Mark Stoops reflects on what went wrong for Kentucky on overtime goal line stand

It seemed as if Kentucky was going to win its first SEC home game since Sept. 2023 Saturday night… until it didn’t.

Heading into the game as 13.5 point underdogs, Kentucky kicker Jacob Kauwe nailed a 45-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime. In overtime, the ‘Cats got the ball first and immediately got down to the Texas three-yard line thanks to a 22-yard reception by receiver Kendrick Law.

However, disaster struck for Kentucky inside the three. Running back Dante Dowdell was stuffed for no gain on first down, and quarterback Cutter Boley gained two yards rushing on a busted play-action pass on 2nd & 3. This put the ‘Cats on the one-yard line with two opportunities to punch it in, but they were unable to do so.

Dowdell attempted to run up the gut twice and was stopped twice, turning the ball over to the Longhorns. Kicker Mason Shipley then nailed the game-winning 45-yard field goal, giving Texas an unbelievably gutsy win. Although it came out with the victory, it was outgained 395-176 and recorded 18 less first downs (26-8) than Kentucky.

Mark Stoops doesn’t regret his goal-line play calls

Two days after the disappointing ending, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops commented on the goal-line stand. Stoops revealed that although Dowdell was stopped twice from a yard out, he wouldn’t go back and change the play calls.

“Very much how I felt in game,” Stoops said. “Again, I don’t want to stir because I thought Bush (Hamdan) did a really good job in that gameplan. We moved the ball very well, as good as anyone has all year against them. There’s plays in there that I think we’d like to look at differently. Again, I’d probably start at 1st & Goal from the three and what set we were in and what we were doing. Play two we tried a good play-action pass and Cutter was good.

“He ad-libbed and got a few yards. They covered it well. Play three and play four… I don’t have regret on that. Right or wrong. I don’t. You watch it on the coaches copy and we were inches… literally inches from that ball crossing on play three. His head was across but the ball was in his chest. I’m not saying it was a bad call, but it was either in or inches.”

Since Kentucky’s 33-14 win over No. 22 Florida on Sept. 30, 2023, it is now just 2-16 in SEC games and 0-9 in SEC home games. It will attempt to break that streak this Saturday at home against No. 17 Tennessee. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:45 PM ET on SEC Network.