The Kentucky Wildcats have come down to Oxford, Mississippi and won for the first time since 1978, improving their season record to 3-2 and finally finding their first conference win of the year. The Wildcats were a 17.5-point underdog to open the week and now they’re taking the victory over the nation’s 6th ranked team back to Lexington.
After gaining a 20-17 lead with under two minutes remaining in the fourth, Kentucky was set to defend the drive just one more time to leave with the result they wanted. The Rebels were held to a 4th and 11 approaching midfield before they somehow escaped it, getting into field goal position to tie it. The football Gods might have been here to help Kentucky because for once in my lifetime they missed that game-tying field goal that always seemed to go in. Kentucky would ultimately let the clock run out, celebrating endlessly in VH Stadium.
The final score was 20-17, Kentucky.
In a game that I absolutely felt like Kentucky had no chance of winning, they did. And it wouldn’t have been possible unless Kentucky went for it on that 4th down, giving them life and adrenaline.
Mark Stoops was asked about that in his post game press conference and he said, “It was a tough call. Your analytics will tell you to punt it.”
The media room bursted into laughter after that quote. The vibes following the win were unbelievably high and the staff, roster, and fanbase, let it all out.
This road win is one of the best wins of the Mark Stoops era and one I’ll never forget. That fourth quarter, standing on the field behind the end zone, my adrenaline was through the roof. If Kentucky could just pull off the remarkable it would make this 7 hour drive coming up tonight that much better, and somehow, it unveiled itself.
I’m extremely confused with this Kentucky team because we’re only three weeks removed from the South Carolina home loss, while also nearly owning two wins over two top-six teams with one more score over the Bulldogs in Lexington. I believe this team will succeed through its defense and their remaining schedule will be determined by if their offense can excel when called upon, and today it was just enough to get the job done.
We have our post game coverage up on our YouTube channel so please go watch that and listen to the coaches and the players share their thoughts just moments after the game took place.
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