SHANE SHACKLEFORD: Same Old Story for the Wildcats

It was painfully obvious to every Kentucky Wildcat football fan that the Week 2 matchup with Top 25 Ole Miss was a significant game for the Cats to win if they have any hope of earning a bowl invitation. 

Well. That was the same old thing. 

The Cats squandered and missed scoring opportunities, a 10-point lead, and untimely penalties bit them in a 30-23 loss to the No. 20 Rebels at home Saturday afternoon. 

There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s get after it. 

The Good: 

1. The Defense.  Brad White’s crew kept the Cats in the fight for as long as they could.  They forced two early Austin Simmons interceptions by defensive back Ty Bryant and for the most part didn’t let Ole Miss get into a rhythm offensively.  Their only blemishes were four long completions that the Rebs converted into scores. 

2. The Big Guys up front.  The offensive line deserves a ton of credit for their work Saturday.  UK looked like the aggressors up front most of the day.  The Cats' success in the run game and keeping Zach Calzada clean until late in the fourth quarter deserve credit. 

The Bad: 

1. Calzada’s Injury. Speaking of which, Calzada injured his throwing shoulder and left the contest with 6:21 to go, forcing a cold Cutter Boley to take his first snaps of 2025 in a difficult situation.  Boley did his best, so there will be no shade thrown here.     

2. The Passing Game.  For the second week, the Cats struggled throwing the ball.  Calzada and Boley were 16-33 for 187 yards and no scores.  While that is improved, it’s still not enough to stay in games, especially with a nuclear offense like Ole Miss. 

The Ugly: 

1. Offensive Execution. To be frank, the Cats' inability to get plays in the game, get lined up offensively, get the proper players substituted into the game offensively, and use of timeouts was, in a word, abysmal.  At times, UK looked like they didn’t know who was in charge offensively in those situations.  Was offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan trying to get subs in while coach Mark Stoops was changing calls?  Were there radio difficulties from the booth to the sideline?  Was there anyone in charge of the ship during those moments?  Something wasn’t right.  There is no way possible a squad can win a big SEC game, especially at home, with that level of incompetence. 

2. Coaching Decisions. I was truly blessed to sit in the media booth with a veteran sports personality, a UK football legend (and I mean legend), and talked with an ABC Sports announcer on the elevator before and during the game (I will not name drop, not relevant.) When those guys question the coaching staff’s decisions, it’s different than an old guy like me questioning it.  Those guys knew what they were looking at.   All the execution blunders, coupled with two missed opportunities for points on field goals late in the game, was a lot to swallow. 

Grading the Cats: 

Offense. C for effort, D for execution.  The Cats were balanced on play calling (70 plays - 36 run and 34 pass), gained 354 yards (184 passing and 164 rushing) and scored 23 points.  But the lack of execution and simple blunders in that department were the difference. 

Defense. B most of the day, C late in the day.  The numbers the defense gave up are skewed.  The Cat defense gave up 455 yards (235 passing yards and 220 rushing yards), and 30 points.  The defense gave up four completions that went for over 100 yards, and a couple of runs for over 30 yards late.  But with the game on the line for most of the day, the Cats' defense held firm with seven stops and forced two interceptions. 

Special Teams. A.  The Cats’ specialized guys were good again today, missing no field goals, allowing no punt or kick returns of note, and didn’t turn it over when they had return opportunities.  Good day. 

Week Three SEC Picks:

Last week, the author went 11-3 in SEC play.  For the season, the old man is 24-6.  Let’s look at this week’s matchups. 

1. Wisconsin at Alabama: I think the nation, and quite possibly the entire world, is overreacting with the Crimson Tide losing their away opener with Florida State.  The Noles 2-10 2024 season was an aberration; they have talent and a natural leader at quarterback now.  They’re good.  Bama still has weapons.  The Badgers must control a lot of different variables to win in Tuscaloosa.  Here’s saying they can’t.  Prediction: Alabama. 

2. Oklahoma at Temple:  The Sooners only tough variable they must control is show up on time in the city of brotherly love.  Boomer by a lot.  Prediction: Oklahoma. 

3. South Alabama at Auburn.  The Jags will come in and compete on the Plains, but don’t have the size to play with War Eagle up front.  Prediction: Auburn. 

4. Georgia at Tennessee:  This is the Coffee Shop SEC Game of the Week.  We will see two things.  First, has Georgia went back to their intimidating, power mindset that won them championships? Second, how will Vol signal caller Joey Aguliar play in his first true conference test?  The thinking here is Georgia is back, Aguliar plays well, and the dawgs win in Knoxville.  Prediction: Georgia. 

5. UL Lafayette at Missouri:  Traditionally, Lafayette is solid and capable of pulling an upset.  With MIZ coming off a civil war game with Kansas, the Tigers could struggle with the Ragin’ Cajuns.  The thinking here is they do for a while before their talent and athleticism allows the Tigers to pull away.  Prediction: Missouri. 

6. UTEP at Texas:  The Longhorns and their quarterback (a Manning fellow?) seem to be righting the ship after an early stumble at top-ranked Ohio State.  The Horns win by plenty here.  Prediction: Texas. 

7. Alcorn State at Mississippi State:  If the Braves had legendary quarterback, the late Steve McNair, I’d be much more interested.  Unfortunately, they do not have him.  Dawgs win big.  Prediction: Mississippi State. 

8. Arkansas at Ole Miss:  Arky is kind of like that girl you want to date, but for some reason you just can’t pull the trigger.  They pass the eye test but just can’t make the step up.  Hotty Toddy wins this one relatively comfortably.  Prediction: Ole Miss. 

9. Vanderbilt at South Carolina:  Here’s the Shop’s Upset Brew.  There’s no reason that SC shouldn’t win by nearly two scores.  They’re at home, have a star quarterback in LaNorris Sellers, and talent everywhere on the roster.  However, Vandy has great coaching, improved and physical talent, and Diego Pavia pulling the levers.  This is his kind of game.  Prediction: Vanderbilt. 

10. Florida at LSU:  This is the first chance we see if Gator coach Billy Napier truly turned the ship around in Gainesville.  After falling at home to South Florida (possibly the Group of Five rep in the CFP), The level of talent has improved, the discipline has not; he has a star in quarterback DJ Lagway and has played winning football since the end of 2024.  LSU is good.  Like, get in the playoffs and make noise good.  I don’t see the Fightin’ Tebow’s winning in Death Valley.  Prediction: LSU. 

11. Texas A&M at Notre Dame:  This is a tricky game for me to call.  A&M has morphed into a physical, hard-hitting unit in the mold of coach Mike Elko.  They’re also good enough offensively to present some problems for the Irish.  That said, UND is hard to beat in South Bend and has a tough, physical squad of their own.  Give me the Irish in a tight one at home.  Prediction: Notre Dame. 

12. Eastern Michigan at Kentucky:  It looks like the Cutter Boley show for the foreseeable future due to Calzada’s shoulder injury.  Boley opens relatively softly with the Eagles from the MAC.  I don’t see the offense radically changing off the run game though.  Seth McGowan and Dante Dowdell will continue to see the rock.  The difference in the game will be them, the defense, and solid special teams.  Prediction: Kentucky. 

Shane Shackleford is a regional sports columnist from Speedwell, Tenn. He is the host of the webcast The Local Sports Coffee Shop, and is also the author of Bounce: A Basketball Love Story (on Amazon) and the soon-to-be released 30 Wins, 2 Lessons: the 1978 National Champion Kentucky Wildcats.  Shane is a retired teacher and coach, married to Liz Johnson Shackleford, and fur dad to Lady, Blue, and Rupp.