For nearly a full half of football under the lights at Kroger Field, Kentucky has done almost everything Mark Stoops could ask for, except finish drives. It's the agonizing story that continues to haunt this Wildcats team.
Dominating the clock, not the scoreboard
Kentucky has controlled the football against No. 21 Texas, holding the ball for significant stretches and putting together multiple drives of 10-plus plays. Through much of the first half, the Wildcats dictated the tempo, keeping Arch Manning and the Longhorn offense sidelined. Yet, despite that control, they find themselves trailing at the break.
The final time of possession reads Kentucky holding the ball nearly 19 minutes and Texas 11.
Missed opportunities and questionable calls
It’s been the same frustrating theme all season: Kentucky can move the chains between the 20s but stalls when points are on the line. The opening drive was a perfect microcosm. After moving deep into Texas territory, a controversial slide call left quarterback Cutter Boley just short on third down. The decision-making that followed only amplified the frustration. A QB sneak on 3rd-and-2 gained little, and a subsequent handoff to Dante Dowdell on 4th-and-short was swallowed up immediately. That sequence encapsulated the offensive struggles: conservative play calls, a lack of push upfront, and critical failures in high-leverage moments.
Defense bends, then a bad punt breaks it open
Kentucky’s defense actually set a positive tone early, forcing punts on Texas’ first three possessions and disrupting Manning’s rhythm. They played with energy and discipline, looking like a unit rejuvenated by the bye week. However, playing with zero margin for error eventually took its toll. Midway through the second quarter, a really bad punt that went straight down the middle of the field from the shadow of their own goal posts let Texas sieze momentum. Ryan Niblett ran it back 45 yards to the Kentucky 5. Texas finally broke through, Quintrevion Wisner tried to punch it in from a yard out, but fumbled it into the endzone, but Texas recovered it for a 7-0 lead.
Efficiency isn't enough
Near the end of the half Cutter Boley got a little desperate and threw a ball up he had no business doing so and it resulted in another interception for the young QB and set Texas up to get points before the half. Texas also gets the ball coming out of halftime after deferring to the Cats at the open.
The Cats defense came up huge with a sack on 2nd down, and a pass break-up on 3rd down by Terhyon Nichols forced Texas into a punt. Steve Sarkisian then used his timeouts as Kenutcky tried to run the clock out, and who can blame him with that kind of electric returner waiting in the wings. But McGowan got a first down on a nice run and that then put Stoops on the attack.
Seth McGowan caught a nice dump off for 16 and then Boley finds Maclin for 18 more yards and DJ Miller for 9 yards to get down to the Texas 29. But Texas brought some pressure and it resulted in a sack forcing the Cats to use their last timeout with 13 seconds left.
Then a conservative call from Stoops sending the field goal unit out on 3rd down, and then Jacob Kauwe missed a field goal. Could have used an extra couple yards there with 13 seconds.
The problem isn’t effort. Kentucky has played hard like Mitch Barnhart likes to say and, in spurts, executed well. But grinding efficiency without explosive plays rarely translates to wins against top-tier competition. Long, clock-chewing drives that end in punts or failed fourth downs put immense pressure on a defense that simply can't afford to be perfect for 60 minutes. Kentucky needs to find a way to turn yards into points in the second half, or this game could slip away quickly.
Half-time stats
Kentucky
- Cutter Boley 16/21 138 yards 1 INT
- Dante Dowdell 5 rushes 23 yards
- Seth McGowan 9 rushes 28 yards, 6 receptions 51 yards
Texas
- Arch Manning 7/15 70 yards
- Christian Clar 3 rushes 13 yards
- Jordan Washington 1 catch, 25 yards
The Cats will look to break the SEC losing streak coming up next.
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