1. KENTUCKY HANDLES BUSINESS
After their narrow 13-12 home loss to the then No. 1-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, questions arose about how Mark Stoops’ Wildcats would fare against a Mid-American Conference opponent. Fortunately for fans, Kentucky performed well, leading 17-0 at halftime and winning by 35 points, despite some mistakes. Stoops acknowledged the need for corrections, stating,
“We have a lot of things to correct.” The Wildcats amassed 488 total yards, the most since a 2021 game against Louisville, breaking a nine-quarter drought without a touchdown. The defense allowed just one touchdown to Ohio but also scored themselves, with cornerback Maxwell Hairston returning an interception for a touchdown, matching a school record. Stoops admitted some issues, notably a time management mistake before halftime, where they failed to score after moving into Ohio territory and ultimately drew a delay of game penalty.
2. A MIXED BAG FOR THE KENTUCKY OFFENSE
Quarterback Brock Vandagriff had a solid performance, completing 17 of 24 passes for 237 yards. Dane Key shone with seven catches for 145 yards, and Kentucky rushed for 206 yards. Nonetheless, offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan was not fully satisfied. Although they achieved six explosive plays of over 20 yards, penalties and missed chances plagued them. An early false start forced the team to settle for a field goal, while a fourth-and-1 mishap resulted in a turnover. The pass protection was notably weak, allowing Ohio’s defense to pressure Vandagriff frequently. Hamdan stressed the importance of reducing penalties to enhance their performance: “It feels like we’re playing from behind the sticks.”
3. BACK TO THE SEC SHARK TANK
After a week off from conference play, the Cats face a tough challenge next Saturday against the No. 5-ranked Ole Miss Rebels. Kentucky has struggled in their first two SEC games, suffering a 31-6 loss to South Carolina but narrowly losing to Georgia. Following that performance, they aim to build confidence for a tough upcoming schedule featuring three top-10 teams—No. 1 Texas, No. 5 Ole Miss, and No. 6 Tennessee. All three matchups will be on the road. Safety Maxwell Hairston expressed the team’s readiness: “We’re accepting the challenge… Can’t wait for it.”
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