Kentucky defense wants to play full game after sour ending against Toledo

Toledo QB Tucker Gleason faces pressure from Landyn Watson and the Kentucky defense, via Dr. Michael Huang, KSR

The Kentucky defense made a strong first impression in 2025. In game where many believed Toledo was a live road dog, the Rockets could not get anything going with a multi-year starter at quarterback. The Rockets never really threatened to win the game because of what Kentucky did on defense.

Brad White’s unit created a stop in four snaps or less on seven drives in Week 1. The Cats forced two more turnover on downs with one coming inside the five. Another possession ended in a JQ Hardaway interception that set up the offense’s first touchdown of the season. Toledo did not score until its 11th drive of the game. The Rockets produced just 80 non-sack rushing yards on 3.1 yards per rush.

However, the Cats let up in the fourth quarter. Toledo scored its only touchdowns in the final period despite getting just three possessions. Kentucky did not finish the game. That cannot become a trend for this defense. UK is currently attempting to fix that.

“I was proud of how they rose up in the first half. I was disappointed how we finished in the fourth. It wasn’t sort of reminiscent of how they played through the first three quarters,” White said. “It’s a learning moment for those guys. It’s a learning moment.”

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“They played dialed in every time it was a one-score game but whenever it pushed to two scores it was like there’s this deceleration. Those will come back to bite ya.”

Entering the 2025 season, the expectation was that UK was going to return to its blue collar roots. That likely meant a ground-and-pound approach on offense to shrink the game while leaning on the defense and special teams to win football games. Kentucky is planning to play with more depth and will need to win SEC games in the fourth quarter. That cannot happen if the defense is producing its worst possessions of the game in the final period.

Ole Miss is rolling into town for Week 2. This opponent brings a different challenge both from skill level and from pace of play. The tempo will stress Kentucky. The Cats must be ready to make plays late in the game and create stops. Week 1 was a good performance but there is room for growth.

It was a learning moment,” White said. “I don’t think anybody left that game sort of happy.”