Mark Stoops of the Kentucky football team talks to the media after the loss to Georgia
Kentucky’s Mark Stoops talks about the one-point loss to No. 1 Georgia football team on Saturday night in Lexington.
Coverage from the game:
Kentucky’s football offense takes steps, but questions remain before first SEC away test
Coverage during the game:
LEXINGTON – After back-to-back SEC games, Kentucky football returns to its nonconference schedule today as Mid-American Conference representative Ohio travels across the state line from Athens, Ohio.
After consecutive losses to South Carolina and Georgia, UK can’t afford to lose to a Group of 5 opponent, and Mark Stoops’ team will need some positive momentum heading into next week’s game when it faces Ole Miss on the road for the first time this season.
For the Wildcats to get back on the right side of the scoreboard, finding the end zone would be helpful. Kentucky has gone eight straight quarters without a touchdown.
Watch Kentucky vs Ohio football live on Fubo (free trial)
While Demie Sumo-Karngbaye has found his feet in the backfield, the same cannot be said for starting quarterback Brock Vandagriff. UK ranks outside the FBS top 100 in four passing categories: passing offense (109 yards per game; 130th), yards per completed pass (10.22; 107th), passing efficiency (100.58; 128th) and completion percentage (.508; 127th). Kentucky ranks last in the league in passing offense, passing efficiency and completion percentage and 14th in yards per completed pass.
On defense, Kentucky faces the challenge of Ohio State running back Anthony Tyus III, who ranks in the top 10 in the country in numerous rushing categories and rushed for 203 yards and two touchdowns (on 16 carries) in Ohio’s Week 1 loss at Syracuse.
This must-win game for the Wildcats will take place this afternoon at Kroger Field.
Backup quarterback Gavin Wimsatt scores another touchdown for Kentucky on the ground.
Star receiver Barion Brown reached the end zone with his feet instead of through the air. Brown carried the ball 23 yards and scored the touchdown.
Ohio finally scores thanks to running back Rickey Hunt Jr. He rushed to the basket from the 1-yard line and scored a touchdown to end UK’s shutout. The Bobcats attempted a two-point conversion but were unsuccessful.
Kentucky’s defense gets in on the scoring when cornerback Maxwell Hairston hits a pick six.
Give Alex Raynor three more points. He just made a 33-yard field goal to extend UK’s lead to 20.
Demie Sumo-Karngbaye scored his second rushing TD of the day, scoring from 2 yards out.
After four games of the season, Kentucky’s defense finally recovered its first fumble. Linebacker and Louisville native JJ Weaver grabbed the ball after a failed Ohio turnover.
For the first time in three weeks, Kentucky’s offense scores a touchdown. Demie Sumo-Karngbaye scored the touchdown from the 1-yard line.
Alex Raynor continues his excellent season and scores another field goal, this time from 30 yards out, which meant the first points of the game.
Kentucky left guard Jager Burton is out for the second consecutive game. Dylan Ray was announced as LG before kickoff.
In addition, middle linebacker Daveren Rayner did not change during pregame warmups.
According to Tom Leach, live commentator for the UK Sports Network, Ohio will likely be without two players from its two-man roster today.
One of them is quarterback Parker Navarro, who is battling a wrist injury. The other is defensive tackle Cam Rice, who Leach definitely said is out.
Leach reported that it is questionable whether defensive end Bradley Weaver will play today.
Defensive end Bradley Weaver.
- Date: Saturday, September 21
- Time: 12:45 p.m.
- Location: Kroger Field
- TV channels: SEC Network
- Streaming: Fubo (free trial)
- Radio: UK Sports Network (840 AM in Louisville; 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington)
Kentucky vs. Ohio will be broadcast nationally on the SEC Network. Dave Neal and Aaron Murray will provide commentary from the Kroger Field locker room, with Ashley ShahAhmadi reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.
Kentucky 41, Ohio 10: Having a player as talented as Tyus gives the Bobcats a real chance to beat any team they face. But the Wildcats have far more talent from top to bottom than their MAC opponent. Vandagriff and the passing game finally hit form as QB1 throws three touchdown passes and runs for another to even Kentucky’s record at 2-2 after four games in the 2024 season.
BetMGM lines and odds today:
- Spread: Kentucky is favorite at home with 19 ½ points
- Over/Under: 42.5
- Money line: Kentucky, -1600; Ohio, +875
Nine Kentucky players sat out last week’s game against Georgia.
This group includes:
The maximum temperature is 30 degrees, the sky is partly cloudy and the probability of rain is forecast at 40%.
- August 31: Southern Miss ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 31, Southern Miss 0
- September 7: South Carolina ∣ SCORE: South Carolina 31, Kentucky 6
- 14 September: Georgia ∣ 19:30 ∣ SCORE: Georgia 13, Kentucky 12
- September 21: Ohio ∣ 12:45 p.m.
- Sept. 28: at Ole Miss ∣ 12 p.m.
- October 12: Vanderbilt
- October 19: in Florida
- October 26: Auburn
- November 2: in Tennessee
- November 16: Murray State ∣ 1:30 p.m.
- November 23: in Texas
- November 30: Louisville
Record: 1-2
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- 31 August: in Syracuse ∣ SCORE: Syracuse 38, Ohio 22
- September 7: South Alabama ∣ SCORE: Ohio 27, South Alabama 20
- September 7: Morgan State ∣ SCORE: Ohio 21, Morgan State 6
- Sept. 21: in Kentucky ∣ 12:45 p.m.
- September 28: Akron ∣ 3:30 p.m.
- October 12: in Central Michigan
- Oct. 19: in Miami (Ohio) ∣ 3:30 p.m.
- October 26: Buffalo
- November 6: at Kent State University ∣ 7 p.m.
- November 13: Eastern Michigan ∣ 7 p.m.
- 20 November: in Toledo ∣ 7pm
- November 29: Ball State ∣ Noon
Record: 2:1
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Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
