A Strangely Consistent Half-Time Tell Under Coach Stoops

[The-Hack]

I’ve noticed that since at least 2018, the halftime score of our biggest wins and upsets tend to look similar.

2018, on the road at Florida, at the half, UF 10, Ky. 7.

2018, at home against #11 Miss State, at halftime, State 7, Ky. 0

2019, against Penn State, in the Citrus, Ky. 10, PSU 7.

2022, against Iowa in the Citrus, at the half, Ky. 13, Iowa 3.

2021, UF at home, and at the half, UF 10, Ky 7.

2020/2021 Gator Bowl, at the half, Ky. 13, NC State 0.

2024, at No. 6 Ole Miss, Ky. 10, Ole Miss 7.

I know it’s stating the obvious, but these numbers show just how consistently Stoops’ teams have been winning with defense.

And several of his biggest wins have been 10-7, or 7-10 at the half.

Maybe we can smother Ole Miss’s offense Saturday as we did last year?!?!?

[Matt Dillon]

It's no secret that Stoops is a def. first coach, and that's ok. You need an off. that can score more than 10-14 pts., though, if you're going to win many games in the SEC.

[Helix]

Because the defense is still fresh this early in the season, I expect a good showing Saturday. Our games with Ole Miss have close in the last few years, so if the offense can score 24 we could win. Here’s hoping Hamdan, Calzada and co can figure out some things soon.

[Jaxcat]

My concern is how small we are up the middle. If I'm Ole Miss, I'm running between the guards a bunch to see if UK can stop it. Knowing Kiffin, he doesn't like to win ugly and he probably won't want to run, run, run up the middle. But, I know Georgia, USC, Auburn, et al will certainly be happy to control the game by running it down our throat. We need the defense to create several TOs. Otherwise, I believe it will be a long Saturday afternoon for the Cats.

[UKWildcats1987]

I think defense is the only shot we have as mostly usual.

I think it will be a close game. Can the offense actually make some big plays n the passing game to help win? We will see.

[Cat tat2]

I like having a good defense but in today’s football you need to score 30 points or more a game. IMO

[The-Hack]

Can the offense actually make some big plays n the passing game to help win? We will see.

Maybe a pick-six or blocked kick can put us over the edge.

[Davidmack]

Stoops is the opposite of Mumme. He only focuses on Defense where Mumme only cared about offense. You need balance.

[Trueblujr]

I heard somewhere that we had the highest grade for pressuring the QB in week one. We had 3 sacks and was consistently in the backfield against a good Toledo team, that's getting top 25 votes and picked to win the MAC. It's also my understanding that the Ole Miss OL is one of their weak spots. Hopefully that's something we can exploit. It's been a while since we've had a consistent or strong pass rush.