Will Stein’s first SEC game as Kentucky’s head coach gave Kroger Field a little of everything: the buzz of a sellout crowd, a first-half jolt from the Wildcats, and then the kind of second-half collapse that reminded everybody how steep the climb is in this league.
Kentucky walked into halftime with a 17-13 lead on No. 12 Alabama after a defense-led opening 30 minutes that had the home crowd believing. But the Crimson Tide erased all of that after the break, shutting out UK 32-0 in the second half and leaving Lexington with a 45-17 win Saturday.
“It sucks, especially being at home with an elite crowd and BBN showing up,” Stein said of the outcome.
The opening half had real juice. Kentucky’s defense forced Alabama’s new starting quarterback, Keelon Russell, into three turnovers before halftime, and one of the biggest early swings came almost immediately. On Alabama’s first offensive possession, Kentucky defensive end Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace tipped a screen pass, gathered it in himself at the Bama 2-yard-line and fell into the end zone for a touchdown that put UK up 7-0 less than four minutes into the game.
“(I got) my hands up, tipped to myself, and I was by the end zone, so I just stuck the ball out,” Humphrey-Grace said.
For a stretch, it felt like Kentucky had the formula to make things uncomfortable. Dating back to 2009, it was the first time in 11 halves between the programs that the Wildcats had outscored Alabama.
But the second half brought the reality check. Alabama’s defense tightened the screws, holding Kentucky to 209 total yards and forcing quarterback Kenny Minchey into two turnovers that turned into Crimson Tide touchdowns. UK managed just 1 of 14 on third-down tries, and over six second-half drives never once crossed into Alabama territory.
“We come out in the second half and just, you know, obviously stalled on offense,” Stein said.
The pressure on Minchey never really let up. Alabama was credited with four sacks, four hurries and six tackles for loss, and Minchey finished 18 of 31 for 146 yards with an interception that became an Alabama pick-six.
“You got to take care of the football,” Stein said of Minchey. “...
(But) listen, the kid competed. He’s our guy.
We’re gonna ride with him no matter what. He’s an elite competitor.
He’s really smart, and there’ll be plenty to learn from the tape.”
Kentucky still had one more gamble in it. After a Minchey lost fumble helped Alabama take a 23-17 lead with three minutes left in the third quarter, Stein dialed up a fake punt from punt formation on fourth-and-3 at the UK 32. Alabama stopped tight end Henry Boyer one yard short of the marker, and two plays later the Tide had stretched the lead to 31-17.
“You play to win the game,” Stein said, channeling his inner Herm Edwards, to explain the fake punt.
The crowd at Kroger Field had already done its part. The game was billed as a “stripe out,” and Kentucky fans mostly pulled off the alternating white-and-blue look even with plenty of Alabama red scattered through the stadium.
Before kickoff, Stein was shown on the video boards embracing honorary game captains Tim Couch and Craig Yeast, the heroes of UK’s 40-34 overtime win over Alabama in 1997. That drew a loud reaction, and the building only got louder after Humphrey-Grace’s touchdown.
Ty Bryant said Kentucky felt like it had set the tone early.
“(I feel like) we did punch them in the mouth first in the first half,” Bryant said. “But we just got to sustain that. That’s it.”
Instead, Alabama sustained the pressure. The Crimson Tide won for the ninth straight time in the series and pushed its all-time edge over Kentucky to 40-2-1. For Stein, who has spent his time since leaving Oregon as offensive coordinator talking up a “new day” in Kentucky football, the night showed both the promise and the harsh edges of the job.
The first half gave him a glimpse of what can happen when Kroger Field is rocking and the defense is landing punches. The second half showed what happens when Alabama starts playing like Alabama.
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Kentuckys Fast Start Vs Alabama Ended In A Brutal Second-Half Collapse
Kentucky looked in control early against No. 12 Alabama, jumping out with a fast start that suggested the Wildcats might be ready to land a statement win. Instead, the game flipped after halftime, when Alabama put together a relentless surge and Kentuckys offense never found its footing again.
The second half was especially rough for the Wildcats, who managed only three first downs and 62 total yards while Alabamas defense kept heat on the quarterback and forced multiple turnovers. Even after a shaky opening stretch, Alabamas quarterback settled down and helped guide the comeback, leaving Kentucky to sort through how a promising start unraveled so quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Showed Whats Still Missing Against Alabama
Kentucky had a rare opening against Alabama at Kroger Field, building a 17-13 halftime lead behind a defense that even found the end zone on MiQuise Humphrey-Graces pick-six. For a half, the Wildcats looked like a team ready to make the Crimson Tide uncomfortable, and Alabama helped them along with several penalties that kept the home side in front heading into the break.
The second half, though, reminded Kentucky how much remains between a promising moment and a complete performance. Alabama scored on five straight possessions after halftime and rolled to a 45-17 win, pushing Kentucky to its 40th loss in 43 meetings with the Crimson Tide. The game was another example of how a good first half can turn quickly when the Wildcats cannot sustain it against an opponent built to punish every opening. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Let Another Alabama Opportunity Slip Away Fast
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Alabama changed the feel of the game quickly after halftime, taking the lead in the third quarter and then pulling away in a hurry. Kentucky never scored again, getting shut out the rest of the way as the Crimson Tide finished with a 45-17 win and left the Wildcats to wonder how quickly a promising afternoon can turn once the margin for error disappears. [Read more 🡒]