Auburn comes back from a slow state to defeat Kentucky for the Tigers' first SEC win

October 26, 2024 – LEXINGTON, KY - the Auburn University football team defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 10 to 24 after trailing 10 to nothing in a game that was not really that close.

Auburn has not been horrible this year. Arguably this is the most talented Auburn team that has taken the field in these last four years since the powers that be at Auburn inexplicably let go of Gus Malzahn. At points in every game these Auburn Tigers have played very good football – but they just have not done it for the entire football game. Whether it was turnovers, poor play calling, worse execution, errors in the pass protection, poorly thrown passes, or fumbles the 2024 Auburn team has found different ways to lose games – until Saturday in Lexington.

Auburn was just better than Kentucky. After a slow start the Auburn defense stifled any hope that Kentucky was going to get its offense on track and the offense pounded the ball inside against Kentucky's front seven with a steady dose of Senior Running Back Jarquez Hunter and Senior Quarterback Payton Thorne for 326 yards rushing. The defense meanwhile held Kentucky to just 70 yards rushing Thorne also made key plays in the passing game finding the open receiver to keep drives alive. Thorne had 20 completions on just 26 attempts for 172 yards and a touchdown. Auburn dominated the time of possession 35.7 minutes to 24.3 for Kentucky.

Kentucky got out to a ten-point lead in the first quarter; but after that point the Auburn defense stifled any momentum by the Kentucky offense. Auburn got on the score board in the second quarter with a six yard Thorne touchdown pass to K. Lambert-Smith. Auburn tied the game with a field goal for a half time score of 10 to 10. Hunter gave Auburn their first lead on a one yard run 7:53 into the third quarter. Hunter followed that up with a 44-yard run for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Hunter had the best game of his career with 278 yards rushing on 23 carries for a gaudy 12.1 yards per carry.

The win improves Auburn to 1 and 4 in the Southeastern Conference and 3 and 5 for the season. This win keeps Auburn's hopes of going to a bowl game in 2024 alive if they can win three of their last four games.

This is head Coach Hugh Freeze's second year at Auburn. This win reduces some of the pressure on Freeze and produces a lot of positive momentum that should carry over to both next week's game and recruiting.

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