Alabama dominated Kentucky on money downs

Third and fourth down situations are often known as money downs in college football. That plays that extend or end drives can often separate the winner from the loser. In Alabama’s 49-21 win over Kentucky in front of 61,936 fans at Kroger Field, the road team came out the big winner in situational football.

Let’s take a close look at the three key third/fourth down situations that allowed Alabama to pull away early and keep Kentucky within arm’s length when things got close to getting tight in the middle of the game.

Jalen Milroe scramble creates Kentucky coverage bust

After a Kentucky three-and-out and a short punt, Alabama got the ball at their own 45 up 7-0 with 7:23 remaining in the first quarter. The Wildcats would create a third-and-12 at the Kentucky 40 following a tackle for loss on second down.

Despite some early adversity, Kentucky had a chance to get a big stop early to get the game back on the tracks. Unfortunately, the coverage busts when Jalen Milroe escapes the pocket to the right.

THROWIN' DIMES!! 👀👀@JalenMilroe ➡️ @showtime1kp

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/PwI3Yc3VC1

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) November 11, 2023

Lined up into as the slot receiver into the field, Kobe Prentice simply runs behind the safety who steps up to cover the No. 2 receiver at the sticks. That leaves the deep threat wide open, and Milroe delivers the ball with accuracy to put the Tide up 14-0 early.

This was a sign of things to come in this football game.

Kentucky falters in the red zone

Trailing 28-7, Devin Leary completed consecutive passes to Dane Key (25 yards) and Brenden Bates (33 yards) to give Kentucky a red zone possession with just over nine minutes remaining in the second quarter. The Wildcats had a chance to climb back into the game.

Liam Coen’s offense would ruin this scoring opportunity.

A first down incompletion followed by a 1-yard second down run put the Wildcats in third-and-long in the high red zone. A Leary dump off to Ray Davis would set up a fourth-and-short. After an Alabama timeout, Kentucky comes out with a heavy set and quick motion before the snap. Leary appears to have Bates wide open in the left flat. Instead, the quarterback looks right. The throw ends as a batted ball as the quarterback attempts to rip a tight window throw to Josh Kattus.

What made this sting even more was that Kentucky would record an interception quickly after to give the offense some more good field position. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to capitalize.

Kentucky had a chance to build a double-digit lead in the Middle 8 that would’ve gotten them right back in the game. They spoiled the opportunity thanks mostly to a misfire on fourth down.

Kentucky’s defense fails to play complementary football

After a 75-yard touchdown drive by Kentucky to start the third quarter cut the lead to 28-14, the defense had a chance to make a big play. After the Tide marched the ball inside the Kentucky 40, another huge third down arrived.

On third-and-12, Kentucky had a chance to get off the field and give the ball to the offense with a chance to make the game a one-possession difference for the first time since the offense’s second possession of the game.

Unfortunately, Kentucky’s defense could not deliver.

On a third-and-long, the Wildcats bring three rushers with Trevin Wallace spying Jalen Milroe. Using a Cover 3 drop in the backend, Maxwell Hairston gets locked onto a target into the boundary and doesn’t get depth. That allows Kobe Prentice to cross the middle field safety’s face and get wide open when the rush does not get home.

Alabama would take a 35-14 lead three plays later. When the big situations arrived on Saturday, Alabama won, and Kentucky lost.