Another week, another painful defeat.
The Kentucky Wildcats entered Saturday night’s matchup with the #7 Tennessee Volunteers under-manned and as a hefty 17.5-point underdog.
After three straight losses, the Cats were looking for anything positive to cling to in the ruckus-filled environment inside Neyland Stadium.
16 Wildcats were listed on Thursday’s injury report and they were without eight key players, so it was going to take a monumental effort to even be competitive in Knoxville playing in front of over 100,000 fans.
Despite the odds and momentum stacked against them, Kentucky scored first on a 27-yard completion to Josh Kattus.
UK would go on to control most of the first half, only surrendering one score to the Vols.
To the surprise of many, it was Kentucky who would take a 10-7 lead into the locker room after half number one.
“We just gotta keep on swinging. It’s just one half. Proud of our guys, we did some good things.” Mark Stoops said on his way off the field.
Kentucky battled through adversity but didn’t have enough in the tank to pull this one out, largely due to Brock Vandagriff leaving due to injury and being replaced again by an ineffective Gavin Wimatt.
A late third-quarter collapse really sealed the deal in the game, as the Cats would go on to lose 28-18.
Another tough pill to swallow in a season that’s had plenty of them.
Here are four things to know for the latest Kentucky football setback.
Kentucky plays better vs. top competition
It’s been a wildly inconsistent season for Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats.
At their lowest points, it was hard to imagine how they ever took Georgia to the wire and beat Ole Miss on the road.
Tonight in Knoxville, the short-handed Cats reminded us of their capabilities.
It’s frustrating to think about what could have been this season, knowing that this team has what it takes to keep pace with the top programs in college football.
Kentucky will get another chance at a top-10 team on the road when they travel to Texas on 11/23.
Injuries
You really have to commend Kentucky’s effort tonight when you consider how many players were unavailable. The Cats were already down eight key players to begin the game and lost both Brock Vandagriff and Barion Brown during the contest to potentially significant injuries.
It would have been interesting to see what the UK could have done with a full roster, but being banged up is the name of the game this late in the season.
If Vandagriff is to miss any time, the offense will have to reinvent itself before taking on Murray State.
Offense continues to sputter
Despite the competitive effort against a top-ten team, the Wildcat offense still lacks continuity and struggles to establish an identity.
You can’t fault Brock Vandagriff’s will to win. He put his body on the line over and over to move the chains. He’d also leave with an injury in the second half.
Bush Hamdan rotated in Gavin Wimsatt, who unfortunately nearly threw a late third-quarter pick-six. Instead, the Vols scored on the next play. He would redeem himself on the next drive, connecting with Ja’Mori Maclin for an incredible touchdown.
It didn’t help much that the Cats lost Barion Brown to injury not long after the game began. He’s now on the long list of other banged-up players.
Back to the drawing board once again for the offense.
A much-needed week off
Without question, the Cats could use a week off to regroup. UK won’t take the field again until 11/16 when they host Murray State at Kroger Field.
The most obvious reason that Kentucky could use a week off is to get healthy.
On Thursday, the Cats had 16 players listed in some form or fashion on the injury report.
That was before Barion Brown went down early in the first quarter in Knoxville. So, needless to say, resting up and getting treatment will be the name of the game before taking on Murray State in two weeks.
There’s still plenty to play for this season, with two major games remaining on the schedule against the #6 Texas Longhorns and rival Louisville Cardinals. If the Cats can get healthy, perhaps the can win the finale. They clearly have the talent to do it, even after Louisville just won at No. 11 Clemson.
Now, let’s discuss what just happened.