The Cats opened the season, and the Will Stein Era, with a 45-13 win over Youngstown State on Sept. 5. Quarterback Kenny Minchey, making his first career start after transferring from Notre Dame, threw for 301 yards and four touchdowns in the win. UK had 506 yards of total offense in the win.
Alabama beat East Carolina 48-10 in its season opener last weekend in Tuscaloosa. Quarterback Keelon Russell had a big game for the Tide, passing for 256 yards and rushing for 86 more and a touchdown.
Kentucky and Alabama have not met on the gridiron since 2020. One of UK’s most memorable victories came in 1997 when Tim Couch connected with Craig Yeast for a touchdown in overtime to lift the Cats past the Tide 40-34. Couch and Yeast will serve as honorary captains for Saturday’s game.
The SEC opener is obviously a big step up in competition for the Cats, but Stein and his staff are trying to keep things simple for the UK players.
“Do your job. One play at a time, one-play focus, relentless effort, play connected, play tough, play to our standard,” Stein said. “It’s about us.”
Some things coaches and players can't control in a particular game, and Stein wants his team to focus only on what they can.
“At the end of the day, what can we do to control what we can control,” Stein said. “That’s how we do it. We don’t make it bigger than what it is. We have a football game to play. We have a job to do.”
While the operation was generally clean on Saturday against Youngstown State, there was one sequence that Stein was not happy about, and something that he doesn’t want to see from his team again.
“There was an instance, really late in the second quarter, early third (quarter) where I felt like we just kind of had a lull and we weren’t executing to our potential,” Stein said. “To me, attack mode doesn’t stop. On offense, on defense, on special teams. We’ve got to be at our best.”
Alabama will be coming to Lexington for the first time since 2013. Stein and the Cats are excited about opening league play against the Tide.
“We’re excited,” Stein said. “This is our first SEC game at home here in Kroger Field. Really excited about Big Blue Nation.”
Stein had a challenge for Saturday’s crowd.
“We have to make this the loudest game in the history of Kentucky football,” Stein said. “That’s my goal for our fans. The loudest it has ever been. And we need them to be at their best. I want people in the stands for pregame. Get in there, make it disruptive for them as they get here. And then, when the ball is kicked, everybody in their seats, cheering as loud as they humanly can.”
Kentucky and Alabama have met 42 times on the gridiron, with Kentucky winning twice (1922 and 1997). Stein and the Cats are hoping that elite execution and a great home crowd can help Kentucky add another win against the Tide.