It sure feels like it gets really tough to get to 6 wins without a win this weekend. Obviously, it's still possible but looking at the schedule, it's hard to see a path without a win this weekend. It's kinda wild the whole Stoops tenure maybe riding on this game. I think that last part is less certain, but it's also possible if he loses this weekend, he doesn't survive this season.
Is this weeks game (USCjr) for the season?
- Thread starter robman181
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It's sad the season is considered a success if we scrape to 6 wins. Sadly thats all we have.
I think we can beat FL at home and Texas hasn't looked good so don't be surprised if that's closer.
I think we can beat FL at home and Texas hasn't looked good so don't be surprised if that's closer.
Both teams have had their share of issues early on. If Boley has a good game the Cats can notch a W. Yes USC is a tough venue especially a night game there but we have won games there in the past. A "moral victory" isn't going to cut it.
Man I really want to predict a win, but I just see a night game there, Sellers playing and throwing for 400 yards, our defense plays similar to what we saw v EM - goodness man, we could get routed, no joke. Defense has to play so hard, so so hard. Our secondary is going to be put through it, can they hold up and get some turns?
if we have a chance, few things have to happen:
- win turnover battle
- defense plays strong all game
- run game is buzzing
South Carolina doesn’t appear to be set up to stop the run, good. Our D has shown glimpses of being able to get some interceptions, good. We have shows some ability to play descent overall D, good. Have to do all of that to win. And Sellers has to make a few mistakes.
if we have a chance, few things have to happen:
- win turnover battle
- defense plays strong all game
- run game is buzzing
South Carolina doesn’t appear to be set up to stop the run, good. Our D has shown glimpses of being able to get some interceptions, good. We have shows some ability to play descent overall D, good. Have to do all of that to win. And Sellers has to make a few mistakes.
I hope UK wins but unless the offense figures out how to move the ball and score more points they aren’t winning a SEC game.
I don't know folks.I am not feeling too optimistic at the moment.Beamer has been getting the best of Stoops lately, and getting off on it.I will be pulling for the Cats, and hopefully Stoops can put Beamer back in his place.
Everyone’s posts on this have been valid and applaud everyone for not turning this into another wasted “bash” thread. I feel like, to win, we have to control the LOS on both sides. They have better skill players which means we have to win in the trenches. I feel strongly they need this one to get to 6. I’m not throwing in the towel if they don’t but it certainly gets really choppy if they don’t win this one.
USC Jr coming off a loss to Mizzou. So they will be extra jacked for this one, plus it's a night game.
They could be, but the QB hasn't looked very good this year, looks like he is trying to avoid running the ball, or Shula told him not to. He never been more than average as a passer. That frosh DE from last year looks like he is taking the Clowney route and taking the year off. He got ejected in one game for 2 unsportman likes.
They embarrassed us last year at the Krog, so it could, actually it should be a revenge game for the Cats.
Kentucky looked like a team that didn't care in that game in Lexington last year.Hope to see a much better effort at South Carolina.
Yes, I think this game is THE swing game for the season. Lose this game, and we could be looking at a 5 or 6 game losing streak (longer if we can't beat a reeling Gator team at home). Win the game, and all of the sudden, the home folks have some hope when mighty Texas and Tennessee roll into Lexington.
South Carolina will play with urgency after 2 straight losses, including the "inexcusable" loss to Vandy at home. I hope we have a little imagination with our offense, like throwing to the TE on an early down here and there instead of run, run, pass, punt. If the LB's have to respect a pass to the TE, maybe our RB's will have a little more room. South Carolina will definitely play to win; will we? Or will we play not to lose?
It will dictate whether we have a good season or not. If we cant win this one, it doesn't get easier from here. If we lose, we're looking at 3 or 4 wins.
Here are some passing stats for Sellers, oddly enough he has
not run with the ball much this year.That will probably change
against the Cats.
"Game Log
2025
2025 REGULAR SEASON PASSING RUSHING
DATE
OPP
RESULT
CMP ATT YDS CMP% TD INT LNG SACK RTG QBR CAR YDS AVG TD LNG
Sun 8/31
vs
VT
W
24-11
12 19 209 63.2 1 0 64 4 172.9 69.9 13 25 1.9 1 16
AFLAC KICKOFF
Sat 9/6
vs
SCST
W
38-10
11 19 128 57.9 1 0 35 2 131.9 17.8 8 23 2.9 0 16
Sat 9/13
vs
VAN
L
31-7
6 7 94 85.7 0 1 33 1 169.9 35.1 3 -3 -1.0 0 8
Sat 9/20
@
23MIZ
L
29-20
18 28 302 64.3 2 0 49 5 178.5 68.9 10 -28 -2.8 0 7
TOTAL 47 73 733 64.4 4 1 64 12 164.1 53.7 34 17 0.5 1 16
"
https://www.espn.com/college-footba...llers#:~:text=Game Log-,Game Log,16,-GLOSSARY
not run with the ball much this year.That will probably change
against the Cats.
"Game Log
2025
2025 REGULAR SEASON PASSING RUSHING
DATE
OPP
RESULT
CMP ATT YDS CMP% TD INT LNG SACK RTG QBR CAR YDS AVG TD LNG
Sun 8/31
vs
VT
W
24-11
12 19 209 63.2 1 0 64 4 172.9 69.9 13 25 1.9 1 16
AFLAC KICKOFF
Sat 9/6
vs
SCST
W
38-10
11 19 128 57.9 1 0 35 2 131.9 17.8 8 23 2.9 0 16
Sat 9/13
vs
VAN
L
31-7
6 7 94 85.7 0 1 33 1 169.9 35.1 3 -3 -1.0 0 8
Sat 9/20
@
23MIZ
L
29-20
18 28 302 64.3 2 0 49 5 178.5 68.9 10 -28 -2.8 0 7
TOTAL 47 73 733 64.4 4 1 64 12 164.1 53.7 34 17 0.5 1 16
"
https://www.espn.com/college-footba...llers#:~:text=Game Log-,Game Log,16,-GLOSSARY
Kentucky is sixth in rushing yardage overall in the SEC,but
last in passing, I am not surprised. Hopefully this improves soon.
1 Tennessee 4 96 146 65.75 14.07 1351 337.75 14 3
2 Alabama 3 76 106 71.70 13.25 1007 335.67 13 0
3 Ole Miss 4 76 118 64.41 17.09 1299 324.75 8 4
4 Arkansas 4 86 134 64.18 15.08 1297 324.25 13 4
5 Texas A&M 3 62 107 57.94 15.65 970 323.33 10 2
6 Oklahoma 4 96 144 66.67 12.71 1220 305.00 6 3
7 LSU 4 105 150 70.00 10.48 1100 275.00 7 2
8 Georgia 3 69 100 69.00 11.36 784 261.33 5 1
9 Vanderbilt 4 76 108 70.37 13.61 1034 258.50 9 2
10 Missouri 4 89 121 73.55 11.52 1025 256.25 9 2
11 Mississippi St. 4 71 107 66.36 13.38 950 237.50 8 2
12 Texas 4 72 116 62.07 13.11 944 236.00 9 3
13 South Carolina 4 65 101 64.36 13.55 881 220.25 4 2
14 Florida 4 95 141 67.38 8.64 821 205.25 7 6
15 Auburn 4 71 107 66.36 10.44 741 185.25 5 0
16 Kentucky 3 38 77 49.35 13.47 512 170.67 2 1
last in passing, I am not surprised. Hopefully this improves soon.
1 Tennessee 4 96 146 65.75 14.07 1351 337.75 14 3
2 Alabama 3 76 106 71.70 13.25 1007 335.67 13 0
3 Ole Miss 4 76 118 64.41 17.09 1299 324.75 8 4
4 Arkansas 4 86 134 64.18 15.08 1297 324.25 13 4
5 Texas A&M 3 62 107 57.94 15.65 970 323.33 10 2
6 Oklahoma 4 96 144 66.67 12.71 1220 305.00 6 3
7 LSU 4 105 150 70.00 10.48 1100 275.00 7 2
8 Georgia 3 69 100 69.00 11.36 784 261.33 5 1
9 Vanderbilt 4 76 108 70.37 13.61 1034 258.50 9 2
10 Missouri 4 89 121 73.55 11.52 1025 256.25 9 2
11 Mississippi St. 4 71 107 66.36 13.38 950 237.50 8 2
12 Texas 4 72 116 62.07 13.11 944 236.00 9 3
13 South Carolina 4 65 101 64.36 13.55 881 220.25 4 2
14 Florida 4 95 141 67.38 8.64 821 205.25 7 6
15 Auburn 4 71 107 66.36 10.44 741 185.25 5 0
16 Kentucky 3 38 77 49.35 13.47 512 170.67 2 1
They had just seen Old Dominion beat up and nearly beat USC the week before, which resulted in them expecting a chump opponent and taking the game too lightly
I feel a lot better if Nichols and Waller are back. That’s been our biggest problem in the secondary of late are injuries. Get one or both back and I like our chances. Otherwise I don’t see us coming out with a win.
UK could beat them if they play as poorly as they did against Vandy. Unfortunately they might be more desperate than we are. I think they will play like mad men I hope we do
The pass defense isn't weak, as much as the backup CBs who were playing, due to injuries to Waller and Nichols, couldn't tackle on the 3 yard hitches that turned into 35-40 YAC. Both injured CBs are expected to play, so I suspect we will see a reversion to mean on the YAC/tackling issues.
You must have not UK games this season. UK has passed more to the TE's this season than in the last 5 seasons combined.
I don't like the must win statement, but, imo if this team wants six wins then SC has to be one of them.
SC has a couple of big play receiver who like the big pass play, but they haven't shown much in the way of a run game. They are terrible on 3rd down. Their defense doesn't have much blitz power but stops the run well.
UK's offense is a wild card. Who knows what will show up.
If UK's defense keeps everything in front of them and forces SC into 3rd down situations then they can contain SC's offense, but, if the DBs have their usual brain fart and give up huge pass plays things could turn into a shootout. That is bad for UK.
I think Florida is another must win. Vandy and Auburn are both really good this year so getting wins there will be very difficult. Louisville is a rivalry game so it's always a toss up. Two of any above plus our last cupcake can get us to six wins. It sucks just hoping for six but that is where we are right now.
SC has a couple of big play receiver who like the big pass play, but they haven't shown much in the way of a run game. They are terrible on 3rd down. Their defense doesn't have much blitz power but stops the run well.
UK's offense is a wild card. Who knows what will show up.
If UK's defense keeps everything in front of them and forces SC into 3rd down situations then they can contain SC's offense, but, if the DBs have their usual brain fart and give up huge pass plays things could turn into a shootout. That is bad for UK.
I think Florida is another must win. Vandy and Auburn are both really good this year so getting wins there will be very difficult. Louisville is a rivalry game so it's always a toss up. Two of any above plus our last cupcake can get us to six wins. It sucks just hoping for six but that is where we are right now.
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I know, and I hope we continue to do this vs South Cackalacky and not go into "run only" mode. They are terrible vs the run, but they are still an SEC team, and if we go one-dimensional, I think we will struggle.
UK will be 2-1 in runs vs. passes. Thats the only way we keep it close
Yes, you have to win this one to get to 6 wins. Then you would need to beat Florida and have Vandy's or UL's QB to get hurt to get to 6. Likely we have only 3 wins this year.