A few notes for Sunday...

First and foremost, congrats are in order for Chuck Hayes. The Rockets announced yesterday that they have extended the former wildcat's contract for the remainder of the season. You just can't say enough about this guy's heart. It's all too evident on the floor this year, that we miss #44 a lot more than we expected. Just goes to show, you can be undersized and possess a jump shot the equivalent of Charles Barkley's golf swing, good things do happen to good people. 

Matt Jones is exactly right (you were expecting differently?) in highlighting the importance of this game. An 'L' today could really throw a monkey wrench into what momentum, if you want to call it that, UK has garnered the last three games. With Florida, UT, and LSU figuring to be very tough outs, the Cats must conquer the 2nd tier SEC clubs, like Arkansas. 

Arkansas Coach Stan Heath has made little secret all week that he plans to pound away down low. With Morris playing D like he's machetti-ing through Costa Rica, Thomas or Woo will have to contribute more than fouls and awkward lay-ups. The saddest stat of the season may have come last week agaisnt Auburn, a team that plays nobody over 6'7. My grandmother, sweet as can be, had as many rebounds as Morris and Thomas, COMBINED. Yep, zero. That has to change, or the Cats will be sharing a flight to MSG with Pitino's squad. 

Arkansas is very athletic, and very long. They are also streaky and impatient. Hopefully Sparks will hit some shots early, because it's going to take his maximum effort to D this team up. 

That being said, every year during the Arkansas game I'm reminded how thankful I am to not have to look at Nolan Richardson anymore. That guy made Larry King look suave, and resembled the alligator in which his boots were made from. 

KSR Intern's Insights

Quick game notes

With Week 1 action carrying over into Sunday and Monday, we won't have updated national polls until later in the week. Regardless, Kentucky's 24-16

Fred Farrier III (left) and Zach Calzada - Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio

KSR Football

What ESPN's FPI thinks of Kentucky after Week 1 win over Toledo

Former Kentucky assistant Jon Sumrall, now the head coach at Tulane, had extra motivation going into his team's season-opener on Saturday.   Tulane,

Aug 30, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tulane Green Wave head coach Jon Sumrall looks on against Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Yulman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Jon Sumrall rips into Northwestern after Tulane's Hurricane Katrina jersey tribute request was denied

The good news is that Kentucky was never truly threatened by the likely winner of the MAC, controlling Toledo most of the day at Kroger Field with

Photo via Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio

KSR Today: A win is a win and 1-0 is 1-0

Kentucky kicked off the season with a 24-16 victory over the Rockets of Toledo, but it wasn’t exactly the dominant start fans might have hoped to see

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Kentucky vs. Toledo: A Recap That’s Mostly Football

If you were in the stands for Kentucky's season opener against Toledo, you probably heard this a lot: "Alex Afari on the tackle." No. 6 was all over

Alex Afari celebrates a big play against Toledo, via Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Alex Afari Stuffed the Stat Sheet in a Win over Toledo

Mark Stoops isn't in the business of taking victories for granted, especially after living through a fall that only had four. However, Kentucky left

Kentucky TE Josh Kattus takes a tumble against Toledo, Dr. Michael Huang, KSR

Get a Rhythm: Self-Inflicted Mistakes Killed Kentucky Momentum

Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops told us that the strength of Kentucky's team would be the team in 2025. Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White

1 - Soles Strip sack fumble _MG_6246

Kentucky's defensive front shows off depth in win over Toledo

There weren't a ton of highlights in Kentucky's 24-16 win over Toledo; the best was undoubtedly the 79-yard touchdown run by Dante Dowdell in the

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Dante Dowdell's 79-yard TD run was a bright spot in an ugly win

Kentucky Football opened its 2025 season on Saturday, hosting the MAC preseason favorite Toledo Rockets in Lexington. The weather was pretty, but the

rapid-reaction-toledo

Watch KSR's Rapid Reaction after Kentucky beat Toledo in the opener

Steven Soles is an undersized linebacker. Sack Em Soles is a wild animal that is a threat to every quarterback in the SEC.   The Tennessee native

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

Steven 'Sack Em' Soles Lives Up To His Nickname for Potent Kentucky Pass Rush

A win is a win, but even Mark Stoops acknowledged that one wasn't pretty. The Cats squandered a hot start against the Rockets with an error-ridden

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WATCH: Mark Stoops recaps Kentucky's win over Toledo

Kentucky entered the 2025 season with a lot of unknowns. However, this program has a reputation under Mark Stoops. The Wildcats mostly played to that

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Kentucky's stingy defense, efficient rushing attack prevents Week 1 upset

Kentucky outlasted Toledo 24-16 to open the 2025 season, but it wasn't pretty. The Rockets had 329 yards of total offense to the Cats' 305. In his

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Mark Stoops believes Zach Calzada will improve: 'I don't think it was his best effort'

Kentucky escaped preseason training camp without any significant injuries. However, there was a notable absence in the backfield when the Wildcats

jamarion-wilcox-uk

Kentucky's leading rusher in 2024 missed the 2025 opener for violating team rules

Kentucky volleyball passed its first quiz of the 2025 season, but the upcoming test might as well be the bar exam.   On Saturday afternoon in

Kentucky volleyball outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye - UK Athletics

KSR Volleyball

Kentucky volleyball sweeps Lipscomb in season-opener ahead of matchup vs. No. 1 Nebraska

Kentucky fans waited 336 days to watch the Wildcats defeat an FBS foe. They were not rewarded with a beautiful win, but it was a win just the same.

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Kentucky Labors to a 24-16 Win over Toledo

It's finally here. KSR’s LIVE BLOG will bring you all the sights and sounds from Kroger Field for Kentucky's 2025 season opener vs. Toledo (12:45

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LIVE BLOG: Kentucky vs. Toledo

If you were looking for a pair of high-powered offenses, you shouldn't have come to Lexington, Kentucky. The Wildcats and the Rockets from Toledo

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Kentucky and Toledo Slugged It Out for a 10-2 First Half

Ever since the Governor's Cup became the bookend for Kentucky football seasons, the Wildcats have kicked things off with an opponent from the Group

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Toledo Stress Test Will Forecast the Kentucky Football Future

It's time to Make Kentucky Football Bowl Eligible Again. Will it happen in 2025? The odds are against the Wildcats, but I'm here to tell you there's

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EA Sports Forecasts a Return to Postseason Play for Kentucky

Kentucky will open the football season with the same offensive coordinator as the last, something that hasn't happened since Covid tests had to be

1 - Hamdan with QBs 3 _MG_2916

Bush Hamdan and the Kentucky Offense have Something to Prove

It is, once again, Football Time in the Bluegrass. Overall moral and optimism may be low, but it is still a College Football Saturday. The Kentucky

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5 Things You Need to Know About the Toledo Rockets

The college football season has finally arrived. Our long wait for football time in the Bluegrass will finally come to an end on Saturday afternoon

Kentucky Wildcats running back Seth McGowan runs for yardage during practice on Friday, August 1, 2025 (© Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Kentucky players to watch against Toledo

It's football time in the Bluegrass today at 12:45 p.m. at Kroger Field, but first, it's time for the first KSR Pregame Show of the 2025 season. Live

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The first KSR Pregame Show of the season is live from KSBar and Grille

The moment we've been waiting for is finally here. It's Football Time in the Bluegrass. Kentucky kicks off the 2025 season at Kroger Field this

(Sep 14, 2024; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats cheer during the game against Georgia Bulldogs at Kroger Field. Georgia won 13-12. Mandatory Credit: Carter Skaggs-Imagn Images)

Quick game notes

Discuss This Article

KSR Today: A win is a win and 1-0 is 1-0

Kentucky vs. Toledo: A Recap That’s Mostly Football

Alex Afari Stuffed the Stat Sheet in a Win over Toledo

Get a Rhythm: Self-Inflicted Mistakes Killed Kentucky Momentum

Kentucky's defensive front shows off depth in win over Toledo

Dante Dowdell's 79-yard TD run was a bright spot in an ugly win

Watch KSR's Rapid Reaction after Kentucky beat Toledo in the opener

Steven 'Sack Em' Soles Lives Up To His Nickname for Potent Kentucky Pass Rush

UK outlasts Toledo

Drew's recap

So. Many. Errors.

UK vs No. 1 Nebraska

Alex Afari