Mark Stoop's team fails in all phases against Auburn

LEXINGTON — It wouldn't be hard to divide the blame for Kentucky football's loss to Auburn on Saturday night. You can find the Wildcats 2024 team photo here.

There is the answer.

Every part of the team was involved in Saturday's setback. Attack. Defense. Special teams. Coaching.

For Britain it was a total failure.

The combined ineffectiveness resulted in a 24-10 loss for the Tigers, as the Wildcats remained winless (0-4) in SEC games at Kroger Field this season.

“We have to play better in every phase of the game,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. “We just got beaten. The bottom line is that we were beaten. We didn’t play well enough to win at any stage and that’s discouraging.”

The offense started well: Kentucky (3-5, 1-5 SEC) scored on each of its first two possessions. The Wildcats didn't put another point on the scoreboard after that.

“They covered us up,” Stoops said. “They played very aggressively. … (Auburn defensive coordinator) DJ Durkin, he's a Youngstown guy and I've known DJ for a long time. He did a really good job.”

“They were very aggressive and right in front of us, putting pressure on us, and we didn't respond particularly well.”

Things started well for the defense: The Tigers (3-5, 1-4) didn't gain a single yard on their first two drives, which consisted of five total plays. The second possession ended in a turnover when Kentucky cornerback JQ Hardaway tackled Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne. But then the Tigers started to gain momentum offensively; and the Wildcats' defense faded. After allowing no points and 38 yards in the first quarter, UK gave up 24 points and more than 400 yards in the final three periods.

“We were a little off balance all night. … We could have played better than we did,” Stoops said. “Here, too, you have to give them recognition for a lot of good things. They moved us.”

And Stoops noted that the Tigers have “a back that can make you miss” in Jarquez Hunter, who ran for 278 yards on 23 carries — 12.1 yards per rush.

Hardaway said Hunter's success – the most rushing yards ever by an opposing player at Kroger Field, which dates back to its opening in 1973 when it was known as Commonwealth Stadium – was due to the Wildcats' defense I haven't implemented their game plan. Repeated.

“We had a lot of failures,” he said. “If you're supposed to be in the A-gap, you should be in the A-gap. You shouldn't be in the B gap. And if you go into the B gap, it's the A gap.' So just trust your teammate, man.

Things went well for the special teams: the extremely strong Alex Raynor scored a 46-yard field goal – and thus extended his school record in this category; He made 15 attempts in a row – and scored his first points of the competition at 11:28 of the first quarter. But his counterpart at punter, Aidan Laros, aided Auburn's comeback effort when his 38-yard kick in the second quarter gave the visitors a short field and took over at their 47-yard line. Five plays later, the Tigers crossed the goal line for the first time.

It wouldn't be the last time: Hunter scored two rushing touchdowns in the second half to seal the win. Auburn's 10th straight win in Lexington dates back to its last loss in 1966. And it was the Tigers' 19th win in the last 20 meetings in the series.

The Kentucky coaching staff started off well, pushing all the right buttons for a quarter and a half. But the coaching advantage also fell by the wayside at some point. Most notable: The offense once again failed to find much rhythm, as Gavin Wimsatt came on for starter Brock Vandagriff at (seemingly) random times.

The Wildcats always planned to let Wimsatt take control on their third possession, Stoops said. But with Vandagriff's unit stuck in neutral, this strategy was unnecessary. Wimsatt played the entire second half.

Vandagriff didn't struggle with injury either.

“I just wanted to get a good look at Gavin,” Stoops said, “and see if he could help us move the ball.”

Wimsatt saved his best for last. In a way. He helped the hosts get within 2 yards of the end zone in the final minutes. Then he threw an interception on fourth down with 4:39 left.

“It’s not just Gavin, as you know,” Stoops said. “It’s what was out there. Did he miss something? In real time it was just a tough, frustrating game.”

Like each of Kentucky's last three games. And so many other games in recent seasons. Stoops admitted that it was like hitting the “replay button” to explain the team’s shortcomings.

Rarely have these flaws been as noticeable as Saturday's blemishes.

“We have to look at all options. You can’t point fingers,” he said. “We have to find some solutions. Clearly. It's very frustrating. There are no excuses.”

“I’m not going to say anything that would be the right answer. We just have to do a better job, right?”

Reach Kentucky men's basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

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