This defense now has 13 takeaways in six games. It’s allowing fewer than 270 yards per game. And it keeps giving the offense opportunities — whether the points come fast or slow.

But the problem with the Cardinals — after an exhaustive taste test — isn’t the ice cream. It’s the specks. The small, foul, momentum-killing specks.

The Wildcats fell to the Rebels 30-23, dropping a game they had every chance to take — but never quite seized.