'We need to be physical': Kentucky is finding offensive balance with Cutter Boley but the top goal has not changed

Kentucky has established a playing identity under Mark Stoops. When executed correctly, it has led to wins. The Cats want to have a ball control offense that plays with physicality. The Cats want to have a big-play prevention defense that specializes in physicality. UK has found that winning formula again in 2025.

But this version looks different.

In October, Kentucky leaned pass-heavy and started hunting for completions as redshirt freshman Cutter Boley took over at quarterback. After a rough start, this offense found some traction against Georgia and has shown progress almost weekly since. After facing some very tough run defenses against Auburn and Texas, we saw the run game come alive against Tennessee (149 non-sack yards on 5.0 yards per rush) and Florida (243 non-sack yards on 5.8 yards per rush). The Cats now have balance. That balance is leading to good things on game day.

Stoops wants to see the run game thrive like it did against the Gators in UK’s 38-7 victory last week, but the Cats are not afraid to toss the ball around the yard as long as the offense is staying ahead of the chains.

“If you’re throwing and catching and doing that, ‘hey, Mark Stoops will throw it 50 times a game’ if it’s efficient. I mean that. I do feel like there’s always a physicality part of the game that has to be there but the efficiency of the offense and throwing it opens up other things as well,” Stoops told reporters on Monday. “You want to keep people off balance.”

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Kentucky is starting to get defenses on their heels in year two on Saturday. In the offense’s first touchdown drive, UK shifted to tempo with a heavy diet of inside runs and wide receiver screens until Boley connected with J.J. Hester down the right sideline for a 29-yard touchdown. The approach this year has some new wrinkles, but the big picture philosophy is still the same.

The Cats want to have a ball control offense that plays with physicality. Having a passing game that can carry a heavy load, be effective in two-minute situations, and avoid negative plays is a big plus.

“You absolutely want what we’re seeing at times right now lately is balance and some excitement in the offense. You have to be able to do that. Otherwise, you dropback and you get wrecked. That doesn’t look pretty, right? I mean that’s not what you want. You have to be capable of it and you have to work towards it. We’ve always tried to have that balance,” Stoops explained. “Again, if we can dropback and throw it 50 times a game, and be extremely efficient and be exciting and throw it around then, hey, let’s do it. That’s pretty hard to do for just about everybody.”

A popular conversation in the Big Blue Nation is regarding Stoops micromanaging and handcuffing the offensive operation. The dean of SEC head coaches was again asked about this on Monday after many are surprised just by how well UK is throwing it. Stoops didn’t necessarily deny the accusation but realizes the chatter comes with the territory. At the end of the day, this is his offense.

“Y’all can write what you want. That’s whatever anybody wants to say,” said Stoops. “I’m the head coach, I’m responsible for it all. So I can take anything that’s written.

“I think it’s fair to say — I’ve made no bones about it since I’ve been here — we need to be physical and I want to be physical. If we weren’t, I wouldn’t have been here this long. You know what I mean? That I know. We want to do all things well.”

Kentucky has changed things up on offense. Quarterback play can change everything. Big improvement on the offensive line has also been a real factor for the Wildcats. The approach is truly different but the DNA is still the same. UK still has the same ball control ethos, but the latest twist to the offense definitely makes it look cleaner and more sustainable.

Mark Stoops wants a physical football team. Kentucky has built a physical football team. They are just a physical football team that can throw it now.