LEXINGTON, Ky. — Keelon Russell passed for 188 yards and a touchdown to help 12th-ranked Alabama beat Kentucky 45-17 on Saturday at Kroger Field in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.
Russell overcame two interceptions in the first half as the Crimson Tide (2-0) overcame a 17-13 halftime deficit, outscoring the Wildcats (1-1) 32-0 in the second half.
“Far from a perfect game,” Alabama third-year head coach Kalen DeBoer said, though he said of the Tide trailing: “It wasn’t this crazy energy that we had to have. I felt like it was kind of almost just getting locked in, getting refocused, and just knowing the game was going to be ours. We’ve just got to go out and execute.”
Alabama won its ninth straight series meeting with Kentucky, a streak that began after the Wildcats posted a 40-34 overtime victory in 1997, ending a 75-year losing streak to the Tide.
Alabama managed just 128 total yards in the first two quarters Saturday, including 5 yards on the ground. Sparked by dual-threat Russell and running back Daniel Hill, Alabama finished with 343 total yards, including 155 on the ground. Hill rushed for 104 yards and scored a touchdown.