4th & Goal from the 2, 1:48 to play with a 3 point lead...

[Spiritof96]

This isn't a criticism of CMS's decision. It is a judgment call and it worked out, we won.

In the moment, I was in the take the points camp but after thinking about it I think I have changed my mind.

1. In that situation, a touchdown beats you either way and a field goal only sends the game to OT.
2. You almost had the TD on third down, if Benny gets it, I think he is in. (Smart not to force the throw to Conrad)
3. Their field goal kicker isn't good
4. If a field goal can tie the game, I think the offensive playcalling is possibly more conservative. i.e. less likely to end in a MU touchdown
5. I think I would rather have them go 98 yards down 3 than kick off to them down 6
6. If the situation were reversed, I want the bad guys to kick in that situation.

In sum, as I think about the possibilities in that scenario it seems like more bad things can happen to you by kicking the FB than if you play for the TD.

What do you think and why?

[fastkat]

take the points. Now they can't tie it and go to OT. We're too beat up and I don't think we could stop them in OT.

[Blue Heaven]

take the points. Now they can't tie it and go to OT. We're too beat up and I don't think we could stop them in OT.

Absolutely!

[40bill]

One of those plays that looks fine if we win. Sucky call if they hit a txt and win. I almost always go for points. I seem to remember that ice last year inside the twenty we fumbled and it got ran back the other way for a score.

UK won. Lol!!!!! GREAT CLOCK MANAGEMENT AND WHAT A GREAT CALL!!!!!

[RV]

You kick the FG all day long and every day of the week ...

... unless you're Alabama.

[KevinHall]

I would go for the TD. If you score you put the game away. If not then the other team has at least 98 yards to go or about 65 for a field goal. IMO not going for it showed he had no confidence in his defense to stop them at that point in the game. In the end it worked out though so it really doesn't matter.

[TrueblueCATfan]

You kick the FG and get the points.....period

[Spiritof96]

You kick the FG and get the points.....period

Were it so obviously cut and dry, why did CMS consider going for the decisive TD? It is a judgement call, the point of the thread was to discuss the why.

[40bill]

It was a good call. Kentucky had trouble all night getting short yardage, especially trying to run up the middle. As it played, Missouri was well into field goal range when time expired, and the coaches knew better than we did that the defense was both injured and gassed out. Yeah, a TD would have sealed it....maybe.
I think it was a case of an almost dead sure three or putting an exhausted defense back on the field.

[Joneslab]

I thought it was idiotic at the time. Couldn't believe it with the way our secondary had played.

Turned out it was absolutely the right call.

[Matt Dillon]

Like they say, if it works, you're a genius and, if not, you're a fool.

[Spiritof96]

It was a good call. Kentucky had trouble all night getting short yardage, especially trying to run up the middle. As it played, Missouri was well into field goal range when time expired, and the coaches knew better than we did that the defense was both injured and gassed out. Yeah, a TD would have sealed it....maybe.
I think it was a case of an almost dead sure three or putting an exhausted defense back on the field.

I think the call was fine, but...

The tired defense was going back on the field either way and after the kickoff, they were starting at the 25, not the 2. So you are spotting them over 20 yards on their final drive in the best possible scenario. To me, it's less about the likelihood of getting another 7, and more about thinking that the extra 20 yards is more valuable than the 3 points in that situation and there was the possibility of winning the game on that 4th down. (Since a TD would beat you either way)

[40bill]

Looking back at it, it was just one of those calls coaches have to flip a coin on. Louisville would have likely beat UK last year if they took the field goal at games end.
the run by Kash was a bigger call to me.
they all are good calls when you win.
If you lose, those are calls that haunt you for a long long time.

[SBCatMan]

CMS' reasons for taking the points made good sense. But, I must admit, the OP makes several good points as well. He makes a strong argument. A TD beats you either way -- True. They do NOT have a good kicker -- True. Starting at their 2 is less risky than kicking off -- True. And, maybe best of all -- if the roles were reversed, I would want the opposition to kick the FG. So, I am now pretty much viewing it as a toss-up decision. It worked, and that is great. But, in the absence of hindsight, one could make a compelling case either way, as the OP certainly did.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Like they say, if it works, you're a genius and, if not, you're a fool.

Exactly....I was at the game the fans were booing because Stoops did no go for the TD.....

Like someone else said it was a judgement call and it went our way