Mark Stoops has some great wins under Kentucky, but was Saturday at Ole Miss the best?
Against all odds, the Kentucky Wildcats upset No. 6 Ole Miss at Oxford, 20-17.
It was one of the bigger wins for Mark Stoops in his head coaching career, as Kentucky hadn’t defeated Ole Miss at Oxford since 1949. Going into the game, Kentucky was a 15-point underdog, raising the question if this was the best win under Stoops.
Let’s look at some of the best games under Stoops.
At No. 11 Louisville in 2016
Kentucky was a 28-point underdog going into the game. Louisville and Kentucky have a very well-known rivalry. This game also made Stephen Johnson an unforgettable name at Kentucky.
The most important part was that Lamar Jackson won the Heisman Trophy, and Louisville had a chance to go to a BCS bowl but didn’t due to losing to Kentucky.
Johnson passed for 338 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 83 yards. He was also caught on camera saying, “I love this sh**” before throwing a touchdown.
Austin MacGinnis hit the game-winning field, and Kentucky went on to win 41-38 against Louisville. It was one of the bigger moments under Stoops, arguably the biggest.
Vs. South Carolina in 2014
This was Stoops’ first signature win and helped to change the program for the better. It was also the showing out party for JoJo Kemp and Bud Dupree.
In the game, Kemp rushed for 131 yards and three touchdowns, while Bud Dupree sealed the deal with a pick-six in the final minutes. Kentucky went on to win 45-38 against the Gamecocks.
At No. 25 Florida in 2018
Kentucky’s 31-year losing streak ended in Gainesville, thanks to Terry Wilson’s breakout and a lights-out defensive performance.
Wilson threw for two touchdowns and rushed for one touchdown, but it wasn’t just him alone, as Benny Snell Jr. helped out with 175 yards. Kentucky had a total of 451 total yards.
The game ended with Josh Allen forcing a fumble and Davonte Robinson recovering it for a touchdown, which sealed the deal. Kentucky bested Florida 27-16.
Vs. No. 10 Florida in 2021
This was Kentucky’s first home defeat of Florida since 1986, and it was one of the best wins under Stoops.
Some of the big plays came from Wan’Dale Robinson, who scored from a wideout screen to the right, where he took the ball 41 yards for a touchdown.
Another big play came when Josh Paschal blocked the field goal, and Trevin Wallace took the ball all the way back for a touchdown.
Finally, Jacquez Jones knocked the ball down when Florida went for the game-tying touchdown.
Kentucky won 20-13 against Florida.
Other Contenders
- Vs. No. 12 Penn State in 2018-19 Citrus Bowl
- Vs. No. 15 Iowa in 2021-22 Citrus Bowl
- At No. 10 Louisville in 2023
- At No. 12 Florida 2022
- Vs. No. 14 Mississippi State in 2018
After talking about some of the biggest games under Stoops, do you think this win against Ole Miss was the biggest under Stoops?
Let us know in the comments section!