Vicky Graff Photo
There are some remarks in sports that can be incredibly aggravating and “the better team lost today” is usually one of them. How can the better team lose? In the famous words of former New York Jets head coach Herm Edwards, “You play… to win… the game!” So the winning team is always the best team, right? Following Kentucky’s 22-19 loss at Ole Miss on Saturday, it’s hard to say the Wildcats weren’t the better team.
Yes, Kentucky was a complete mess. Star quarterback Will Levis had three turnovers throughout the game, head coach Mark Stoops watched his defense get carved up for 278 total yards in the first half and had to essentially bench his kicking team after a missed field goal and two extra points that were botched.
Levis had his first turnover of the game on downs after being called for intentional grounding in his own end zone. The other two of his three turnovers were fumbles, both coming in the last four minutes of the game. He also had a rushed snap that caused an illegal motion penalty and wiped out what would’ve been a go-ahead touchdown catch by wide receiver Dane Key. It was far from his best day as the quarterback for Kentucky.
However, despite all of those flaws, Kentucky played more than well enough in the second half to win. Their defense made adjustments and held Ole Miss to just three second half points, including zero in the fourth quarter. Though turnovers ended up being fatal, Kentucky’s offense put up more points than the Ole Miss offense, scoring three touchdowns to their two touchdowns. They also moved the ball up and down the field (almost at will) throughout the second half. Chris Rodriguez gave Kentucky key yards after contact, something the Wildcats had desperately missed during his absence. And while the UK coaching staff lost all confidence in their FG kicking team, Barion Brown continued to solidify himself as the best kick returner in the country.
After letting everything soak in over the last 24 hours, Kentucky was the better team on Saturday. Yet the Wildcats managed to lose. There’s no sugarcoating it, either. They completely beat themselves with multiple unforced errors. That many mistakes, on the road against a top-15 team, makes it nearly impossible to win. And it hurts worse that they were mistakes that elite college football teams, like Kentucky, shouldn’t make.
So, yes, it turns out the better team did lose on Saturday. Kentucky had the better quarterback, receivers, running back, defense and kick returner to set up excellent field position. But the amount of self-inflicted blows cost them too many points to come out on top.
The Wildcats had won eight consecutive games dating back to last season, which was the second longest winning streak in the country. Only the Clemson Tigers had more, winning now ten in a row following their victory over NC State on Saturday night. Kentucky will look to get back on Saturday vs. the South Carolina Gamecocks.
2 Responses
Kentucky the better team. You didn’t watch the same game I watched! The Vols are ready for the cats . Go Vols!
UK choked, it is that simple. They simply did not execute the called play when it was game on the line, starting at first and goal at the Ole Miss 7 yard line late in the 4th. They gave Ole Miss that game and Ole Miss knows it. UK can’t win championships and make that many mistakes on the road in the SEC. Special team play was atrocious. Just a deflating day all around with seemingly the game so winnable. Brown is absolutely a gifted athlete. Not a good day for Levis, or a good look. The UK defense stood tall, the UK offense, while impressive, has a lot of work to do. C-Rod maybe should have been called on to score or pick up that crucial fourth down, or tie the game with a FG attempt. But I really don’t disagree with the plays called on that last promising but fatal drive. UK is still in many ways "snake bit."