UK rolls over Miami (Ohio) 37-13 for Stoops' 60th win

Ahead but inconsistent after 30 minutes of play, No. 20 Kentucky needed just 62 seconds to right things and earn a significant win for coach Mark Stoops.

Barion Brown returned the second-half kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, Keidron Smith’s fumble return less than a minute later set up another score and the Wildcats pulled away to beat Miami (Ohio) 37-13 on Saturday night in the opener for both teams.

Stoops’ 60th victory tied him with Paul “Bear” Bryant as the Wildcats’ winningest coach after 10 seasons with the program. Kentucky’s longest-tenured coach was happy to win but downplayed the milestone afterward, as he had all week.

“You can’t put my name in the same (sentence) as Bear Bryant’s,” Stoops said. “Let’s compete for six national championships, talk about that. But I am grateful to win that many games, to be here this long.”

Kentucky certainly needed those game-changing plays to make this win possible for Stoops after leading only 13-10 at halftime behind several missed opportunities deep in Miami territory.

The Wildcats quickly snatched momentum after the break as Brown dashed left, found a seam and turned the corner down the sideline for the big score just 13 seconds in. That TD included replay drama as the freshman appeared to let go of the football as he crossed the goal line. It was confirmed, putting Kentucky up by 10.

Tyrell Ajian then came up big on Miami’s ensuing possession to force Jaylon Bester’s fumble that Smith returned 23 yards to the 8. Will Levis hit Chauncey Magwood with an 8-yard scoring pass two later for a 27-10 cushion. Matt Ruffalo added a 50-yard field goal and Levis tossed a 1-yard scoring pass to Dane Key and finished with 303 yards passing and three TDs and an interception.