And then there is Kentucky
Through the first two weeks of the college football season, the Southeastern Conference has six teams with 2-0 records, seven teams at 1-1 and Kentucky at 0-2.
The Wildcats began their fourth season under Mark Stoops hoping for a first bowl appearance since 2010, having just missed out the past two years with 5-7 records. Kentucky jumped out to a 35-10 lead in the second quarter of its opener against visiting Southern Miss, but the Wildcats allowed a 71-yard touchdown pass in the final 30 seconds of the half and have yet to recover.
Southern Miss roared back for a 44-35 triumph, and the stunned Wildcats were floored at Florida 45-7 last weekend, losing a 30th consecutive time to the Gators. A late score against Florida’s reserves ended Kentucky’s streak of allowing 79 consecutive points.
“The biggest surprise is how we can play like we did in the first half of game one and then, since then, disappear,” Stoops said Wednesday. “That is surprising, and I did not see that coming. You work all through camp and then come out in your home opener and really play very good football on all sides for a half, and then it turns on you.
“I thought we would handle adversity better than we have, but we’re a work in progress there, and it won’t change until we show that we can perform the way we can.”
Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart hoped performances would have been better by now when he gave Stoops a six-year, $21.5 million contract on Oct. 29, 2014. That deal was struck as Stoops was following up a 2-10 debut season with a 5-3 start, even though those five victories were at the expense of UT-Martin, Ohio, Vanderbilt, Louisiana-Monroe and a South Carolina team that already had home losses to Texas A&M and Missouri and was on its way to the Independence Bowl.
The Lexington Herald-Leader reported this week that buying out Stoops — who is 12-26 overall and 4-21 in SEC games — and his assistants after this season would cost the school $17.9 million.
Kentucky last had a winning SEC record in 1977 and last finished a season ranked in 1984, but the Wildcats had managed to avoid 0-2 starts since 1996, at least until now. The Wildcats began this season having lost seven straight games with bowl eligibility on the line, but just getting to the point of affecting that stat seems like a challenge now.
“Whether it’s early in the season or later, it doesn’t really change your approach in how you get your team up,” Stoops said. “It’s 12 one-week seasons, so week to week we’re always hitting that reset button and getting back to work.”
Stoops has vowed to take a more active role on defense for the Wildcats, who are 20-point favorites Saturday against New Mexico State.
Ohio at Tennessee: Vols fans not only will get a ninth straight win dating to last season but much better traffic flow compared to last weekend. Vols 35, Bobcats 10.
Florida State at Louisville: It’s always a treat when the college football world revolves around Todd Grantham. Cardinals 38, Seminoles 33.
Vanderbilt at Georgia Tech: The Commodores, including all their SEC title-game appearances, haven’t won in Atlanta since 1935. Yellow Jackets 35, Commodores 20.
Ole Miss at Alabama: Hugh Freeze is attempting to become the first to topple Nick Saban three straight times since former Purdue coach Joe Tiller. Crimson Tide 31, Rebels 24.
Texas A&M at Auburn: No team in this series has won in its own stadium. That bizarre trend continues. Aggies 28, Tigers 23.
UTC at Furman: The Mocs are on pace to post more shutouts this year at Finley Stadium than the Chattanooga FC. Mocs 31, Paladins 10.
Mississippi State at LSU: Les Miles, Mr. Verbal Advantage, when asked Wednesday about Saturday’s starting quarterback: “We’re going to kind of keep that in house, if you don’t mind. I can’t imagine that Danny Etling would not take the first snaps.” Tigers 26, Bullies 17.
Georgia at Missouri: It’s always a plus when Nicholls State is in your rearview mirror. Bulldogs 35, Tigers 24.
Last week:
Winners……… ................... ……….22
Saban chewings…… ...................... 3
Pasquali is 41-9 overall (82.0 percent) this season.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@ timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.