Kentucky Football crushes Mississippi State Bulldogs: 4 things to know and postgame cheers

After a statement upset win over the 14th-ranked Mississippi St Bulldogs, the Kentucky Wildcats showcased their potential for this season to the entire country.

Led by Heisman trophy candidate Benny Snell Jr. and a defense full of veterans, the Wildcats won a smash-mouth battle, 28-7.

Here are three things we learned:

Kentucky Football is Here to Stay

The Wildcats started 3-0 for the second consecutive season under head coach Mark Stoops and despite a historical victory at The Swamp, many still weren’t believers. Saturday’s win, though, erased any doubts in people's minds. Kentucky manhandled Mississippi State up front, sacking veteran quarterback Nick Fitzgerald several times and holding the Bulldogs to just 56 yards on the ground. Keeping such an explosive offense to just seven points bodes well for the Wildcats’ confidence as they head into matchups with other quality SEC teams.

Appreciate Josh Allen

It seemed like Josh Allen was held on every snap during Saturday night’s matchup. The senior edge rusher not only got to the quarterback several times but also had a pass breakup and six tackles. He made life Hell for Fitzgerald, and that was a big reason why the Bulldogs scored just seven points. Allen has been the leader of a veteran defense that looks like will wreck opposing offensive lines the rest of the way. He’s one of the best defenders Kentucky has seen in recent memory, and he continues to cement himself in Wildcats lore.

Gunnar Hoak played...in a win

How much of a domination was this? So much that Kentucky’s backup quarterback was inserted into the game during the final drive. If I had told you Gunnar Hoak had played in this game before tonight, we would have thought something had gone terribly wrong in this game.

Something did, only it was for the Bulldogs, as they were ran out of Lexington by Terry Wilson and Benny Snell. These two may have just one season together, but they’re going to go down as one of the most accomplished QB-RB duos in program history.

Benny Snell’s Place in History

Before Saturday night’s game, former Kentucky star and current Green Bay Packer, Randall Cobb, held the record for the most total touchdowns in school history of 37. However, Kentucky standout running back and Heisman trophy candidate Benny Snell Jr. punched it in the end zone four times to break Cobb’s record. Against a veteran Bulldog front, Snell carried the rock 26 times for 165 yards and four scores to lead Kentucky to victory. He proved to everyone he’s one of the best players in America and a legitimate Heisman contender.

Kentucky (4-0) will host South Carolina (2-1) on Saturday at 7:30 PM EDT.

But more importantly, it’s time to celebrate this monumental win!