It’s hard to describe this afternoon’s game without making it sound like a complete humiliation, as Kentucky football took a 45-17 beatdown at the hands of the 14th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores. Frankly,
the game wasn’t even as close as the final score indicates.
Once Diego Pavia settled in, it was like he was playing a video game on rookie mode. Kentucky could not stop the passing attack, and the final scoreboard reflected it. It was a catastrophic performance on many levels that destroyed any positive sentiment that Mark Stoops had built up over the last three weeks.
After winning three straight, the Cats had the opportunity to at least put up a respectable showing against a top-15 opponent. Instead, it was a complete pummeling and hard for Kentucky fans to endure, as the Cats got down 45-3 and looked like an FCS team playing against the Dores.
A repeat of this next week at Louisville would be about as low as it gets and could even put Mark Stoops back on the hot seat, not that he should have ever been off of it. That three-game winning streak vs. programs with fired coaches and an FCS team looks very hollow now.
5 things to know from Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt
1. Pavia’s Party
Diego Pavia has turned himself into a household name in college football for his stellar play on the field and confident disposition anytime he’s in front of a microphone.
There was some speculation as to whether the flamboyant festivities of senior day might get an emotional player, like Diego Pavia, off his game.
The senior from Albuquerque, NM, quickly dispelled any idea that his focus was hindered by the pregame ceremonies. Pavia hooked up with Tre Richardson for a 71-yard TD score to begin the second quarter, and it was a beauty. The perfectly placed bomb snatched any momentum that Kentucky may have had after hanging tough in the first 15 minutes.
Later in the quarter, the duo would connect again – this time for a 15 quick toss that was actually credited as a rushing score for Richardson. The game was pretty much over at this point, but unfortunately for UK fans, the onslaught wasn’t over. To tack onto the humiliation, another Pavia to Richardson deep-ball, this time a 51-yard TD, made the score 24-3.
The second half didn’t slow down the Heisman hopeful; he continued to pour it on before being pulled midway through the fourth quarter. Pavia’s final stats were jaw-dropping. 469 yards passing with four touchdowns to go along with a rushing score. Helluva senior day.
2. Kentucky cannot stop a passing attack.
The Vandy game felt a lot like the Tennessee game from several weeks ago. In both contests, the Cats looked absolutely helpless to defend a vertical attack. The Vols poured it on Brad White’s defense to the tune of 504 total yards, 396 of those coming through the air. On Saturday in Nashville, Diego Pavia and the Commodores moved the ball at will, tallying over 600 total yards.
Obviously, key injuries on this side of the ball are a factor in the poor play, but the lack of resistance has been painful to watch. Fortunately for the Wildcats, they’ll be meeting a Louisville offense that looked terrible, scoring only six points against SMU on Saturday. The absence of starting quarterback Miller Moss could create an opportunity for even this struggling Kentucky defense to apply pressure and force turnovers.
3. Keep Cutter Boley healthy and happy.
With one game left in the 2025 season, if there was one singular positive takeaway, it’s been the emergence of Cutter Boley. Despite not having the best showing against #14 Vanderbilt, it’s clear that Boley is QB1 and the offense should be built around him. It was concerning to see him under pressure all afternoon and take an awkward hit to his neck that forced him out of the game for a few plays.
Boley would finish 24/44 or 263 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
The freshman will have the chance to put his mark on the rivalry when Kentucky takes on Louisville next Saturday.
4. The future of Mark Stoops.
To be honest, things would have become a little weird had Kentucky somehow pulled off the upset in Nashville on Saturday. Four straight wins and with the chance to make it five in a row against Louisville could have created a scenario of split opinions surrounding Stoops’ future in Lexington.
I think after today’s embarrassing performance, even the biggest Stoops’ defenders would be leaning towards a coaching change. Whether it’s in a few weeks, months, whatever, the Kentucky football program is in a position where it needs to pivot.
Will Mitch Barnhart allow this? The ultra-conservative Barnhart has made it very clear he’s not about to fire a man he treats like a son, so it may be up to someone higher up at UK to force a coaching change. Barnhart seems intent on letting this get back to the Joker days. Today certainly felt like that 40-0 beatdown at the hands of the Dores in 2012.
Despite them being a top-15 team, you cannot go to Vanderbilt and get beaten like a drum from start to finish.
5. Louisville Looms
No matter what happened in Nashville on Saturday, the Cats’ trip to Louisville next week had major implications. Beating your rival on their home field is a perfect way to wrap up any season.
The Cardinal football program is in a complete free fall after being shellacked 38-6 by SMU in Dallas. This marked UL’s third loss in a row, dropping their record to 7-4. Jeff Brohm was searching for answers against SMU in the absence of starting quarterback Miller Moss. Louisville was just 3/12 on third downs and struggled to even generate the 228 total yards that they did. The Mustangs had no trouble moving the ball on their way to nearly 500 total yards in what was a balanced attack.
After an impressive start to 2025, the injury plagued Cards may be completely out of gas when Kentucky rolls into town next weekend.
