FOOTBALL: Time to Put Up or Shut Up
(LEXINGTON)- On Saturday the BBN will find out if Kentucky football has truly turned the corner.
The past two weeks have given fans plenty of reason to believe that it, in fact, has.
Kentucky walked into Kyle Field and walloped the Aggies for Will Stein’s first signature win roaming the sidelines for the Cats. Then Kentucky came home and handled an inferior South Alabama team after playing with their food in the first half and covered the spread.
Now comes Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks.
I don’t particularly care how hot the spineless sunglass wearing-son of a football savant’s seat is. I don’t care that South Carolina has had Kentucky’s number for the last half-decade. I don’t even care that that silly Sandstorm song they play relentlessly is about to be stuck in my head for a week win or loss.
Kentucky heads into the game 3-1 and ranked #24 in the AP Poll. South Carolina is sitting on .500 and even more importantly, a six conference game losing streak dating back to last season.
On paper, it’s easy to say that Kentucky is entering this game in a much better place. You’d even be correct in saying it.
But unfortunately for BBN, Football is played on a gridiron. Not paper.
The last four in the series have gone the way or the garnet and black. That trend needs to be bucked on Saturday.
I can’t watch that South Alabama first half again. I don’t know if what we watched in the A&M 3Q is sustainable. But I do think Kentucky has found a rhythm in their offensive game plan.
Kentucky ran for 390 yards on 42 carries against USA. It was only the second time in program history that Kentucky has had 3 players rush for 100 yards in the same game.
That’ll play all day and twice on Saturday.
Kenny Minchey has shown ability to keep his completion percentage above (or right at) 70% when he throws under 20 a game. That’s a number that Stein has emphasized needing quarterbacks to be at in his offensive system. Through four games, Minchey has eight touchdown passes against just one interception. He reminds me A LOT of an Andre Woodson, which is what Kentucky needs him to be. Now I’m not saying that I think Kenny Minchey should work his way into a Heisman conversation at any point in this season. But I am saying that if (and it’s a big if) he can continue to make smart passes and limit turnovers, I like Kentucky’s chances against just about anybody.
South Carolina has completely collapsed in their previous two SEC games, highlighting a troubling trend that raises concerns among fans and football guys alike. In their latest matchup against a ranked Mississippi State team, the Gamecocks initially showed a little promise, even leading at halftime. However, the second half told a different story as they were dumped on 27-8 by the Bulldogs coming out of the locker room. This shift in momentum not only highlighted South Carolina's struggles to maintain a lead but also exposed already known holes in their defense and overall game strategy. Key players for Carolina seemed to crumble under pressure, and the team's nonability to respond effectively to the Bulldogs raised questions about their non-ability to punch back. A combination of poor execution, lack of depth in their roster, and questionable coaching decisions has left fans feeling frustrated and concerned about the remainder of 2026.
Then came Alabama.
That went about as well as Kentucky fans can imagine.
The Cocks got beat 49-18 in T-town, turning the ball over twice while only going 3/14 on Third Down. The game was never competitive and South Carolina showed once again that their defense had more cracks than a plumber’s convention. Sure, LaNorris Sellers has shown flashes that he can be a decent Quarterback over the years, but it wouldn’t matter if prime-Tom Brady played for USC Jr..
They’ll also be missing an important piece in projected first round draft pick Dylan Stewart. Stewart was thrown off of the team, suspended indefinitely, and then reduced to a one game suspension by his coach all just this week. “Conduct detrimental to the team” was the coach-speak line. But it was evident that Beamer may have realized he put the cart before the horse with his job seemingly being on the line this Saturday.
Kentucky will need to exploit them. Force them to quit on the Defensive side of the ball. This can be the swan song for ol’ Shane. Kentucky has a chance to start Beamer’s Hilton Head golf retirement plan early, they just need to stick with what has gotten them to this position in the first place (and run the damn ball).
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