That fan-made "Believe" sign, modeled after Ted Lasso's iconic yellow poster but proudly displayed in Kentucky blue and white at Kroger Field, felt cruelly ironic by the end of Friday night. Because once again, belief collided head-on with brutal reality.
Kentucky lost 16-13 in overtime to Texas, extending its agonizing SEC home losing streak to nine games. The Wildcats haven't tasted victory against a conference opponent on their own turf since beating Florida back in September 2023, over two full years ago.
Fans keep showing up, they keep spending money. They get loud and yell their hearts out, and the pour out of the gates a depressed bunch, time and time again.
Fans deserve better, Stoops admits
Mark Stoops acknowledged the unwavering support from the stands, even as the losses pile up. “I want to thank the fans that have supported us through some tough times, and I get it,” Stoops said postgame. “They deserve an environment like that and, yes, they deserved to win and I want to do that for them, for the fans.”
The sellout crowd created an electric atmosphere, doing everything possible to lift their team. They roared, they chanted, they believed. But belief alone can't overcome questionable playcalling, special teams blunders, and the inability to finish when it matters most. Kentucky had 4 chances from the 3 yard line in OT, 3 times they ran it up the gut and 3 times Texas stuffed them.
From hope to heartbreak, again
Kroger Field has become a house of recurring heartbreak. The script feels agonizingly familiar: the team plays hard, the defense dominates, hope builds to a crescendo, and then... poof. Six inches short. A missed kick. A dropped pass. A special teams gaffe. The end result is always the same, watching the visiting team celebrate on Kentucky's field. And BBN left wondering what if, why us, and when will we get to celebrate again?
The "Believe" sign did it's part, fans bought in, but it's getting harder and harder to continue doing it. The fans keep showing up, pouring their hearts out, only to leave feeling like the team keeps finding new ways to fall just short. How much longer can that hope endure?
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion