Texas offers Kentucky football a big challenge, and a big opportunity
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Game day: Kentucky 48, Murray State 6
Click below for more of the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky-Murray State football game at Kroger Field.
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As they say, everything’s bigger in Texas.
For Kentucky football, Saturday is a big opportunity.
The Cats travel to the Lone Star State. It’s the program’s first trip ever to Darrell K. Royal Stadium to face the Texas Longhorns. ABC has the 3:30 p.m. kickoff. That’s the No. 3-ranked Texas Longhorns, by the way.
After a 20-10 win at Arkansas on Saturday, coach Steve Sarkisian’s squad is 9-1. Texas leads the nation in total defense, allowing a paltry 249 yards per game. It is No. 1 in pass defense, allowing 136.7 yards per game, and second in pass efficiency defense, just behind Notre Dame. It ranks fourth in scoring defense, allowing 11.9 points per game.
Stoops has praised Sarkisian’s play-calling acumen before. The two matched X’s and O’s in the 2000s when Stoops was the defensive coordinator at Arizona and Sark was the offensive coordinator at USC. This year, the ‘Horns are 13th nationally in scoring offense and ninth in pass efficiency offense. Quarterback Quinn Ewers has thrown for 21 touchdowns, compared to six interceptions.
The Longhorns’ lone loss came at home, however. Georgia toppled Texas 30-15 on Oct. 19. The victorious Bulldogs forced four Longhorns turnovers. Three were lost fumbles. Georgia blitzed the ‘Horns 23-0 by halftime, then held on for the victory.
Here’s another thing: Texas’ biggest game of the season comes a week from Saturday. The Longhorns travel to College Station to face the Texas A&M Aggies. As of now, Texas and Texas A&M are the only two SEC teams with just one conference loss. And the bitterest of rivals have not met on a football field since 2011.
Might the ‘Horns overlook the Cats?
Here’s yet another thing: The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman reported last week that in talking to his SEC sources, no one wanted to play red-hot Ole Miss right now. Fresh off a 28-10 spanking of Georgia, the Rebels are 8-2. They lost 29-26 in overtime on Oct. 12 at LSU. And they lost 20-17 at home on Sept. 28 to Kentucky.
So the Cats are capable. Mark Stoops said it best last Monday. Kentucky has proven it can beat just about any team. Kentucky can also lose to just about any team. Vanderbilt 20, Kentucky 13. Auburn 24, Kentucky 10. Florida 48, Kentucky 20. On the flip side, Kentucky also played Georgia within a point in Lexington and beat Ole Miss in Oxford. Georgia was ranked No. 1 at the time, Ole Miss No. 6.
Saturday at Kroger Field, Kentucky took care of business. Jamarion Wilcox rushed for 123 yards, his second straight 100-yard rushing game. Brock Vandagriff threw for two touchdowns in the first half. Cutter Boley threw for two more in the second. The defense allowed a pair of field goals. Stoops rested those who needed rest. Final: Kentucky 48, Murray State 6.
Boley was particularly impressive. The true freshman and former Lexington Christian Academy star has the poise, pocket patience and arm talent a coach covets. He’s also sneaky athletic — to use offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan’s description — as shown on a 30-yard zone-read run in the third quarter. Boley’s passing stats: 10-of-14 for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
All that came against an FCS team with a 1-9 record, however. Texas is Texas. Not sure you want Boley’s first college start to be a road game against the No. 3-ranked team in the nation. Vandagriff, with 10 games as a starter under his belt, is the safer bet. The better bet.
All of this is not to say the Cats will pull off the upset Saturday. Texas will be a heavy favorite. The Longhorns have much to play for.
So does Kentucky, however. By any definition, this has been a disappointing season. Stoops’ squad must sweep Texas and Louisville to extend its bowl streak to nine. A victory over Texas in Texas would put the campaign, and the program’s future, in a much brighter light.
Big challenge. Big opportunity.
This story was originally published November 17, 2024 at 11:55 AM.
