Kentucky has bottom-of-FBS statistical weaknesses Texas will look to exploit
With 130+ teams in college football, there are times when certain stats do say a lot about how a team is playing. Any team that has a ranking in the 100s for a stat, especially a Power Conference team that has the capability to beat up on Group of Six weaklings, is very obviously deficient in that part of the game.
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Kentucky has a number of stats that rank in the 100s, including a few rankings in the bottom 10 of the entire FBS.
These are the areas the Longhorns will look to exploit at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
Total offense – No. 109 – 331.6 ypg
- The Wildcats barely got past 300 yards against Toledo. A 492-yard game against a currently 2-5 Eastern Michigan team is the highwater mark for the UK offense. Against SEC teams (Ole Miss, South Carolina, Georgia), the ‘Cats average 287 yards per game.
Passing offense – No. 114 – 172.2 ypg
- Neither Cutter Boley nor Zach Calzada have been positives for the Kentucky offense. UK’s best receivers from the 2024 team also now play for Nebraska and LSU.
Team passing efficiency – No. 128 – 109.08
- See above.
Total defense – No. 105 – 402.2 ypg
- Every team save for Toledo has rushed for at least 130 yards and one score against Kentucky. South Carolina and Georgia were both extremely efficient in the pass game and rushed over and over and over against the Wildcats.
Passing yards allowed – No. 111 – 248.6 ypg
- Kentucky has six interceptions and nine passes defended this year across 138 pass attempts against Mark Stoops‘ defense.
4th down conversion percentage – T-115 – 37.5%
- Other teams can struggle in short yardage too?
3rd down conversion percentage defense – No. 102 – 42.9%
- Kentucky has not been able to get off the field this season. Texas, which found a groove on third and short plays against Oklahoma, will look to maintain drives this evening and take the crowd out of the game.
Punt returns – No. 101 – 6.25 ypr
- Four returns total this year for Ty Bryant. This could be a good opportunity for Jack Bouwmeester to build some Ray Guy hype.
Kickoff returns – No. 121 – 15.44 ypr
- Nine total kick returns this year. Mason Shipley may not boot it out of the end zone like Will Stone did, but teams don’t care to return against Texas and Kentucky may not care to return at all.
First downs offense – No. 128 – 93
- Kentucky is struggling to sustain drives and will face a Texas defensive front adept at getting off the field quickly.
