Kentucky spent the first half reminding everyone that emotional carryover is real. Then the Wildcats’ ground game took over and turned a shaky afternoon into a 45-21 win over South Alabama at Kroger Field.
Coming off one of the best wins in program history, Kentucky had to guard against a letdown while also avoiding the trap of looking ahead to South Carolina. For much of the first half, that balance wasn’t there. The offense was sluggish, the execution was uneven, and South Alabama was able to hang around long enough to briefly grab the lead early in the second quarter.
Kentucky did get a few sparks from Minchey, including a 20-yard throw to Mikkel Skinner that helped the Wildcats find some rhythm late in the first quarter and get on the board. But the offense went cold again in the second quarter, and a muffed punt return gave South Alabama the kind of break it needed. The Jaguars recovered at the 15-yard line, then a facemask penalty moved them to first and goal before they tied the game.
The Wildcats kept making life harder on themselves. A failed fourth-down conversion and a second turnover on downs added to the mess, and Kentucky was fortunate to reach halftime with a 24-21 edge. An interception in the final minute of the half helped them salvage the lead after a start that looked a lot like a hangover from last week’s win over Texas A&M.
What changed the game was Kentucky’s run game. CJ Baxter had 82 yards by the halfway point of the second quarter, Jovantae Barnes punched in his first touchdown as a Wildcat, and Jason Patterson ripped off 75 yards and a score of his own. Once the second half arrived, Patterson kept it rolling.
Kentucky opened the third quarter with the ball and wasted no time pressing the issue. A 53-yard run by Baxter set the tone, Patterson found the end zone again, and the Wildcats finally broke the game open. From there, the defense did its part and held South Alabama scoreless after halftime.
By the end of it, Kentucky had piled up 383 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground, with Patterson accounting for three of those scores. The final margin reflected a second half that looked nothing like the first. Without the run game, this would have been a very different story.
Now the focus shifts to South Carolina, where Kentucky will try to put together a more complete performance in a hostile setting.
In Other News...
Kentucky Fans Can Exhale After Brief Louisville Recruiting Scare
Tristin Hughes gave Kentucky fans a small scare when his recruitment briefly pointed toward Louisville, but the four-star safety from Rocky River High School in Ohio never really got far off the Wildcats track. Hughes committed to Kentucky in April, and after initially setting an official visit to Louisville, he opted not to take the trip.
For a program trying to keep momentum in its 2027 class, decisions like that matter because they can calm nerves quickly and keep the focus on building around the players already in the fold. Kentuckys class also includes several other prospects with their own positions, rankings and high school backgrounds, giving the Wildcats a group worth following as the cycle develops. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky May Have Found Another Receiving Threat At Last
Kentucky keeps looking for answers in the passing game, and Week 4 offered a small but encouraging sign. Against South Alabama, Shane Carr hauled in his first two catches as a Wildcat, including a 15-yard touchdown from Kenny Minchey in the fourth quarter, while true freshman Kenny Darby stayed involved with three receptions for 43 yards and a 27-yard grab that helped set up a scoring run.
For a Kentucky offense that has leaned on spreading the ball around, those developments matter because every new target changes how defenses have to account for the field. Carrs breakthrough and Darbys early-season emergence give the Wildcats a little more depth at receiver, even as the group continues to sort out who can become a consistent threat week after week. [Read more 🡒]
Rob Dillingham Just Landed In A Spot Kentucky Fans Should Watch
Rob Dillinghams NBA path has already taken another turn, and Kentucky fans have reason to keep an eye on it. The former Wildcats guard, the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, was dealt from the Chicago Bulls to the Charlotte Hornets in a move that sent Buddy Hield and cash the other way. It is the latest change of scenery for a player whose professional career started with Minnesota before he landed in Chicago and began to settle in.
Charlotte could be a meaningful spot for Dillingham because the opportunity looks real. He has one year left on his rookie contract, and the expectation is that he will have a significant role with the Hornets. For Kentucky followers, that makes this more than just another transaction line, since the next stretch of his development may now come with more touches, more responsibility and a clearer chance to show what kind of NBA guard he can become. [Read more 🡒]