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How has Kentucky Fared After Bye-Weeks in Recent Years?

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After the two debacles we have witnessed the last two Saturday’s, I think we can all agree that we as fans need a break.

The big question that surrounds the football program right now is who is starting at QB?

Now, that question isn’t one that you want to have five games into a season after going 10-3. But, after Terry Wilson’s season-ending injury and Sawyer Smith’s struggles, that’s where we stand.

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Sawyer Smith may or may not play due to his injuries. But, the one thing Kentucky has going for them right now is they have a week-off to get it all figured out.

Kentucky needs to beat Arkansas to keep the hopes of making a bowl game alive. With that, let’s look at how Kentucky has faired in games coming off a bye-week.

2013

Loss to #20 Florida: 24-7

Loss to Mississippi State: 28-22

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Yeah, we can forget about this year.

2014

Win against Vanderbilt: 17-7

Loss to #24 Louisville: 44-40

If you remember, that Vandy win came two weeks after the Cats got screwed in Gainesville with the game-clock going to zero. Kentucky has struggled in the past with games following heart-breaking defeats.

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The loss to Louisville was a game Kentucky wasn’t expected to be in. The Cats started that year 5-1 and ended 5-7. One of two mid-season slides.

2015

Loss to Auburn: 30-27

The Cats only got one bye-week in 2015. However, the hype was real as Kentucky got a shot at Auburn under the lights of Kroger Field on a Thursday night. Unfortunately, the Cats took a heart-breaking L to the Tigers. After starting 4-1, Kentucky would go 1-7 in their last eight games to finish the season 5-7.

2016

Win against Mississippi State: 41-38

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Loss to Georgia Tech: 33-18

After a terrible start to the year, Kentucky got back on its feet with wins against New Mexico State, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt. A loss to #1 Alabama was followed by a win against Vandy, making the Cats 3-3 going into a bye-week. The game that followed was one for the ages. Austin MacGinnis’ game-winning FG gave the Cats a 4-3 record and kept their bowl hopes alive.

They made the TaxSlayer bowl and got smacked by Georgia Tech, 33-18, in Jacksonville, Florida.

2017

Loss to Mississippi State: 45-7

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Loss to Northwestern: 24-23

After Kentucky got off to its second 5-1 start in the Mark Stoops era, the Cats went into the bye-week. They then travelled to Starkville to play Mississippi State, with a chance to start 6-1. Well, the Cats got crushed, 45-7.

Kentucky would go on to make the Music City bowl in Nashville, Tennessee, after going 7-5, ending the regular season with an embarrassing loss at home to Louisville. An early Benny Snell ejection put Kentucky in a hole early. A banged up Stephen Johnson and Kentucky fought back, but lost 24-23.

2018

Win against Vanderbilt: 14-7

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Win against #13 Penn State: 27-24

I will never forget last season. The Cats had a chance to start 6-0, but travelled to College Station, played terrible, and lost. A bye-week followed with a very important Vanderbilt game, one they had to win. It was ugly, but it was a 14-7 win.

Kentucky finished the season 9-3 and kicked Louisville’s ass at Cardinal Stadium to cap it off. A game that I was at and was literally fearing for my life.

Anyway, Kentucky went on to face #13 Penn State in the Citrus Bowl. It was quietly a crazy game. Mark Stoops and James Franklin didn’t like each other, Benny Snell set the rushing record, and Trace McSorley almost brought the Nittany Lions back on one leg. But, they didn’t, and the Cats won 27-24, finishing the season 10-3.

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2019

Kentucky hasn’t played a game coming off a bye-week yet, but they’re getting ready to. A VERY important game. In the Stoops era, Kentucky is 4-7 in games coming off a bye-week, which isn’t great.

Kentucky will face Arkansas next Saturday. I will make an official prediction after I know who’s playing QB. But, that doesn’t change the fact that Kentucky HAS to win this game. They will also be honoring Jared Lorenzen, so more of a reason to kick some Razorback ass.

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Louisville Football Player Charged With First-Degree Strangulation, Days After Committing Game Losing Personal Foul

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Louisville Cardinals defensive back Tayon Holloway (20) reacts to his defensive play.
Eric Canha | Imagn

On Monday, Louisville football defensive back Tayon Holloway was detained and charged with first-degree strangulation and fourth-degree assault.

This comes just days after the former four-star prospect committed a costly personal foul to put a 2-7 Stanford team in field goal range and upset Louosillve 38-35 with a walk-off field goal.

As expected, Holloway has been indefinitely suspended from the team.

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“The University of Louisville is aware of the arrest of football student-athlete Tayon Holloway,” the university said in a statement. “As we gather more information, Tayon has been suspended indefinitely from all team activities.”

Things Cardinals seem to be in a downward trend as the Commonwealth Cup nears, November 30th.

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Kentucky snaps four game losing streak defeats Murray State 48-6

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Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops talking to Murray State football coach Jody Wright.
Jordan Prather | Imagn

Kentucky gets a much-needed victory over Murray St 48-6 to snap its four-game losing Streak. Brock Vandagriff led the way for the Cats, going 12-19 for 183 passing yards and two touchdown passes to Hardley Gilmore IV and Ja’Mori Maclin. 48 Points is the most points Kentucky has scored in a game since 2021 when the Cats scored 51 points against Louisville.

The defense held Murray St. without a touchdown. For the second time this season, Kentucky’s defense has held an opponent without a touchdown.

Freshman Standout today:

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For the second time this season, Kentucky breaks the 40-point mark as three freshmen make impacts for Kentucky. Jamarion Wilcox had 13 carries and 124 yards with a touchdown in the 3rd quarter.

Receiver Hardley Gilmore IV had two receptions for 72 yards and caught the 52-yard touchdown pass from Brock Vandagriff on the game-opening drive.

Four-star quarterback Cutter Boley started the second half for the Cats, going 10-14 and passing for 130 yards with two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, both touchdown passes to sophomore receiver Anthony Brown-Stephens.

Defense Bounces Back:

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After giving up over 475 yards of total offense each of the last three games, Kentucky’s defense holds Murray State to 256 total yards of offense while also having three takeaways from the Murray State offense

Defensive Lineman Tre’vonn Rybka led the way for the defense with five tackles and the only sack of the game for Kentucky’s defense. Jordan Lovett had two takeaways in the first half for Kentucky and one in the red zone in the second quarter. Jackson Schultz had the final takeaway, picking off Jim Ogle’s pass late in the fourth quarter.

Box Score

With the win today over Murray St., Kentucky moves to 4-6 (1-6 SEC) with two games remaining. They look to keep their bowl eligibility alive as they travel to Austin, Texas, and face the No. 3 ranked Texas Longhorns at 3:30 pm on ABC. 

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Mark Stoops Responds to Retirement Rumors, “Zero Percent Chance I Do That”

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Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops responds to retirement rumors amidst disappointing season. "Zero percent chance I do that."
Jordan Prather | Imagn

To say there is unrest in the Kentucky Football fanbase would be an understatement. With a 3-6 record overall, and 1-6 in the SEC (15th out of 16) things look bleak, and there is still a quarter of the season to go. Considering the regression from the previous two seasons as well, it’s difficult to be optimistic about the future.

Over the last few weeks, rumors have circled that head coach Mark Stoops has considered retiring at the end of the season. Optics wise it makes sense, his older brother Bob Stoops surprisingly retired from Oklahoma at just 56, and Mark, now 57, has expressed a desire to spend more time with his children.

At his weekly press conference, Stoops was asked directly if there is any chance that he would walk away from Kentucky and retire at the season. To which he responded, bluntly:

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“Zero percent chance I do that. Next question.”

Mark Stoops is still owed more than $44 million on his contract. That’s A LOT of money to leave on the table and is the reason that the decision will be Stoops’ to make, as Kentucky cannot afford the buyout.

If Stoops holds true to his word and returns next season, NIL fundraising efforts may be the most difficult it has been for him. However, he hopes it sparks motivation to donate.

“I’ve seen it at other SEC schools,” Stoops said. “I want to stay away from that. I really get tired of — I don’t want to be like I am whining, I am crying. It is reality. You have to have dollars.”

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