KSR Postgame Show: Kentucky vs. Texas, 10/19/25

Overview of the Episode
In this emotionally charged postgame episode, host Matt Jones and the KSR crew break down Kentucky’s narrow 16-13 overtime loss to preseason No. 1 Texas. The episode’s main theme centers around frustration and heartbreak, as Kentucky outplayed Texas statistically but came up short due to critical errors and play calling in key moments. The show captures the fanbase's mix of pride in the team’s effort and deep-seated exasperation with recurring shortcomings in the Mark Stoops era.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Kentucky Was the Better Team, but Lost: [02:00 - 16:00]

• Matt emphasizes how UK dominated statistically: double the yards (395-176), double the time of possession (40 to 20 minutes), and 26 first downs to Texas’ 8.
• "Just if you visually watch the game, Kentucky moved the ball up and down the field... Kentucky was better. Kentucky had double the yards." – Matt Jones [03:45]
• Despite these stats, UK lost the game, prompting questions about the long-term trajectory of the program.

The Game’s Turning Points: Special Teams & Short Yardage Failures

• Two huge Texas punt returns set up nearly all of Texas’ points in regulation.
• Kentucky’s offense repeatedly failed in third and fourth-and-short situations, most notably with a controversial quarterback sneak on 3rd-and-2 and three straight runs up the middle in overtime.
• "The only area that I think you could say where Kentucky was definitively not as good as Texas tonight was running the ball up the middle. And yet we did five straight plays... in situations that it didn't come close to working any of the times." – Matt Jones [09:00]
• Matt repeatedly calls out the failure to innovate late: "You’re first and goal from the three, four plays at it, you gotta score. If we score a touchdown, we win." [16:00]

Play Calling Under Fire, but Some Positives for Coordinator Bush Hamdan [12:30 - 16:00]

• While Hamdan’s late-game play-calling is condemned as "vanilla" and "indefensible," Matt also credits him for an overall creative approach, with nearly 400 yards against an elite Texas defense.

Mark Stoops Era: Proud Effort, But New Doubts [16:30 - 19:45]

• Matt discusses the ongoing debate about Stoops’ future:
• "Does anybody come out of that game feeling more confident about the Stoops era than before? ... I think the answer is probably no." [17:00]
• Matt stresses that for all of Stoops’ strengths (motivation, preparation), his teams consistently falter with clock management and decision-making in crunch time.
• "We’ve been bad at time management from moment one and it’s really never gotten better." [47:51]
• Fan callers echo similar sentiments, expressing exhaustion and apathy after years of coming up just short.

Arch Manning’s Struggles & NFL Hype Machine Dissected [15:45, 19:45-21:00]

• Multiple segments mock the national media’s hype of Texas QB Arch Manning.
• "Not trying to hate on the guy because I really like the Manning family, but Arch Manning is not good." – Matt Jones [06:00]
• "Is he the worst quarterback we’ve played this year? Feels like it." – Matt Jones [20:00]

Environment, Crowd, and Fanbase Reaction [37:00 - 42:00]

• The crowd is praised for creating a lively, “positive” environment despite the presence of many Texas fans.
• "The fans gave Kentucky a chance to win ... they were loud. So I thought the fans were good. The fans gave Kentucky a chance to win." – Matt Jones [37:00]
• Multiple callers and Matt agree that Texas fans were “the nicest group of away fans” ever seen in Lexington. [53:00]
• Lexington’s atmosphere, both at the stadium and in town, is described as “a buzz... I don’t know if I can ever remember it being like that.” [52:45]

Call-In Highlights: Fan Frustrations, Apathy, and Pain [20:10–63:41]

Notable Fan Quotes and Moments

• "The days in year 13, the it's close, we feel good, it just doesn't work, especially with where we are in year 13." – Matt Jones [14:30]
• "Mark Stoops hates all of us. Like, the way that he just tortures us in these kind of games. It just feels on purpose at this point." – Wade, Caller [28:32]
• "I've never seen an athletic director interact with a fan in that way." – Justin, Caller sharing a controversial story of AD Mitch Barnhart’s heated post-kick interaction with a fan. [21:30]
• “I think it might be a blessing in the stars because Barnhart probably would have given Stoops an extension if we would have won tonight.” – Matt, Caller [20:56]
• “There is absolutely no reason as to why Bush Hamden has a job Monday morning.” – Ethan, Caller, on offensive coordinator [32:05]

Repeated Themes Across Callers

• Chronic late-game letdowns under Stoops, no matter which coordinator or year.
• Calls for offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan’s job (and some for Stoops’ as well).
• Some fans openly wishing for a loss to prompt change; others conflicted about rooting against their team.
• Apathy and emotional fatigue: “We're not mad. I think it's apathy. And that's scary, too.” – Kevin, Caller [42:33]

Player Performances

• Cutter Bowley (QB): Praise for poise, toughness, and evident improvement, but critiques for costly mistakes under pressure.
• Defense: Widely viewed as "outstanding," with specific credit to coordinator Brad White for shutting down Texas’ offense and outscheming Steve Sarkisian. [09:00, 63:41]
• Seth McGowan’s “hospital return” played as a near-legendary moment, but would have been more so in a victory. [37:45–38:40]

Talking Points on Coaching Decisions

Clock Mismanagement and End-of-Half Issues

• Matt and callers perplexed by not running the clock down before a field goal attempt at end of half and in regulation, risking giving Texas extra plays ([23:24—24:00]).
• "It's a little basic thing, but it's illustrative of what frustrates me... It's just an example of the little things that drive me crazy." – Matt Jones [24:00]

Conservative vs. Aggressive Coaching

• Consensus that going for it on 4th-and-goal was the right call, but that the play calls themselves were far too conservative.
• Debates around game management versus play design play out repeatedly.

The Stoops Contract & Program Future

• Multiple callers debate if winning would just “kick the can down the road” on a needed coaching change.
• Speculation that Bush Hamdan will not return as OC in 2026, regardless of what happens next.

Other Memorable Moments & Tidbits

• Several funny asides about Texas fans’ fashion and demeanor: “They all looked like members of George H.W. Bush's Republican Party.” – Matt Jones [41:48]
• KSR gets a shout-out for coverage; Matt praises the improved food at his bar—“the bacon jam burger... one of the best hamburgers I have ever had in my life.” – Roy, Caller [62:57]
• Late in the show, the KSR crew talk about OchoCinco being in the student section, and a missed opportunity for a viral moment if UK had pulled off the upset. [53:41]
• Stats highlight: UK fumbled four times but recovered all four, yet still couldn’t catch a break for the win. [62:17]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:00 – Host Matt opens with personal story & first thoughts from inside the stadium.
• 06:00 – UK’s domination of statistics; outplaying Texas, but why the loss?
• 09:00 – Breakdown of failed short-yardage play calls.
• 14:30 – Postgame feelings, Stoops’ big-picture tenure.
• 15:45, 19:45 – Arch Manning’s national hype under fire.
• 20:10 – Start of fan call-in segment.
• 23:24 – Story of AD Mitch Barnhart’s interaction with UK fan.
• 28:32 – Caller accuses Stoops of “torturing” the fanbase.
• 37:00 – Praise for atmosphere, crowd, and Texas fans.
• 41:48 – Commentary on Texas fans’ vibe and style.
• 47:51 – Matt’s detailed critique of in-game coaching and decision making.
• 62:17 – Anecdote: four UK fumbles, yet no lost possessions.
• 63:41 – Closing: rating the defense and looking to a tough future.

Final Thoughts
Matt and the KSR team tell a familiar tale: Kentucky football lets hope creep in, only to end with a gut punch that seems all-too-common in the Mark Stoops era. Despite an excellent defensive showing and real progress from young QB Cutter Bowley, fan frustration boils over regarding coaching decisions and program direction. The show is a must-listen for the pulse of the fanbase and a microcosm of Kentucky football’s roller-coaster saga.

Notable Closing Quote
"When it came down to it, first and goal from the three, four plays at it, you gotta score. If we score a touchdown, we win... and they just didn’t do it." – Matt Jones [16:00]

For the full flavor of the episode, listen in—especially for the passionate call-in segment beginning at [20:10].