Field Level Media
Nov 21, 2020
Top-ranked Alabama scored 56 unanswered points and coasted to a 63-3 win over short-handed Kentucky on Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Mac Jones threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns before being replaced in the third quarter with the outcome not in doubt, and DeVonta Smith caught two touchdowns as part of nine catches for 144 yards.
Smith set the SEC record for most touchdown catches in a career with Nos. 32 and 33. Former Crimson Tide receiver Amari Cooper (2012-14) and Florida's Chris Doering (1992-95) held the old mark of 31.
Running back Najee Harris added 83 rushing yards and a pair of scores. The Crimson Tide (7-0, 7-0 SEC) have scored 35 or more points in 20 straight games, the longest streak in major college football history.
Alabama, playing its first game in three weeks, has 96 straight wins over unranked teams, 30 straight wins over SEC East opponents and seven in a row against the Wildcats, and is 38-2-1 all-time against Kentucky.
Freshman Bryce Jones came off the bench to throw his first career college touchdown pass, zipping the ball into a tight space to Smith for an 18-yard scoring play with 1:42 to go in the third quarter.
Roydell Williams, Jase McClellan and Brian Robinson Jr. added rushing touchdowns for the Tide. Alabama racked up 509 yards of total offense, with McClellan leading the ground attack with 99 yards on 10 carries.
McClellan had 71 of his yards on the final drive of the game for Alabama.
The Wildcats (3-5, 3-5) had just 179 total yards.
Kentucky looked like it might make things interesting early, driving for a field goal on its second possession of the game. But they were never able to score again, with three drives ending in a turnover on downs, an interception and an interception returned for a touchdown by Alabama's Jordan Battle early in the third quarter to give the Tide a 35-3 lead.
Terry Wilson threw for 120 yards on 10-of-19 passing and Asim Rose had 10 carries for 68 yards to lead Kentucky, which was dealing with the loss of some key players due to COVID-19 and contact tracing. The school didn't divulge the number of players affected.
--Field Level Media