Good morning, friends. Saturday was a rough one, and the sting is still there, but the calendar keeps moving. Kentucky is into Texas A&M week now, with a trip to College Station up next and a top-10 opponent waiting at Kyle Field.
That makes this a big one for the Wildcats, who are headed into their first road game of the season and the first road game of this new era. Kentucky is a 16.5-point underdog, and there are several days left to sort through what that matchup might look like before Week 3 arrives.
The routine around the program has changed a bit, too. Will Stein won’t be back at the podium until Tuesday, since the Monday press conference has been pushed back and the Monday night coach’s show has moved to Wednesday. That leaves Monday quieter than usual, but there should still be plenty of football conversation around the program over the next day or so.
Later tonight, KSR’s football podcast returns with a new episode at 6 p.m. It will feature a look back at the loss to Alabama, a preview of Texas A&M, and more. Nick Roush and Adam Luckett will handle the show this week while one host is away on radio business, and guests will join them for the Week 3 edition.
The national picture also shifted over the weekend. Texas pulled off a dramatic comeback in Austin and moved to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 on Sunday, taking the top spot from Ohio State. The Buckeyes dropped to No. 6 after the fourth-quarter collapse, while Georgia, Notre Dame, Indiana, and Miami round out the top five behind Texas.
There was good news on the volleyball side as well. After falling to No.
8 SMU on Saturday, Kentucky Volleyball answered in Sunday’s consolation game at the Paradise Invitational, sweeping Houston 3-0 at Baha Mar Resort. The Wildcats won 25-13, 25-19, 25-23 to finish third at the four-team event and improve to 7-2 on the season.
Next up is a week off before No. 5 Louisville visits Historic Memorial Coliseum on Sunday.
The first NFL Sunday of the season delivered plenty of offense, too. The Bears and Panthers combined for a 59-37 finish, the highest-scoring opener ever, and several other games featured big point totals across the league.
A few Kentucky-related notes stood out:
Za’Darius Smith recorded two sacks in his debut with the Atlanta Falcons.
Wan’Dale Robinson caught five passes for 38 yards in his first game as a Tennessee Titan.
The Titans stink.
Chris Rodriguez ran six times for 23 yards in his new RB2 role in Jacksonville, where he’s playing for Liam Coen. Josh Hines-Allen added 1.5 sacks in the win and finished with five tackles.
Deone Walker had six tackles in Buffalo’s win at Houston, including a key late sack.
There’s also a new episode of NFL Cover Zero available now.
Today’s KSR show is coming from General Burnside Island Golf Course, where the crew will be live from 10 a.m. to noon for the site of today’s KSR golf scramble. The show will sort through the Alabama loss and turn the page toward the trip to College Station and another SEC test. It can be heard on WLAP.com, the free iHeartRadio app, and the KSR affiliate network around the state.
In Other News...
Kentucky Fans Got A Clear Message On Kenny Minchey After Alabama
Kentucky left Alabama with another reminder of how slim the margin can be against a ranked opponent, falling 45-17 and going scoreless after halftime. Senior quarterback Kenny Minchey had an uneven night in the loss, finishing 18 of 31 for 146 yards with a touchdown, an interception and a lost fumble, but the postgame message from the sideline was the part that mattered most for what comes next.
Will Stein made it clear afterward that Minchey remains the starter, a vote of confidence that matters as Kentucky tries to steady itself in conference play. The turnovers will be part of the conversation, but for now the Wildcats are sticking with the veteran quarterback and betting he can settle things down after a difficult night in Tuscaloosa. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Defensive Collapse Left One Postgame Debate Front And Center
Kentucky looked in position to carry a halftime lead into a much bigger result against Alabama, but the game swung quickly after the break. The Wildcats had built a 17-13 edge by intermission before the second half unraveled, with the defense spending long stretches on the field as the offense struggled to sustain drives.
Afterward, defensive captain Ty Bryant said he was dealing with fatigue on a personal level, but he stopped short of making tired legs the explanation for the units collapse. It left one of the main postgame questions centered on how much the offensive drought fed into the defensive wear down, and how Kentucky sorts out the broader breakdown from here. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Fast Start Vs Alabama Ended In A Brutal Second-Half Collapse
Kentucky came out sharp against No. 12 Alabama and looked for a while like it might be in for one of those statement SEC nights that can reshape a season. The Wildcats were aggressive early and had the kind of start that can put a ranked opponent on its heels, but the game flipped hard once Alabamas defense began squeezing the pocket and forcing Kentucky into mistakes.
The second half turned into a long stretch of frustration for the Wildcats, who managed only three first downs and 62 total yards while Alabama piled on 32 unanswered points. Kentuckys quarterback was harassed throughout the collapse, and the Tides own passing game steadied after a shaky beginning, with Alabama finishing the comeback behind a cleaner rhythm and a touchdown throw that helped close the door. [Read more 🡒]