Kentucky football found a way to turn a difficult start into a convincing 45-21 victory over South Alabama on Saturday, and offensive coordinator Will Stein’s adjustments played an important role in helping the Wildcats regain control.
Kentucky entered the game coming off an impressive victory over No. 9 Texas A&M, but the Wildcats struggled to find the same rhythm early against South Alabama. The Jaguars took advantage of Kentucky’s slow start and built a 21-14 lead.
Rather than allowing the game to continue slipping away, Kentucky began leaning heavily into what was working: its running game.
The Wildcats scored the final 10 points of the first half to take a 24-21 advantage into halftime. From that point forward, Kentucky’s offense became increasingly difficult for South Alabama to handle.
The running back room was at the center of the turnaround.
C.J. Baxter rushed 16 times for 149 yards and a touchdown, while Jason Patterson delivered 137 yards and three touchdowns on only 12 carries. Patterson also broke loose for a spectacular 75-yard touchdown run late in the first half.
Jovantae Barnes added another 100-yard performance, rushing eight times for 100 yards and a touchdown.
Together, the three backs produced 386 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
That production also gave Kentucky an important advantage: it allowed the Wildcats to control the game on the ground and take pressure off quarterback Kenny Minchey.
The adjustment was particularly important after Kentucky struggled to establish itself early. Instead of relying entirely on the passing game, the Wildcats repeatedly put the ball in the hands of their playmakers in the backfield.
The result was a dramatic change in momentum.
Kentucky eventually pulled away from South Alabama, turning a seven-point deficit into a 24-point victory. The Wildcats also accomplished something they had not done since 2020, when three Kentucky players each rushed for more than 100 yards in the same game against Ole Miss.
While the victory was impressive, Kentucky still has areas to address.
Minchey will need to become more consistent through the air as the Wildcats move deeper into SEC play. Kentucky’s running backs may have dominated against South Alabama, but producing nearly 400 rushing yards every week is not a realistic expectation.
Still, the response after falling behind 21-14 was significant.
Stein and the Kentucky offense found a way to adjust, establish the ground game and put the Wildcats back in control. What initially looked like a potential problem turned into another 45-point performance and a second consecutive victory.
Now Kentucky will turn its attention to South Carolina, where the Wildcats will look to carry that momentum into another SEC matchup.
