
It was a rough night for Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday against the Tennessee Vols.
Kentucky's offense couldn't keep up with Tennessee's offense, as the Wildcats fell 56-34 to the Vols in Lexington.
It was Tennessee's fifth straight win in the border rivalry.
In the third quarter, with Kentucky trailing by 22 points, Stoops made the puzzling decision to go for two instead of kicking the extra point (the two-point conversion attempt failed).
After the game, Stoops was asked why he went for two in that situation.
"That’s what the analytic book said," explained Stoops. "I thought it was stupid too, quite honestly. But that’s what the analytics book said. And then when I had time to reevaluate it afterwards, I said, well, that’s a stupid book. So, that’s what it said.”
“That’s what the analytics book said. I thought it was stupid, too, quite honestly. But that’s what the analytics book said….that’s a stupid book.” - Mark Stoops on going for 2 while down 22 points in the third quarter against Tennessee pic.twitter.com/XaljllyIP7
— zach ragan (@zachTNT) October 26, 2025
That may be the last time that Stoops uses the "analytics book" to make an in-game decision.
I know not everyone will agree, but I still think the philosophy of "never going for two until you have to" is the best approach to two-point conversion decisions.
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