KSR Today: Back to work for Week 9 and Auburn

We have to stop meeting like this on Monday mornings, Big Blue Nation. Tired. Groggy. Still down after a frustrating Kentucky Football loss. But, in the words of Mark Stoops, we are back to work.

In Stoops’ case, he and his Wildcats are back to work for Week 9 of the college football season. Kentucky stays home this week, hosting 2-5 Auburn in Lexington. Staying home isn’t necessarily a good thing, though. The road SEC team has won 10 of 12 in Kroger Field, including all three–South Carolina, Georgia, and Vanderbilt–in 2024.

Look ahead to that game and more with me, beginning with our Monday traditions.

Monday with Mark Stoops

Mondays with Mark are difficult for Mark Stoops this season. Today, he will spend 20-30 minutes explaining yet another loss, Kentucky’s fourth, in his routine Monday afternoon press conference. The audience wants answers for the loss to Florida and the Wildcats’ disappointing record despite a talented roster with high expectations in 2024.

Immediately after the loss at Florida on Saturday, Stoops said, “I think it’s a combination of things, but our guys will get back to work,” he said. “Like I said, there’s a thin line between success and failure right now, we have the type of team that we have to play very, very good. We have to play darn near perfect. We’re getting really thin, we’re beat up, but it’s no excuses. Nobody gives a crap. You know what I mean? It is what it is.”

He’ll have more to say at noon today, followed by his weekly coach’s call-in radio show at 6:00 p.m. Stoops has some explaining to do.

More from Kentucky’s loss at Florida

If you’re a glutton for punishment, there is plenty to read about Kentucky’s loss to Florida. Feel like ruining your Monday morning? Here are some of KSR’s top stories since Saturday night:

• Bad Numbers from a Really Bad Loss to Florida
• WATCH: Mark Stoops after Kentucky’s loss to Florida, a “pretty good butt-whooping”
• Kentucky’s defense didn’t travel to Florida, where Jadan Baugh looked familiar
• Barion Brown shakes off mistake with kickoff return touchdown: “I was just ready for the next play”
• How Florida steamrolled Kentucky in critical swing game
• Mark Stoops has a lot of confidence in Bush Hamdan
• Mark Stoops wants fans to put the Florida loss on him, not the players
• Kentucky RB Jamarion Wilcox Lost a Shoe, Again

The KSR Football Podcast goes live at 2 p.m.

Tune in to the KSR Football Podcast at 2 p.m. today to hear Nick Roush, Drew Franklin, Adam Luckett, and Max Duffy voice their frustrations from another Kentucky loss as the betting favorite, this time at Florida in a need-to-win game. You can watch and interact with KSR’s YouTube live broadcast at 2 p.m. following Mark Stoops’ Monday press conference and a quick lunch. Can’t watch? Listen to the audio-only version on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or whatever means you use to listen to podcasts.

Kentucky laying points to Auburn

You and I may be down on Kentucky at the moment, but oddsmakers still made the Wildcats the betting favorite in Week 9. Hosting Auburn in Lexington, the Wildcats are a 2.5-point favorite over the Tigers, losers of four straight games. The total is 43 points.

College football has a new No. 1 team again

The No. 1 team in the AP poll has been on rotation this season. On Sunday, Oregon became the fourth school to hold the top spot in the poll. The Ducks took Texas’ place after the Longhorns’ loss to Georgia in Austin. Texas dropped from first to fifth, while another upcoming Kentucky opponent, Tennessee, climbed to seventh by beating Alabama.

1. Oregon (7-0)
2. Georgia (6-1)
3. Penn State (6-0)
4. Ohio State (5-1)
5. Texas (6-1)
6. Miami (7-0)
7. Tennessee (6-1)
8. LSU (6-1)
9. Clemson (6-1)
10. Iowa State (7-0)

See the new Top 25 here. Kentucky did not receive any votes.

Kentucky-Tennessee time/TV to be announced

Later today, the Southeastern Conference will assign a time and TV slot to Kentucky’s road trip to Knoxville to play the seventh-ranked Vols on Saturday, November 2. Kentucky-Tennessee was already announced as a night game in the new schedule format, so kickoff will be sometime in the evening between 6:00-8:00 p.m. We’ll know soon.

Kentucky Basketball plays its first exhibition game this week

Kentucky Basketball may have the cure for your football blues. On Wednesday, Kentucky will play the first of two exhibition games in Rupp Arena, hosting Ryan Lemond’s Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. You’ll need SEC Network+ to see it because the exhibition is one of five streaming-only games this season.

Mark Pope and Kenny Brooks to speak and eat lunch in Louisville today

Before his team’s first exhibition, Mark Pope has his first luncheon with the Greater Louisville UK Alumni Club today. Pope will be joined by new head women’s basketball coach Kenny Brooks at Churchill Downs for the annual preseason speaking engagement for Kentucky’s head basketball coaches. The luncheon is a ticketed event, so you can’t crash the party. However, KSR will attend and share what the coaches tell the crowd.

Kentucky Volleyball swept Alabama at Alabama

Sophomore Brooklyn Deleye continues to be a standout for No. 15 Kentucky Volleyball. Deleye was credited with a match-high 21 kills on Sunday in Kentucky’s sweep of Alabama at Alabama. The Wildcats won in three sets (25-22, 29-27, 25-15) to win a second straight match since losing to Texas on Sunday, October 13.

With the win, Kentucky improved to 11-7 and 5-2 in SEC play before going on the road again to Ole Miss next Sunday, October 27. Kentucky has five consecutive road matches.

Ray Davis scored another touchdown

Former Kentucky QB Will Levis was in street clothes, resting a shoulder injury, when the Tennessee Titans played at the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Still, a former Wildcat shined in Buffalo when Ray Davis scored his second career touchdown. Davis’ numbers were down from last week’s breakout Monday Night Football performance due to the return of Pro Bowler James Cook. He still got five carries for 41 yards, including a 16-yard rush for the Bills’ closing touchdown in the 34-10 win.

Ray Davis cannot be stopped!!! 😤

📺: @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/qQyaqrxfUL

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 20, 2024

Congratulations to JT Poston and Aaron Flener

KSR’s favorite golfer, JT Poston, won his third PGA Tour event on Sunday, winning the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas. As many of you know, his caddy, Aaron Flener, is a former KSR blogger and a good friend of the program. We are thrilled for their success, even though JT is a North Carolina fan. Congrats, guys! I’m sure they went straight to bed for a good night’s sleep after winning in the desert.

A putt to win on the 72nd hole 🏆@JT_ThePostman is back in the winner's circle @ShrinersOpen! pic.twitter.com/OOTr6GeSIs

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 21, 2024

Here’s where to find KSR’s morning show this week

Listen to KSR with Matt Jones and the crew from 10 a.m. to noon on weekdays. This week, all five shows are open to the public in Lexington, beginning with today’s show at KSBar and Grille.

• Monday: KSBar and Grille
• Tuesday: KSBar and Grille
• Wednesday: KSBar and Grille
• Thursday: KSBar and Grille
• Friday: 46 Solutions in Lexington Green

Go Cats.