Mark Stoops knew the questions were coming, and they certainly did and continue to. He knows fans will dissect every decision, especially the ones that came up agonizingly short in Kentucky’s 16-13 overtime
loss to Texas. But on the game’s most critical series, the failed goal to go in OT, with 3 runs from the 2-yard line, Stoops was defiant.
‘Not that one’
“There’s always a decision that I can definitely second-guess myself on — not that one,” Stoops stated firmly postgame. “I wanted to go to play to win… you put yourself in the position to win the game. We came up short.”
That line is a coach projecting conviction, perhaps as much for his locker room as for the media. Stoops is clearly aware of the narrative that his teams often play “not to lose” in big moments. By framing the overtime call as an aggressive “play to win” decision, he’s attempting to push back against that perception.
It’s not working. An aggressive call would have been a toss, or a bootleg. Something to get a player on the edge, instead of running it into the heart of one of the best defensive lines in the country.
The irony of conservatism
However, the defense Stoops is trying to sell rings slightly hollow when contrasted with other moments in the game. The decision to attempt a 53-yard field goal with 13 seconds left before halftime, instead of trusting a hot Cutter Boley to gain more yardage, felt decidedly conservative. Stoops even acknowledged the external pressure influencing that call, quipping, “If I don’t get that kick off, I might as well not show up for the press conference right?”
That contrast highlights the complex reality of Stoops’ coaching identity. He wants to be aggressive, he wants to play to win, but his instincts often seem to default to minimizing risk, even when boldness might be required. While he stands by the overtime call, the predictable nature of the back-to-back runs into a stout Texas front felt less like a bold gamble and more like a safe choice that didn’t pay off. Stoops may have no regrets about the decision, but many in Big Blue Nation likely feel differently.
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
