Do We Have A New Number One?
About three years ago or so after he got number 50 we did a countdown of Mark Stoops’ ten best wins. Since then there’s been many more. However, none may have been as big as the one last Saturday when they knocked off Ole Miss in Oxford. Where does that one land on our list? Much like the late great Kasey Kasam of American Top 40 fame, we won’t stop until we reach the top. Let’s begin revisiting Mark Stoops’ greatest wins.
Huge Home Victory
#10- Kentucky 20- Florida 13- October 2, 2021
As you’ll see later Kentucky finally broke a 31-year losing streak to the Gators. However, that home win still eluded them. In front of an electric Kroger Field crowd, UK got the job done. Kentucky took the lead midway through the third quarter when Josh Paschal blocked a Gator field goal attempt. Trevin Wallace took it 76 yards for a score.
A nine-yard Chris Rodriguez score put the Cats up 10. Leading by seven late Jacquez Jones broke up a pass in the end zone and Kentucky had their first home win against Florida since 1986.
At The Buzzer
#9- Kentucky 15- Missouri 14- October 27, 2018
The Wildcats mustered little offense against the Tigers and found themselves trailing 14-3 at the half. However led by Josh Allen, the Kentucky defense held Drew Lock and the powerful Missouri offense to eight straight three-and-outs in the second half. With five minutes to go Lynn Bowden took a punt 67 yards to the house. However, the Cats missed the try for two leaving the margin at five. Another punt backed Kentucky up to their own 19-yard line. Quarterback Terry Wilson calmly led the Cats down the field to the 10-yard line. A defensive penalty on the last play gave the Cats a free down. Wilson found C.J. Conrad for the touchdown and the win.
“Superior No More”
#8- Kentucky 45- South Carolina 38- October 4, 2014
The Wildcats trailed 38-24 early in the fourth quarter. However, Carolina would not score again as the Cats ran off 21 straight points. Two touchdown runs by Jojo Kemp tied the game at 38 with a little over two minutes remaining. On the ensuing possession, Bud Dupree picked off a Dylan Thompson pass running it back six yards giving the Cats the lead. Carolina had one last chance but Ashley Lowery picked off Thompson to seal the win.
The win was the first major win at Kentucky for Stoops and his first over Steve Spurrier.
Five In A Row
#7- Kentucky 38- Louisville 31- November 25, 2023
Trailing 17-7 in the “Battle For The Governor’s Cup” UK needed a spark. They got it in the form of a 100-yard kickoff return from Barion Brown. The Cats outscored the Cards 17-7 in the final period. Ray Davis had two touchdown receptions and his 37-yard touchdown run gave Kentucky the lead. Jordan Lovett picked off Jack Plummer in the end zone and their fifth straight win in the series.
That’s four games down as we revisit Mark Stoops’s greatest wins. Up next is a couple of huge bowl wins.
The Best Bowl
#6- Kentucky 37- Virginia Tech 30- Belk Bowl- December 31, 2019
Behind 30-24 late in the fourth quarter, Lynn Bowden led the Cats on a drive for the ages. Taking over at their own 15-yard line Kentucky went on an 18-play drive taking up over eight minutes. In addition, they completed two fourth downs to keep the drive alive. That set the stage for the winning play. Bowden found Josh Ali to take the lead. A 28-yard fumble return by Jordan Wright capped the comeback.
Another Sweet Bowl Win
#5- Kentucky 20- Iowa 17- Citrus Bowl- January 1, 2022
Many of these games have a familiar theme, UK trailing late only to win in the end. This one was no exception. Down 17-13, with 2:07 to go Will Levis found Wan’Dale Robinson on a 52-yard strike down to the Hawkeye one-yard line. Following a penalty on the Cats Rodriguez took it six yards for the score and the lead. A DeAndre Square interception preserved the win for the Cats. Of course, the NCAA says this win doesn’t exist due to Kentucky’s current probation. However, for the Big Blue Nation, it certainly does.
Four Touchdown Underdog
#4- Kentucky 41- Louisville 38- November 26, 2016
Kentucky had lost five straight in the Battle for the Governor’s Cup. In addition, the Cats came in as a four-touchdown underdog against Heisman winner Lamar Jackson.
With the game tied at 38, Jackson led Louisville deep into Kentucky territory for a game-winning score. However, he fumbled and Courtney Love recovered at the 10-yard line. From there Johnson moved the Cats into field goal position. “Mr. Clutch” MacGinnis hit a 47-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining giving the Cats the upset in one of the series’ best games.
Jackson accounted for 452 yards of total offense. However, his four turnovers proved costly. Kentucky secured their first seven-win season since 2009.
Not Since The 1950’s
#3- Kentucky 27- Penn State 24- 2019 Citrus Bowl- January 1, 2019
Twenty years to the day of their last New Year’s Day bowl the Wildcats once again played in Florida against Penn State. Behind huge games from Benny Snell and Lynn Bowden the Cats jumped out to a 27-7 lead. However, they had to fight off a huge Nittany Lion comeback to preserve the win.
Snell ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns and set the all-time school record for yards with 3,873. In addition to returning a punt for a touchdown, Bowden had five catches for 84 yards. Josh Allen, playing his last game for Kentucky, had three sacks and blocked a field goal. The victory marked only the third time in school history Kentucky won 10 games in a season. In addition, it was the Cats’ first New Year’s Day win since the 1952 Cotton Bowl when they knocked off TCU.
Breaking The Streak
#2- Kentucky 27- Florida 16- September 8, 2018
For 31 years and in every way possible Kentucky found a way to lose to the Gators. However, in a total shock to college football, they finally broke through. Behind 175 yards from Snell and a huge game from Terry Wilson, the Cats beat Florida. Playing in only his second college game Wilson had 256 yards of total offense and three touchdowns.
Not only did the Wildcats win in Gainesville for the first time since 1979, the victory catapulted UK to the first 10-win season in 41 years. Furthermore, with this win, Stoops cemented his legacy at Kentucky as the coach who broke “The Streak.”
Stopping The Lane Train
#1- Kentucky 20- Ole Miss 17- September 28, 2024
Heading into this past weekend the Rebels led the nation in nearly every offensive statistic. In addition, their defense was at the top of the scoring defense. After losing three straight to the Rebels in heartbreaking fashion, fortunes finally went the Cats’ way. The play everyone will remember is the 62-yard pass from Brock Vandagriff to Barion Brown on a fourth and seven from the Cats 20. With 2:25 remaining Gavin Wimsatt fumbled near the goal line. Tight end Josh Kattus recovered in the end zone putting the Cats up by three.
When Caden Davis hooked a 48-yard field goal Stoops got a win against the highest-ranked team of his career. Furthermore, Kentucky hadn’t beaten a highly-ranked team on the road since knocking off number four Penn State 24-20 in 1977.
Thanks for revisiting Mark Stoops’ greatest wins with us here at Last Word On College Football. Did you agree with our list or did we leave a game out? We’ll be back to get you ready for the Vanderbilt game next Saturday night.
