QUICK TAKES: Texas 16, Kentucky 13 - OT
In our regular postgame feature, the Cats Illustrated staff offers its first impressions from Kentucky’s 16-13 overtime loss to No. 21 Texas on Saturday at Kroger Field.
JUSTIN ROWLAND:
That was a really tough loss for Mark Stoops. He was rightfully frustrated by some things that happened in the game and you could see it in his face after Texas won in overtime. There’s optimism for the offense in the big picture for the first time in a long time. Cutter Boley has shown a lot of toughness, accuracy, and growth as a quarterback against high level competition and very different types of defenses. I said before the season that one of the few things that could make the fan base buy in looking at 2026 would be if Boley shows great growth. But 0-4 in the SEC is 0-4 in the SEC. Kentucky could have decided to take field goals and they could have made different play calls. Lots of things contributed to the outcome. I do think the offense and defense played well enough to win the game. Tough loss all around.
JEFF DRUMMOND:
Chalk this up to “you have to laugh to keep from crying,” but I joked when the game ended that the headline should be “Kentucky beats Kentucky as No. 21 Texas looks on.” The Wildcats have invented countless ways to lose games they should have won over the years, but this one ranks high on the list of self-inflicted wounds. Kentucky outgained the Longhorns by a 395-179 count, held a 137-47 rushing advantage, possessed the ball for almost 40 minutes, and picked up 26 first downs to eight for the visitors… and STILL found a way to lose. Texas gained 88 yards on two punt returns by standout Ryan Niblett. There was no reason to kick the ball to him, and that was probably the difference in the game. Had UK simply punted the ball out of bounds on those, the Cats may have won this one without too much drama. Kentucky still may have won if Mark Stoops had elected to kick a field goal in overtime instead of going for it on fourth-and-goal from inside the 1. That marked TWICE in the game that Stoops bypassed a short field goal, only to lose by three in overtime. Just a disastrous decision to go back-to-back with the same play on third and fourth down from inside the 1 in overtime and not even use your best back. I feel bad for the defense. Those guys played their hearts out. It was an incredible game plan by Brad White & Co. and great execution by the players. The fans showed up, gave it everything they had to create a great atmosphere, and got Lucy’d once again.