You don’t often hear Mark Stoops publicly validate criticism of his offense, but after another game defined by red zone failures, he acknowledged the frustration surrounding Kentucky's playcalling.
When asked specifically about the predictable overtime series against Texas that ended in failure, Stoops conceded the point, albeit briefly, before pivoting back to his core philosophy.
The admission... and the walk-back
“When they don’t win, obviously, throw a fade or do something. Yes, there are definitely things we can do. That’s fair. That is fair criticism,” Stoops admitted on Monday.
That moment of acknowledgement, however, was fleeting. He quickly shifted focus, seemingly implying that the calls themselves weren't necessarily wrong, but perhaps just didn't work in that instance against a stout defense. The issue is they had been doing it all night and it was not working, doing it again made no sense.
A philosophical problem, not just plays
That exchange highlighted the crux of Kentucky's offensive struggles near the goal line. It’s not merely about individual play designs; it’s about an underlying philosophy. Stoops inherently values control and wants to win with toughness and execution, often minimizing risk. But that mindset repeatedly leads to predictability when creativity and aggression might be needed most.
Against Texas, the Wildcats moved the ball effectively between the 20s, possessing the ball for nearly 40 minutes. But inside the 10-yard line, everything tightened, the play-calling became conservative, the pace slowed, and imagination seemed to vanish.
They just kept saying we were so close. So close does not win game though, and that is the whole problem with Mark Stoops. His identity is to try and keep the games close, not really to go and win it.
Predictable when it matters most
The decision to run Dante Dowdell twice up the middle in overtime on 3rd and 4th down, despite his struggles all night (2.5 YPC vs. Texas), felt less like a strategic choice and more like a default setting. When the game is on the line, Kentucky often doesn't appear to trust its quarterback or receivers to make a game-winning play through the air; it trusts the perceived safety of the run, even when the evidence suggests it won't work.
Stoops admitted the criticism was "fair," but his subsequent comments suggest he hasn't fully grasped why it's fair. Until the offensive philosophy evolves to embrace calculated risks and trust its playmakers in critical moments, Kentucky will likely continue to find itself "inches short." Because safe, in the SEC, rarely wins championships, or even a game.
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