Football Wildcats Fall at No. 1 Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Playing against the top-ranked team in the country, on the road, the Kentucky football team lost to Alabama 34-6 on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Kentucky (2-3, 1-2 SEC) got on the board first, scoring on its first possession of the game for the first time this season. After Alabama turned the ball over on downs, the Wildcats drove to the Crimson Tide 27 yard line. The drive was stopped there, but Austin MacGinnis hit a 45-yard field goal to give Kentucky a 3-0 lead. 

On its next drive, Kentucky drove into Alabama territory before the drive ended on a fumble by quarterback Stephen Johnson.

Alabama took advantage of that turnover with an 11-play, 35-yard drive, resulting in a 44-yard field goal by Adam Griffith to tie the game at 3-3.

After the Wildcats were forced to put, Alabama took the lead on a seven-play, 61-yard drive that ended with a one-yard Joshua Jacobs touchdown, giving the Crimson Tide a 10-3 advantage.

On Kentucky’s next possession, Johnson fumbled, and the Crimson Tide’s Ronnie Harrison scooped up the miscue and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown, increasing Alabama’s lead to 17-3.

After a career-long 61-yard punt by Grant McKinnis, Alabama drove down the field, but the Kentucky defense stood tall, holding the Tide to a field goal attempt that Griffith pulled wide left, keeping the score at 17-3 going into halftime.

Alabama outgained Kentucky 217-74 in the first half, but the Wildcats’ defense was able to come up with enough plays to keep Kentucky in the game in a very tough environment in front of nearly 102,000 fans.

After Kentucky was forced to punt to begin the second half, Alabama extended its lead on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Hurts to Calvin Ridley, making it 24-3 Alabama.

The Crimson Tide took a 34-3 lead in the second half before MacGinnis kicked a 30-yard field goal after a 16-play, 63-yard drive to provide the final margin.

Senior Jojo Kemp rushed 10 times for 39 yards to lead the Wildcats. Freshman Benny Snell carried eight times for 38 yards in the game.

Kentucky returns to action next Saturday against Vanderbilt at Commonwealth Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on SEC Network.