A poor offensive line. Inconsistent quarterback play. A lot of things led to Kentucky football’s abysmal 2024 season. However, they had the talent to finish better than 4-8, only defeating one power opponent this season. So what could have helped?

Kentucky wide receiver Ja’Mori Maclin was asked that question after the Wildcats’ loss to Louisville on Saturday. To his credit, he answered honestly and professionally.

“A lot more leadership,” Maclin said. “Holding guys accountable for things. A lot more discipline for all the guys… All around, players and coaches. We’re still a team, I don’t want to point at any one person or specific group. All around we need better leadership.”

Maclin is a junior and could return for another season. Despite talking about Kentucky taking the next step, he has not made his decision and will be returning home to talk to his family to do so. If Maclin does return, it sounds like Kentucky will have a leader in the receiving room.

Despite being a 1,000-yard receiver at North Texas, Maclin was not targeted often. However, on his 13 receptions, he caught four for touchdowns, the most of any receiver on the team.

Vince Marrow is considered to be one of the best recruiters in college football, which is why he is often mentioned when recruiting positions come open at other schools, most recently Michigan and Michigan State. Both of these openings led to Marrow becoming one of the highest-paid non-coordinator assistants in the nation.

On Sunday evening, rumors began to swirl that Marrow may be considering taking a similar position at Louisville. While an official offer was never made public, Marrow will remain in Lexington according to Matt Jones.

With Marrow staying, as of now, the football program is still working under the assumption that Mark Stoops will be on the sideline next season for the Wildcats.

Slow Start for Cutter Boley

It was a rough start to the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry for Cutter Boley. The Cards would jump out to a 10-0 lead thanks to a Boley interception. Boly would start 1 for his first six with just nine total yards. Boley wasn’t helped much as the Kentucky offensive line struggles would continue to plague the Cats early in the first half. To close out the first half the freshman quarterback would throw another interception. The throw was in the red zone to halt a potential scoring drive for the Cats.

Louisville Dominates the Opening Half

Louisville running back Issac Brown would punish the Cats on the ground. The Cards would total 149 yards of rushing offense in the first half. The season-long woes of stopping the run proved to be worrisome yet again. Louisville would total 256 yards at the half compared to just 107 for Kentucky. The Cats were held scoreless for the first time all season going into the half.

Offensive Line play still plagues the Cats. The lack of time in the pocket allowed Louisville to win the battle in the trenches against an inferior Kentucky offensive line. The young Kentucky quarterback had an insufficient amount of time to drop back and pass. When provided time Boley did not answer the call. The freshman found himself throwing balls into tight double coverage. The Cats were unable to move the ball against a more dominant Louisville front.

Wimsatt Provides Spark in the Second Half

Gavin Wimsatt sparked the Wildcats with a much-needed boost. After a targeting call midway through the third quarter sidelined Boley, Wimsatt stepped in and led the Cats on a seven-play scoring drive. He connected with Ja’Mori Maclin in the back of the end zone. The spark faded quickly as Kentucky continued to turn the ball over, resulting in Louisville scoring. Fans found the exits early, as Kroger Field became empty as restlessness occurred.

The Cards thumped the Cats with a final score of 41 to 14. Louisville finished with 358 yards rushing on the night. Kentucky’s rush defense woes were a concern all year.

What Does the Future Hold?

Going into today’s game the future of the Kentucky program was in question. Stoops continues to feel pressure from the fanbase after a pair of lackluster seasons. The Kentucky head coach will be in interesting territory headed into next season. On top of this, former Kentucky assistant John Sumrall continues to be a trending name in national coaching searches.