LEXINGTON — When Will Stein sprinted off the sideline to meet Ty Bryant, the initial reaction wasn't to celebrate the play that had just transpired. Instead, it was out of concern.
Seeing Bryant on his back, Stein was worried.
Kentucky football's first-year coach quickly learned his misgivings were misplaced.
"He was just smiling on his back," Stein said, "so I popped him up."
Bryant had just intercepted Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis. And the pick — Bryant's third game in a row with an INT, and his fourth overall in that span — occurred at a key juncture of the SEC clash Oct. 24 at Kroger Field. The Wildcats were clinging to a 27-17 lead. After Bryant's pick, they put the finishing touches on a 34-17 victory: QB Kenny Minchey barreled into the end zone on the subsequent possession.
After Kentucky's sixth consecutive win, Bryant still couldn't quite believe his sideline circumstance with Stein.
In all his years playing football, Bryant said, he'd never had a coach be the first player to celebrate with him following a turnover.
"It was the first time," Bryant said. "So yeah, that's definitely one for the books."
It's fitting.
Seemingly every week, Stein is achieving feats that haven't been seen in Lexington in decades. If ever.
Here are three takeaways from the Wildcats' 17-point win over the Commodores:
Kentucky in first place in the SEC. By itself. For a week, at least.
For the first time since 1950, Kentucky has sole position of first place in the SEC in Week 8 of a season. That position might last just one week. Georgia, which is a half-game behind at 4-1 in conference competition, was off Oct. 24. It returns to action Oct. 31, facing Florida in Atlanta.
If the Bulldogs win that tilt, they'll be level with the Wildcats, who are off next week.
Georgia, obviously, is no stranger to the top of the league ladder.
This is unfamiliar territory for Kentucky.
While it would be human nature to celebrate for the moment, Stein wasn't having it.
"All that's great. I love all that stuff," he said. "But what really matters is our players. Really proud of them, their grit, their toughness, their fight. Beat a good football team (in Vanderbilt). Those guys have been in every single game that they've played in. But it shows, again, that we're a really good football team and find ways to win in all three phases."
Defensive lineman Mi'Quise Humphrey-Grace knows the job isn't finished as UK tries to clinch a spot in the SEC Championship Game for the first time in program history. UK is one of three teams left that controls its fate to get to Atlanta.
"It's good, man," he said. "I think that's what you work for in the summer and strive (for), but (there's) still more work to be done. So if we want to be first (at the end of the season), we've got to keep going."
Bryant has been through it all.
Now in Year 4 with the Cats, he's enjoying their current status. It just means even more after what he experienced the past two seasons, when Kentucky went a combined 3-13 versus conference foes.
"It means the world to me," he said. "Being a kid from Lexington, too, obviously my whole life, I've kept up with Kentucky football and I've never seen us get (off) to a hot start like this. ... I'm just so glad that I'm a part of this team."
Wildcats' defense keeps creating turnovers
Stein sang Jared Curtis' praises all week. He knew Vandy's quarterback well. In his prior gig as Oregon's offensive coordinator, Stein tried to sell the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Tennessee native on a move to the West Coast. Instead, Curtis stayed close to home and cast his lot with the Commodores.
He entered the game having tossed seven INTs in six games. Bryant's pick added to that tally. Yet Curtis, a unanimous five-star prospect in the 2026 class, also had his share of highlights during the game. Most notably: A 34-yard laser to Ja'Cory Thomas for a third-quarter touchdown.
"Listen, Jared Curtis is going to be one of the elite players in college football," Stein said. "So he made some plays, and obviously made some plays I'm sure he wants back."
Credit a UK defense that notched its seventh consecutive multiple-takeaway outing; aside from Bryant's pick, Tavion Gadson recovered a fumble forced by none other than Humphrey-Grace.
"We just pride ourselves on turnovers," Humphrey-Grace. "We try to get a turnover every drive or whatever. ... Lately, we've just getting 'em when it counts."
Or put another way ...
"I feel like when it's time to go, when we need a turnover, like, we're going to get it, for sure. If you put it in the air, we're taking it out of the air. You put it on the ground, we're going to get it."
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UK tight ends show they're not just threats in the passing game
Mikkel Skinner long has been cited as one of the Wildcats' most athletic players. But prior to Vandy, he mostly showcased his skills in the passing game.
That changed against the Commodores.
He logged four rushing attempts -- matching his total in the first seven games of the season -- for 24 yards. It was the most carries by a non-tailback in the Wildcats' win. Stein said involving Skinner in the rushing attack had been works the past two weeks.
"He's one of the most dynamic players on our team," Stein said. "When the ball's in his hand, typically good things happen. So we have to continue to find ways to get our best players the ball. Mikkel has shown the ability to be explosive in the run game and the pass game."
Similarly, fellow tight end Willie Rodriguez has been defined by his consistency in UK's aerial attack. Through seven games, he had 33 catches, just one behind Kenny Darby for the team lead. Though Rodriguez again led the way against Vandy with a team-best six receptions, Kentucky's coaching staff had another way they wanted to use him.
It just didn't go according to plan.
With less than a minute left before halftime, Rodriguez took a direct snap. It was set up for "a pop pass," Stein said. That fell apart. So Rodriguez improvised.
He kept the ball, ran to his right and into the end zone.
"He just, I guess, saw grass to the right," Stein said, "and that's what good football players tend to do: Give them the ball, and good things can happen."
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: SEC leader Kentucky football vanquishes Vanderbilt: 3 takeaways