Forget the what-ifs; focus on an encouraging reality about Kentucky football

When you lose by one point to the No. 1-ranked team, plays and decisions are picked apart. A “ball hit the ground” ruling that nullified a pick six. A missed face mask penalty on the same play where you’re called for a face mask penalty. Kicking a field goal instead of taking another shot at the end zone. Punting the ball away at the opponent’s 47-yard line while trailing by a point late.

During his Monday press conference, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops defended his decisions in UK’s 13-12 loss to Georgia. It wasn’t required. Not in my eyes. Said it then, repeating it now. Both the decision to kick a field goal with nine seconds left in the first half and kick the ball away late in the fourth quarter were the correct choices, even if the latter didn’t work out as planned. A bad outcome doesn’t automatically make a good decision bad.

Not all agree, and that’s OK. Fandom invokes passion. Losing invokes second-guessing. Losing badly, as Kentucky did the week before to South Carolina, invokes insanity. Case in point, the internet rumor that Stoops had reserved a 12:30 p.m. tee time the day of the Georgia game. He did. It was for his nephew Ron Jr., who was in town for the contest.

Instead of looking back, better to look forward. Pointing in that direction, ABC analyst Greg McElroy said something interesting on his Sunday podcast. “There are few teams that can match Georgia physically,” the former Alabama quarterback said. “Kentucky (did).”

How good is Georgia? Ask again in two weeks after the Bulldogs play at Alabama. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck is still outstanding, but he clearly misses current NFL receivers Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey. As for Kirby Smart’s defense, Georgia is one of two teams that has not allowed a touchdown through three games. Ole Miss is the other. The Cats play the Rebels in Oxford on Sept. 28.

How good is Kentucky? Also TBD. We do know that South Carolina is better than first thought. Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks were a couple of unfortunate penalties away from knocking off LSU before losing 36-33 on Saturday. UK’s home loss to Carolina doesn’t look as bad. Still bad, just not as bad.

Meanwhile, future foes Ole Miss, Tennessee and new AP No. 1 Texas appear other-worldly. Vanderbilt returned to earth Saturday and “The Swamp” at Florida has taken on a different meaning. UK also plays the mystery that is Auburn and the archrival that is Louisville. At this point, all calls are subject to review.

This week’s opponent is no pushover, either. In its opener, Ohio lost 38-22 at Syracuse to a team that then beat Georgia Tech. The Bobcats boast the nation’s eighth-best rusher in Anthony Tyus III (122.3 yards per game), who gained 203 yards against the ‘Cuse. And Ohio’s Mid-American Conference colleagues own wins against Notre Dame (Northern Illinois) and Mississippi State (Toledo), and led Penn State (Bowling Green) at halftime.

Regardless of the opponent, improvement is needed. Kentucky is 129th out of 134 FBS teams in pass efficiency and 126th in yards per play. The Cats have gone eight quarters without a touchdown. UK can clearly run the ball — Demie Sumo-Karngbaye is a pleasant surprise — but offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan must find a way to make the passing game click.

Defensively, aside from allowing a 33-yard completion on Georgia’s final possession, Brad White’s defense could not have played much better. Georgia managed only 12 first downs. And Kentucky outgained the Bulldogs (284-262) for the first time since 2010. Alas, the Cats lost that game, too.

Back to McElroy’s point about physicality. It wasn’t there against South Carolina. It was against Georgia. That’s something to build on. Since his first press conference a dozen years ago, Stoops has said that playing physical football is an SEC imperative. He’s right. You’re not going to trick anyone in the SEC.

There are going to be questionable calls by the officials and logical decisions that don’t produce results. This isn’t Madden NFL 25. This is reality. Match your opponent physically and you’ve got a chance.

This story was originally published September 17, 2024 at 6:30 AM.

John Clay

Lexington Herald-Leader

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John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky, he covered UK football from 1987 until being named sports columnist in 2000. He has covered 20 Final Fours and 42 consecutive Kentucky Derbys. Support my work with a digital subscription