Before Kentucky and Alabama meet again in Lexington, the Wildcats’ last win over the Crimson Tide still stands as one of the loudest nights in Commonwealth Stadium history.
It happened on Oct. 4, 1997, and it had been a long time coming. Kentucky had gone 75 years without beating Alabama, carrying a 31-game winless streak against the Crimson Tide that stretched all the way back to a 6-0 Wildcats victory in 1922. By then, whole generations of Kentucky fans had never seen it happen.
That night, though, Kentucky didn’t play like a team carrying that kind of burden. First-year coach Hal Mumme’s group jumped out with confidence, and Tim Couch helped set the tone early with a 62-yard touchdown strike to Derek Homer. Kentucky led 10-7 after the first quarter before Alabama edged in front 14-13 at halftime.
The Wildcats answered in the third quarter. Couch hit Anthony White for a six-yard touchdown, then connected with Kevin Coleman on a 14-yard score to push Kentucky ahead 27-17. Alabama had one more surge left, scoring twice to grab a 31-27 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Then came the play that lives forever in Kentucky lore.
With 6:54 left and Alabama lining up for a 37-yard field goal that would have stretched the lead to seven, David Ginn got a piece of the kick. The ball popped loose, and Anwar Stewart scooped it up and raced 68 yards for a touchdown. Kentucky was suddenly back in front, 34-31.
And yes, that Anwar Stewart. Nearly 30 years later, the man who flipped that game is Kentucky’s defensive line coach, a role he’s held for six seasons.
Alabama still had one more answer. The Crimson Tide hit a field goal with eight seconds left to force overtime at 34-34 and keep the night alive.
In the extra period, Alabama got the first crack, but its only turnover of the game arrived at the worst possible moment. A holding penalty pushed the Tide back, then Chad Goss caught a pass that should have moved the chains before Tremayne Martin hit him and forced a fumble. Kentucky recovered.
That gave Couch and the Wildcats a chance to finish it, and they did. Facing 3rd-and-11 from the Alabama 26, Couch found Craig Yeast near the 10-yard line. Yeast did the rest, carrying it in for the walk-off touchdown that sealed a 40-34 Kentucky win.
Then the celebration took over.
Fans stormed the field, tore down both goalposts and carried them out into the Lexington night. The next morning, the Lexington Herald-Leader put the scene on the front of its sports section with the headline: “It’s post time!”
Nearly 30 years later, that night still matters.
In Other News...
Kentuckys New Offense Just Unlocked A Weapon Fans Havent Seen Enough
Will Stein wasted little time putting his stamp on Kentuckys offense, and one of the clearest signs came through the tight end room. In the season opener, three tight ends combined for nine catches, 140 yards and two touchdowns, a workload and production level that stood out sharply from what the Wildcats had leaned on in recent years under Mark Stoops. It was the kind of shift that gives an offense a different shape, especially for a team trying to find more answers in the passing game.
The encouraging part for Kentucky is that this did not look like a one-off wrinkle. Players and coaches praised the tight ends performance and pointed to their value as real pieces of the system, which suggests Stein sees them as more than just check-down options or red-zone targets. If that usage holds, it could change the way defenses have to prepare for the Wildcats, and it may only be the beginning of how often these weapons show up. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Just Landed A Huge Big Blue Madness Recruiting Opportunity
Big Blue Madness is still a little ways off, but Kentucky already has one of the nights biggest recruiting storylines in place. The Wildcats are set to open the basketball season on Oct. 2, and five-star power forward CJ Rosser is expected to be there, giving Mark Popes staff a prime chance to put Kentucky in front of one of the elite prospects in the 2027 class.
Rosser, ranked No. 2 nationally by 247Sports, brings the kind of profile Kentucky has long targeted at the frontcourt: a 6-foot-10 forward with versatile skills and plenty of upside. He has visits lined up with several schools, but the chance to see the program in one of its most electric settings gives the Wildcats an important early opportunity to make their case and keep building momentum in a recruitment that figures to stay closely watched. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Heads Into Alabama Opener With Big Availability Questions
The first SEC test of the season is already taking shape as both Kentucky and Alabama sort through a long list of availability concerns heading into their Week 2 matchup. The second report of the week left each side dealing with significant uncertainty, with Alabama carrying several players on the out or doubtful lists and Kentucky also trying to piece together who will be ready for a road opener that suddenly looks a lot more complicated than a standard conference debut.
For Kentucky, the biggest concern is the mix of uncertainty along the offensive line and in the secondary, the kind of personnel questions that can change both protection plans and coverage looks in a hurry. Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer has already pointed to the Wildcats' offensive front and his familiarity with Will Stein's schemes, which only adds to the intrigue as both teams try to keep their cards close and survive the week with as many healthy bodies as possible. [Read more 🡒]