KSR Today: What the hell, Baker Mayfield?

In a battle of the terrible between the Los Angeles Rams and Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday Night Football, the former had one job: lose.

As discussed on the KSR radio show Thursday morning, a message board theory suggested a loss for the Rams would be the straw to break the camel’s back in Liam Coen’s potential return to Lexington. Mathematically eliminated from the playoffs at that point, there would be nothing stopping Sean McVay and the Rams from giving the offensive coordinator their blessing in taking the same position at Kentucky once again after a one-year hiatus.

It was all going according to plan. The Raiders held a 16-3 lead in the fourth quarter, with the message board poster’s name, #BlueJohnson, trending nationally on Twitter in celebration. Kentucky fans were counting down the minutes, mentally preparing for a Friday press release from Coen announcing his return home. It was right there.

And then Baker Mayfield decided to be good again, leading the Rams on back-to-back touchdown drives, the second being a 98-yard journey to the end zone at the end of regulation. The veteran quarterback, who had been on the team just 48 hours after being claimed off waivers Tuesday, hit wide receiver Van Jefferson on a 23-yard score with 10 seconds remaining to win the game.

“Just like we drew it up,” McVay said at the podium after the improbable comeback win.

Yeah, not for Kentucky fans rooting for the Rams’ continued downfall, Coach. They blew it, and Baker Mayfield is to blame for it.

What does it mean regarding Coen’s future in Los Angeles and Kentucky’s offensive coordinator search? In all likelihood, nothing. All signs still point to Coen ultimately finding his way back to Lexington, even if last night’s result was a speed bump. If anything, it probably just delayed the inevitable.

The Rams now have a long break ahead of them and could still be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs regardless with a Seahawks win Sunday. A little late-game magic against a poorly-coached Raiders team — yes, looking at you Josh McDaniels — doesn’t change the long-term season outlook and beyond. It’s still a nine-loss team with four games left to play.

Does it push back Coen’s return from Friday to, say, Monday when the playoff picture clears up a bit? Maybe. If so, we have Baker Mayfield to blame.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. ends time at Kentucky

If and when Coen returns, he won’t have Kentucky’s two best offensive weapons at his disposal in Will Levis or Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Levis announced his departure Wednesday, adding that he would not be participating in the Music City Bowl down in Nashville. Then Thursday, Rodriguez did the same.

“Big Blue Nation, thank you for everything! I can’t tell you how much your support this past year has meant to me,” Rodriguez wrote. ”Although I’m going to sit out the bowl game to focus on my health and prepare for my lifelong dream of playing in the NFL, I’ll be in the Music City to support my brothers and I hope to see you there! Kentucky always!”

Rodriguez ends his time at Kentucky with 3,644 rushing yards — third on the school’s all-time list and 230 yards short of Benny Snell’s record — and 32 touchdowns to go with 116 receiving yards and three scores through the air. Suspended four games to open the year, the 5-foot-11, 224-pound back out of Mcdonough, GA finished the 2022 season with 904 yards and six touchdowns on 175 attempts, good for 5.2 yards per carry.

Tanner Bowles is a Cat

It wasn’t all about departures on Thursday for the Wildcats, as Kentucky added a major piece to its rebuilding Big Blue Wall in Alabama transfer Tanner Bowles. The homegrown product out of Glasgow announced his commitment during an appearance on KSR.

“After taking a couple of visits and just talking to my family I’ve decided that I’m going to be committing to the University of Kentucky,” Bowles said.

Bowles is an interior offensive lineman that played center, right guard and left guard during his time with the Crimson Tide. The 6-foot-5, 300-pounder also received some snaps at right tackle. A redshirt senior next fall, he will have two years of eligibility remaining in Lexington.

The former Glasgow standout was a four-star prospect in the 2019 class, according to the On3 Consensus. He was the nation’s No. 34 offensive tackle and the No. 7 player in the state of Kentucky.

Kentucky MBB prepares for Yale

We’re in the stretch of Kentucky basketball season when games are full weeks apart leading up to the conference slate. After the big win Sunday over Michigan in London, this break is nearly over, with the Wildcats set to take on Yale on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.

How is the team preparing for the game? Kentucky players will preview the matchup at 10:30 a.m. ET, with coverage to follow on KSR.

It won’t be a cupcake — it’s actually the best opponent to come to Rupp Arena thus far — with the Bulldogs (8-2) off to their best start since 1945-46 and are expected to finish at or near the top of the Ivy League standings. Yale, averaging 78.3 points and allowing just 55.8 points per contest, is led by forward Matt Knowling (16.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.1 APG). Guard John Poulakidas and forward EJ Jarvis round out double-digit scorers, averaging 10.8 and 10.0 points each, respectively.

Still, though, ESPN’s Matchup Predictor gives the Wildcats an 87.5% chance to win, while Bart Torvik lists it at 88% (72-60 projected win) and KenPom at 92% (75-59).

The game will be broadcast live on SEC Network, with Roy Philpott and Mark Wise on the call.

Volleyball’s tournament run ends in the Sweet 16

Kentucky VB couldn’t get the job done out in Palo Alto, falling to San Diego in the Sweet 16 to end the team’s season. It was a sweep for the Toreros (25-22, 25-19, 25-18), sending the No. 12 Wildcats home in a one-sided affair, outplayed across the board.

The Kentucky offense was held to just .127 hitting on the night while San Diego managed a .327 mark with only 15 hitting errors in the match. UK had 22 errors overall, one of the highest totals of the season.

Kentucky’s season ends with a 23-8 (15-3) final record, a tough finish after the Wildcats came together during conference play to win the SEC title for a sixth consecutive season after a difficult start to the year.