzen will be the starter.

During spring practice and the preseason, Brooks and Hudson spoke excitedly about ways to use Boyd and Lorenzen in the lineup together. Boyd would line up at tailback or receiver, or Lorenzen would split out wide if Boyd played quarterback. But the first time it was tried, in the season opener against Louisville, it didn't work. Boyd threw an interception, resulting in a Louisville touchdown, and was used sparingly in subsequent games.

When Lorenzen suffered a concussion against South Carolina on Oct. 9, Boyd played the fourth quarter and led two touchdown drives in a 27-21 loss. Lorenzen fumbled twice in the first quarter against Ohio, so Boyd came in and did something no other Kentucky player ever had - account for touchdowns rushing, receiving and passing in the same game. He completed the trifecta in the fourth quarter, when Lorenzen returned to the game and threw him a 30-yard touchdown pass.

"From the beginning, I thought he'd be taking a lot of snaps," Lorenzen said. "Obviously, when I'm not playing well, he needs to be in there. He's just unbelievable. He makes this offense really exciting. He makes it really go."

Boyd's role against Ohio was more like he and his coaches had imagined, Brooks said.

"I had hoped he would be more of a factor earlier, but we didn't execute some of the package we had hoped to use him in," Brooks said. "That one he scored on was one of the things that we thought we were running pretty well in the spring. That's one of the first times we've executed it. It's something we'll hopefully get better at."

Lorenzen and Boyd say there is no animosity between them; instead, each praises the other and says that the competition between them only helps them improve.

"They understand the ultimate goal is to win," Hudson said.

There seems to be little doubt that Boyd will be the unquestioned starter next season. But Boyd isn't thinking that far ahead.

"I'm looking forward to the rest of this season, leading into next year," he said. "I'm looking to finish this season out strong and have all that momentum going into next year."

UK vs. Miss. State

Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. today, Commonwealth Stadium (67,606), Lexington.

Records: UK 3-4 (0-3 SEC), MSU 2-5 (1-2).

TV: Ch. 25.

Radio: WSAI-AM (1530).

Series: UK leads 17-13.

Line: UK by 10.

What to watch: This is a must-win for UK's bowl hopes. The Wildcats have held six consecutive opponents under 30 points for the first time since 1993. With one more TD pass, UK's Jared Lorenzen (Highlands) will break a tie with Tim Couch (74 each) for most TD passes in school history. His odds are good, for the Bulldog defense allows nearly 500 yards per game. The Wildcats won by 21 points last year at MSU.

UK	Team stats	MSU
314.7	Offense avg.	383.4
124.7	Avg. by rush	133.3
190.0	Avg. by pass	250.1
363.4	Defense avg.	485.9
171.0	Avg. by rush	191.6
192.4	Avg. by pass	294.3
27.0	Avg. pts. for	25.9
22.1	Avg. pts. against	35.6