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Mark Stoops explains leaving Will Levis in during blowout loss

Screenshot 2023-07-18 at 4.54.37 PMby:Riley Gates•10/30/22•

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KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 29: Will Levis #7 of the Kentucky Wildcats throws away the ball to avoid a sack in the fourth quarter of the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

The Kentucky Wildcats lost their third game in the last four outings on Saturday, falling to No. 3 Tennessee by 38 points on the road. Late in the game, Kentucky star quarterback Will Levis was still on the field, despite the score being far out of hand for the Wildcats to come back from. After the game, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops explained his decision to leave Levis in late in the game.

“The last drive, we were not throwing the ball. I think we threw a screen,” Stoops said. “I was not going to get him hurt. At that point we were — he was going to finish out the game on the last drive and I said before he went out there, ‘He’s not going to take a hit there.’ We were going to hand the ball off. At that point, it would be crazy for me to go out there and get the guy hurt or something like that.”

Trailing 44-6 with just under eight minutes left in the game, Levis did take the field with the Wildcats and would remain on the field for all 11 plays of their final possession of the game. But when it came to play-calling, Kentucky had Levis throw the ball just twice on the drive. Levis completed a pass to running back La’Vell Wright and then to wide receiver DeMarcus Harris on the final play of the drive.

For Levis, it was a rather forgettable day when it came to his passing game. Levis went just 16-of-27 for 98 yards and no touchdowns in the game. Levis also threw three interceptions in the game. The game marked the first time this season that Levis failed to throw for at least 200 yards in an outing.

Things could not have started much better for Kentucky this year. The Wildcats raced out to a 4-0 start in 2022 and had a top 15 win over SEC foe Florida in that run. But the last four games have been rather forgettable, as Kentucky has lost three games in that stretch. Its only win came over Mississippi State.

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With those struggles, the Wildcats now sit at 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the SEC during the course of this season. Kentucky looks to get things back on track next Saturday when it travels to face Missouri in an 11 a.m. CT game.