Live Updates: Kentucky Wildcats at No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide
Fourth Quarter
- Jase McClellan now in at running back. Seems he's passed Roydell Williams.
- Smith's 33 career TD's is also an SEC receiving record.
- Williams is now in. Maybe he and McClellan are tied for third.
- Williams crashed over from the 2 for the freshman's first collegiate TD. It's 56-3. Scott held on Reichard's PAT. On that 66-yard drive RT Evan Neal moved to LT, Kendall Randolph went to RT and Chris Owens to center.
- There is 9:15 left in the game.
- McMillon had a PBU at linebacker. Patrick Surtain II fair caught a punt.
- Seth McLaughlin and Javion Cohen in with Tommy Brown on the OL. Tanner Bowlees also in on the OL.
- Young receivers Javon Baker, Traeshon Holden and Thaiu Jones-Bell are in.
- McClellan ran for an 19-yard TD. It's 63-3 eith 95 seconds left. 10 plays, 73 yards in 6:44 on the drive. McClellan has 99 yards on 10 carries.
- Final score: Alabama 63, Kentucky 3.
Third Quarter
- Nick Saban at the half.: "We've got a lot of cleaning up to do. We're not playing well."
- Kick returners are Brian Robinson and Slade Bolden.
- on third down Jones hit Smith for 18 to the Tide 46.
- Smith then drew a PI on Yusuf Corker to put the ball at the UK 39.
- Jones then threw an interception to Joseph who returned to the 22.
- Alabama forced a punt and will take over at its 20 after a touchback.
- Jordan Battle's pick six of 45 yards has Bama up 35-3 with10:14 left in the third.
- Dylan Moses is playing without a sleeve on his knee for the tirst time in 2020.
- Former Auburn player Joey Gatewood is in at quarervback for Kentucky.
- DeVonta Smith replaced Bolden deep on punts. He returned it to the UK 29, a 41-yard return.
- Jordan Nichols of Kentucky left with an injury.
- Brian Robinson in for Harris at RB.
- Jones hit Smith for a first down to the Cats 17.
- Robinson drug tacklers 11 lyards to the 6. After a 5-yard swing pass to Smith, Robinson ran it in from the 1 behindMcMillon. Bama is up 42-3 with 6:43 left in the third period. Drive was 29 yards, seven plays.
- Bryce Young in at QB. He hits Smith for a first down and UK is penalized for roughing Young.
- Two Harris runs of 10 and eight yards have the ball at the 8.
- After a sack and an offsides, Young hit Smith for an 18-yard TD, the first of Young's career. It's 49-3. There's 1:42 left in the third.
- Chase Allen is now kicking off for Alabama. Reichard may have leg fatigue.
- Third team man Beau Allen in at QB for Kentucky. He got sacked by Christian Harris and Chris Allen on consecutive plays.
- End of three: Bama 49-3 over UK.
Second Quarter
- Kentucky is threatening inside the Tide 10.
- A botched field goal snap gave Alabama the ball at it's own 42.
- Billingsley struck again with a catch at Kentucky's 28.
- UK's Phil Hoskins was called for roughing the passer and Bama is at the UK 10.
- Jones hit DeVonta Smith for a touchdown of 11 yards. Bama now leads 14-3 with 10:12 to go in the half. Drive was 58 yards, four plays in 1:52.
- Smith now has 32 career TD catches surpassing Amari Cooper for the school record.
- Wilson hit Isaiah Epps to the Tide 41 for 21 yards and a first down.
- Keaton Upshaw caught a third down pass to keep a drive alive. Mde 14 yards.
- Ruffolo tried a 42-yard field goal and missed. Still 14-3 Tide with 5:37 left in the half.
- Fun fact: Alabama softball seniors Elissa Brown and Krystal Goodman are working the game as interns for UA Media Relations today.
- Jones hit Smith for a first down for 18 yards to the 44.
- Harris ran for a first down and 14 yards to the 42 of UK. He then scored from 42 UK was called for an illegal substitution. Penalty declined, touchdown. Reichard has still not missed a kick the Tide is up 21-3 with 4:02 left in the half.
- That 42-yard TD run by Harris was a career long rush for him.Drive was 75 yards in 5 plays.
- Bakup QB Bryce Young is warming up on the sidelines.
- Harris' previous long carry was 39 yards at Ole Miss this year.
- Slade Bolden returned a punt three yards and Bama takes over at its 29.
- Bolden caught a Jones pass for nine and a first at the 46. He then found Billingsley for 17 to the Cat's 38. There is 1:12 to go in the half.
- Defensive back Kelvin Joseph is down with an injury for Kentucky.
- Smith caught a pass from Jones to the 18 for 19 yards.
- John Metchie caught an 18-yard TD pass from Jones with 46 seconds left in the half. Reichard kicked it to 28-3. Drive was six plays, 71 yards, 96 seconds.
- Alabama leads Kentucky 28-3 at the half.
First Quarter
- Alabama won the toss and deferred. Tide captains: DeVonta Smith, Landon Dickerson aqnd Dylan Moses.
- Today's officials are Referee Ken Williamson, Umpire Walt Hill, Linesman Walter Flowers, Line Judge Mickey Bryson, Back Judge Hill, Field Judge D. Gautresux, Side Judge Bryan Murphy and Center Judge Scott Walker4.
- Slade Bolden returned a punt 16 yards and the Tide will start at it's own 45.
- Mac Jones hiit Jahleel Billingsley for 34 yards to the UK 21.
- DeVonta Smith went 16 to the 4 on a jet sweep.
- Josh Mcillon at fullback led Najee Harris a yard for a touchdown. Reichard's PAT makde it 7-0 Tide with 10:07 to go in the first. Six plays, 55 yards on the drive.
- A 33-yard pass from Terry Wilson to Josh Ali has the Wildcats threatening at the Tide 3-yard line.
- Penalties stalled the Wildcat drive. Matt Ruffalo's 33-yard field goal has UK on the board. Bama leads 7-3 with 5:19 left in the quarter. Eight plays, 53 yard drive.
- After his head hit Harris' knee, Cat's DB Tyrell Ajian left with an injury.
- Charlie Scott is again Alabama's punter today.
- Kentucky receiver DeMarcus Harris hit his head on the ground is is down. Alabama's Patrick Surtain was called for interference on the play. UK ball at Tide 37.
- End of one: Alabama 7, Kentucky 3. Wildcats are at the Tide 20.
Pregame
- Alabama appears to be missing several depth players, including third-string quarterback Paul Tyson.
- Specialists are on the field at Bryant-Denny warming up, including punter Ty Perine, receivers Javon Baker and Traeshon Holden, and starting receiver John Metchie.
- We know Mac Jones is starting holder on kicks. Based on warm-ups, Charlie Scott is his backup.
- Starter Will Reichard and backup Joseph Bulovas are both warming up placekicking.
- Game captains; Landon Dickerson, DeVonta Smith and Dylan Moses.
- LaBryan Ray is in pads and out on the field warming up with the team. It appears he will be back after missing three games due to an elbow injury.
- Braxton Barker is the third-string quarterback.
Game Preview
Undefeated Alabama football rolls into Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday afternoon in Bryant-Denny Stadium to take on the Kentucky Wildcats after two weekends off.
The last game the Crimson Tide played was on Oct. 31 against Mississippi State, a 41-0 victory in favor of Alabama. Since that date, the Crimson Tide took its bye week, but then had its game at LSU postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests on the Tigers roster.
Alabama will look to shake the dust off and handle Kentucky with its high-flying offense and consistently improving defense.
The Wildcats enter Saturday's game with an overall record of 3-4. Last Saturday in Lexington, Kentucky struggled to pull away against Vanderbilt. The Wildcats ultimately won the game 38-35, but their defense was unable to stop a less-than-stellar offensive attack from the Commodores.
Here is some information regarding Saturday's game. Update this page throughout the day for live updates, stats and analysis from Bama Central at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium
When: 3 p.m. (CT)
TV: SEC Network
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Eli Gold, Analyst: John Parker Wilson, Sideline: Rashad Johnson, Host: Chris Stewart) CTSN
Weather forecast: Sunny, high of 73, 64-percent humidity, winds light and variable.
Last meeting: Jalen Hurts threw two third-quarter touchdown passes to Calvin Ridley, and safety Ronnie Harrison scored on a 55-yard fumble return as Alabama won its 2016 SEC home opener against Kentucky, 34-6. Freshman tailback Joshua Jacobs rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown in his first start.
The series: Alabama leads the series with Kentucky, 37-2-1. The two teams first met on Nov. 17, 1917, with Thomas Kelley’s Crimson Tide squad posting a 27-0 win in Lexington. UA and UK met every year from 1922-47, with the exception of 1943 when the Crimson Tide did not field a team due to World War II. Since then, the Tide and Wildcats have met just 13 times. Kentucky has not beaten Alabama since Tim Couch led the Cats to a 40-34 overtime win in 1997. Alabama and Kentucky have met at five different sites, including Birmingham, Lexington, Louisville, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide is 21-0-1 all-time against the Wildcats in the state of Alabama, including a 10-0 record in Tuscaloosa.
Saban vs. Kentucky: Nick Saban is 7-0 in his career against Kentucky and owns a 4-0 mark against the Wildcats while at Alabama.
Of note: This is the third straight time Kentucky is facing Alabama when the Crimson Tide was ranked No. 1.
Mark Stoops' brother Mike is an Alabama analyst. Mark was Mike's defensive coordinator at Arizona from 2004-9.
This game was not originally on the 2020 schedule, but added when the SEC went with a 10-game league-only schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This story will be continually updated throughout the course of the game.