Heartbreak echoed through Kroger Field on Saturday night as Kentucky came just six inches shy of a statement win over No. 8 Texas. In the aftermath, an emotional Mark Stoops faced the media, his words heavy with pride and pain — “It hurts,” he said, after another gut-wrenching Wildcats finish.
LEXINGTON — In a game that tested grit, pride, and heart, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops was visibly emotional after his team’s crushing 16–13 overtime loss to No. 8 Texas at Kroger Field on Saturday night. It wasn’t just another defeat — it was one that slipped through the Wildcats’ fingers by mere inches.
“It hurts, and I feel for them,” Stoops said, his voice heavy with emotion. “When you’re losing games, it’s easy to give in — but these guys never did. They worked their tails off, and it was a great investment by them.”
Kentucky came within half a yard of victory in overtime before being stopped cold by the Longhorns’ defensive line. Stoops, who opted to go for the win rather than settle for another field goal, stood by his decision.
“We came up six inches short,” he admitted. “There’s always something to second-guess, but not that one. I wanted to play to win — and we had our shot.”
The Wildcats moved the ball effectively, recording 26 first downs and more than 400 yards of total offense, but execution faltered in the red zone. Stoops acknowledged his team’s struggle in short-yardage situations, a recurring theme this season.
“We had worked extremely hard to get that fixed,” he said. “But credit to Texas — they’re stout and physical. We just couldn’t punch it in when it mattered.”
Despite the painful loss, Stoops praised his players’ resilience and his fan base’s unwavering support.
“I want to thank the fans who stuck with us through some tough times,” he said. “They gave us an incredible environment, and our players deserved to win for them.”
Kentucky’s defense, missing key contributors like DJ Riles due to a pre-game setback, held strong for most of the night but eventually succumbed to Texas’s late surge.
Now 3–4 on the season, the Wildcats find themselves facing questions about consistency — but Stoops remains steadfast.
“We’ve improved each week,” he said. “We’re not far off. These
losses sting, but they’ll make us stronger.”
For Kentucky, the pain of coming up just short lingers — and as Stoops put it, “It hurts.”
