OXFORD, Miss. — Mark Stoops took a significant risk for Kentucky, and it paid off. Brock Vandagriff made a daring play, Barion Brown delivered, and Josh Kattus ensured the gamble was worthwhile by recovering a fumble in the end zone.

Vandagriff’s impressive 63-yard pass to Brown on fourth and 7 from Kentucky’s 20-yard line set the stage for a victory, capped off by Kattus’ fumble recovery for a touchdown.

This bold move led to what is arguably the best win of Stoops’ 12-year coaching career, as Kentucky defeated No. 5 Mississippi 20-17 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Unlike their prior game against Georgia, where Stoops chose to punt on a crucial fourth down, this time, taking the chance proved pivotal. Kentucky had narrowly lost to Georgia, managing only 12 points in a 13-12 defeat, and the Bulldogs controlled the clock to secure that win.

Even after scoring the late touchdown, Kentucky still needed some luck. Mississippi advanced to the Kentucky 31 but missed a chance to tie the game when Caden Davis’ field goal attempt from 48 yards went wide left.

With this victory, Kentucky heads into their first bye week of the season feeling confident, now boasting a winning record. Their next game is at home versus Vanderbilt on October 12.