Kentucky Offense Limps as Auburn Rolls to a 24-10 Win

The Kentucky offense is not good at much of anything. In a loss to Auburn, they proved there is only one thing they do consistently — get to the 2-yard line and score zero points. It happened for the third straight week during the 24-10 loss to Auburn.

Kentucky actually built up a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, but it was all for not. After holding Auburn to -8 rushing yards in the first quarter, Jarquez Hunter ran wild. The preseason All-SEC running back gained a career-high 278 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns to dig the Tigers out of the hole and score 24 unanswered points.

While Hunter ran wild, the Kentucky offense played every possible card in the deck. Brock Vandagriff was benched for Gavin Wimsatt in the second half. It did not provide a spark the offense desperately needed. The two quarterbacks combined to complete 12-27 passes for 154 yards and two interceptions. The Wildcats only gained 224 yards of total offense and 115 of those yards came in the first quarter.

Kentucky has now lost seven straight SEC games at Kroger Field, dating back to Ray Davis‘ 280-yard performance last September against Florida. UK season-ticket holders will not see an SEC victory in 2024. The Cats are now 3-5 and 15th in the SEC with a 1-5 record. There is no light in sight at the end of this tunnel of offensive ineptitude.

Kentucky Misses First Half Killshot

It was an uncharacteristic fast start for the Wildcats. Kentucky got the ball first and quickly picked up a pair of first downs before the drive stalled in field goal range. An Auburn three-and-out opened the door for Kentucky. Dane Key hauled in a 34-yard reception and Jason Patterson rushed for 23 yards, setting up a Jamarion Wilcox touchdown.

For the first time in SEC play, Kentucky had a two-score lead. On the following possession, Payton Thorne gave the Cats a chance to make it a three-score lead. J.Q. Hardaway picked off the errant pass, his third forced turnover of the season, to give the offense the ball on the Auburn 40-yard line. Instead of landing a haymaker and taking a three-score lead, Kentucky lost nine yards and had to punt three plays later.

Huge Two-Play Swing

Kentucky let the Tigers linger around for too long in the first half. Even so, the Cats could keep the upper hand in a 10-7 game with a quality offensive possession. Bush Hamdan dialed up a shot to Key down the sideline and Brock Vandagriff threw a perfect pass. Auburn defended it well and Key couldn’t haul it in near the 30-yard line.

On the very next play, Vandagriff was well off-target on a back-shoulder throw to Barion Brown and Auburn’s Jay Crawford picked off the pass. Instead of extending the lead over Auburn, the Tigers turned the interception into three points and a tie ballgame.

Auburn Trick Play Gone Wrong

The Tigers seemingly could do no wrong. They were running the ball at will through the Kentucky defense. A 50-yard run by Hunter in the third quarter was the catalyst that put the Tigers in the red zone. That’s when Hugh Freeze decided to make it hard on his team.

Auburn went to the air, then tried to get tricky on third and five. Kentucky snuffed out the reverse pass and Thorne was forced to throw it away. Here’s the thing — Thorne couldn’t throw the ball away legally because he didn’t take the snap. Intentional grounding backed up Auburn just far enough to miss a 47-yard field goal attempt and keep the Kentucky deficit within seven points.

The Kentucky Tries Wimsatt While Defensive Dam Breaks

The game was still within reach when Kentucky decided to give Gavin Wimsatt an opportunity to lead the inept offense full-time. The first series was a three-and-out after a gain of only one yard. Wimsatt moved the sticks on the following possession on a deep ball that drew a pass interference penalty, but nothing was sustained.

Meanwhile, Auburn leaned on the Kentucky defense. The running game was demoralizing until the dam broke early in the fourth quarter. On a third and short, Hunter broke free for a 45-yard touchdown, giving Auburn an insurmountable two-score lead.

Nobody would describe the defensive performance as great. However, a blind person could see the stress the offense put on the defense. They held on for three quarters but you have to score points to win football games. The Kentucky offense just can’t do it.

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Kentucky vs. Auburn Box Score