KSR Today: Kentucky responds in face of adversity

It feels fair to say Kentucky football “saved” its season on Saturday. Even in the event of a loss, the Wildcats could find a way to round out the season with a respectable 7-5 or 6-6 finish — a non-losing record, but not what has come to be expected now in year 10 of the Mark Stoops era. Limping to another Music City Bowl isn’t exactly how the Big Blue Nation saw this season play out.

A win, however, keeps plenty of Kentucky’s season-long goals alive. The team is 5-2 now with a 2-2 mark in the Southeastern Conference, facing a bye-week before heading down to Knoxville against a Tennessee program likely to be a top 3 opponent after beating Alabama in a 52-49 thriller. Despite everything that’s happened this season, Kentucky beating the Volunteers would put them in position for a terrific postseason landing spot. A lot would have to happen for the SEC East title to be back on the table, but it’s still not completely out of the question just yet.

It sure didn’t look pretty out of the gate against Mississippi State though. Kentucky had 10 first-half penalties and just three halftime points. The offense totaled up nearly 200 yards, but failed to deliver a score. Another Barion Brown touchdown return on special teams was wiped away by a UK penalty. A confusing stretch of game management from the UK sideline right before the half cost the ‘Cats more points.

All that being said, the defense stepped up plenty. MSU totaled under 100 yards of first-half offense and scored just three points of its own.

Kentucky struck first out of the locker room, taking a 6-3 lead thanks to Matt Ruffolo‘s second made field goal. Mississippi State would score on its very next possession, but the momentum completely shifted in UK’s favor from that moment on. QB Will Levis — on a bad left shoulder — marched his squad down the field for a Rahsaan Lewis touchdown grab. MSU punted the next time out before Kentucky made them pay in the form of another touchdown. Just like that, it was 20-10 early in the fourth quarter. UK would finish off the Bulldogs 27-17 for a convincing victory.

It’s amazing how one game can change the feel of an entire season. Check out all of KSR’s postgame content below, along with a video recap, highlights from the win, plus plenty of interviews from the coaches and players.

• FINAL: Kentucky Snaps Losing Streak with Top 25 Win over Mississippi State
• Kentucky wears out Mississippi State to get season back on track
• Will Levis on injury: “It’s my left shoulder, so who cares.”
• Stoops not surprised by Kentucky’s response; “I knew we would play like that, like we do”
• Kentucky QB Will Levis was Perfect on Third Down against Mississippi State
• Chris Rodriguez Surpasses Another Career Milestone
• Three Plays: Will Levis delivers on money downs
• Give Tashawn Manning an Academy Award

Highlights from the win

KSR’s late-night Rapid Reaction

Mark Stoops postgame interview

Click here for full transcript of Stoops’s interview.

Rich Scangarello, Brad White postgame interview

Will Levis, Chris Rodriguez, DeAndre Square postgame interviews

KSR’s Photo Album

‘Cats in the NFL: Week 6

1:00 (FOX): 49ers (J. Ali) @ Falcons
1:00 (CBS): Patriots (L. Bowden) @ Browns
1:00 (FOX): Jets (B. Echols) @ Packers (R. Cobb)
1:00 (CBS): Jaguars (J. Allen, L. Fortner, C. Peters) @ Colts
1:00 (FOX): Vikings (Z. Smith) @ Dolphins
1:00 (CBS): Bengals (Y. Corker) @ Saints (L. Young)
1:00 (CBS): Ravens @ Giants (W. Robinson)
1:00 (FOX): Buccaneers (M. Edwards, Q. Mosely) @ Steelers (B. Snell)
4:05 (FOX): Panthers (P. Hoskins, M. McCall) @ Rams (TJ Carter)
4:05 (FOX) Cardinals @ Seahawks
4:25 (CBS): Bills @ Chiefs (D. Kinnard)
8:20 (NBC): Cowboys (Q. Bohanna, K. Joseph) @ Eagles

Monday Night Football

8:15 (ESPN): Broncos @ Chargers

Kentucky women’s soccer will be on ESPNU

First-year head coach of Kentucky women’s soccer, Troy Fabiano, will have a chance to earn his first SEC victory for the Wildcats later today. UK will play host to the Florida Gators at 1:00 p.m. EST in Lexington at the Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex on ESPNU.

Playing for more than ourselves today.

⚽️Florida
📍Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex
⏰ 1 p.m.
📺 ESPNU (https://t.co/ykDaLXBS6b)
📊https://t.co/y4Pv9FsWSr#WeAreUK ⚽️😺🔵 pic.twitter.com/imWJvvkc0c

— Kentucky Women's Soccer (@UKWomensSoccer) October 16, 2022

Kentucky started off the year with a 7-1 record, beating the likes of Iowa State and Purdue along the way, but the team has hit a serious losing skid once SEC action began. The ‘Cats have dropped six straight intraconference matches to fall to 7-7 on the season. But if there was a team to break the streak against, it would be the Florida Gators, which have just two total wins on the season and also have yet to win a game in league play.