Mark Stoops was the MVP for South Carolina.
The Kentucky Wildcats dropped a brutal game on the road to the South Carolina Gamecocks, falling 17-14. After a disastrous start, Kentucky took control for the second and third quarters, taking a 14-10 lead, but then allowed a long South Carolina drive that was eventually the kill shot as they took a 17-14 lead and ultimately the win.
The nail in the coffin was a strip fumble/interception on Leary late in the game, with Kentucky looking to score.
It was a very, very disappointing performance from the team, looking as if none of the prior issues had been worked on or addressed. Defense was an issue early on in the game but they buckled down after a few series. They did, however, allow two wide-open touchdown passes, something that has been more common since the Georgia game.
After starting 5-0 and ranked in the top 20, Kentucky has now lost five of their last six games, and this last one comes at the hands of a team that was sitting at 4-6 on the season.
Now, Kentucky and Mark Stoops are staring down the barrel of a fanbase checking out for both the Louisville game and the eventual bowl game.
It has been a season from hell for the Wildcats, with a lot of position groups taking a step back.
MVP
For MVP, I’ll throw it to Ray Davis. Davis got Kentucky back in the lead in the 3rd quarter off a nifty run with a sick spin move. Davis ran for 61 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown.
Unfortunately, it feels like Davis’s lone season in Lexington might be all for nothing as Kentucky has plummeted down the stretch.
Box Score
Twitter reactions
Final. pic.twitter.com/pWWKOJlh8J
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 19, 2023
This is not not $9 million worth of coaching. Period.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) November 19, 2023
— Rare Rookies #BBN (@rarerookies) November 19, 2023
A lot of steps taken in the wrong direction the last couple of years for Kentucky football. Can’t throw struggles on an offensive coordinator this time. At some point it has to fall on the head coach. It’s time.
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) November 19, 2023
Penalties and Leary turnovers have been killers tonight.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) November 19, 2023
Kentucky almost had to try and lose this game and it did
Gonna be hard to get the fanbase ready for the UL game or a Bowl
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 19, 2023
Gotta get some answers after this one. Complete embarrassment.
— Ethan DeWitt (@EthanDeWitt1) November 19, 2023
You shell out that much for assistants, coordinators, etc and that’s your product?
— Anna Maria Tarullo (@tarullotweets) November 19, 2023
I may wash my eyes with bleach after watching that for 3.5 hours.
— Big Blue Drew (@BigBlueDrew33) November 19, 2023
You can only blame execution on players for so long. This is a poorly-coached football team. And it’s a program that continues to regress.
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) November 19, 2023
No escaping it. That’s a bad loss. Maybe the loss that hurts the most with the fan base in quite some time. South Carolina has not been a good football team this season. With SEC next season not the right time to be in this spot.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) November 19, 2023
With this loss, the majority of fans have certainly checked out from this Kentucky football team.
Based on the on-field performance, they have every right to do that.
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) November 19, 2023
I’m not saying I feel either way, but serious question:
When does Mark Stoops genuinely go on the hot seat?
— The Kentucky Network (@KentuckyNet) November 19, 2023
Yall better treat Stoops with the same energy you do Cal lol
— Kentucky Sports Talk (@KentuckyZone) November 19, 2023
I really hate it for the program and for Stoops. Cooling off at a bad time with all the changes coming next year.
Still think he deserves a chance to figure it out on his own.. unless he makes the decision for us.
Interesting off season ahead in Lexington.
— Kentucky Guy BBN (@__NotKG) November 19, 2023
Why are so many Devin Leary passes tipped? It’s not just his size.
“There’s some there where he’s gotta put a little air on it. He’s gotta trust it, trust the call.”
— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) November 19, 2023
You don’t believe, given the resources and now upgraded facilities, there are several coaches who could go 13-11 or better? You need a list of 13-11 coaches. It’ll be ugly. https://t.co/SUe5RnNvA4
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) November 19, 2023
It really feels like something changed around the program beginning with the “Pony Up” comments.
Kentucky’s performance got worse, the self-inflicted errors increased and the fan base turned
These last 5 weeks have been just a disaster all the way around
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 19, 2023
If they changed college football to a five game season, Mark Stoops would be an all-time great.
— Big Blue Express (@bigbluexpress) November 19, 2023
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops here. “Been doing this a long time in this league and at Kentucky, and that’s a very difficult loss for us right there. Disappointed for our players that we didn’t do a better job putting them in a position to be successful.”
— Ryan Black (@RyanABlack) November 19, 2023
After going 10-3 in 2018. The Kentucky staff said the next step was to beat Georgia.
In the 5 years since:
2019: 8-5
2020: 5-6
2021: 10-3
2022: 7-6
2023: 6-5 (current)Not only has that UK failed to beat Georgia, they have are 18-24 in the SEC during that time.
Steps back…
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) November 19, 2023
Ya know.. you watch 60 minutes of whatever that was and after it’s done all you can think to yourself is…. Can we get Big Z eligible already damn.
— Big Blue Drew (@BigBlueDrew33) November 19, 2023
I’m not saying he needs to be fired but damn… wheels keep falling off at this time year after year. Locker room doesn’t seem to be the best right now. Parents are tweeting during the game. What do we have to sell transfers? Can we even hold on to our top guys?
I don’t know how…
— Michael Beard (@AllMikedUp_) November 19, 2023
One narrative I can’t stand is that Stoops is the only coach who could have propelled UK to these “heights” … get REAL.
— Anna Maria Tarullo (@tarullotweets) November 19, 2023