The Auburn Tigers are looking to bounce back after last week's narrow loss to Missouri, leaving them still searching for their first SEC victory. Now sitting at 2-5 overall and 0-4 in conference play, the Tigers head to Lexington, Ky. to take on a Kentucky squad that's 3-4 overall and 1-4 in the SEC.
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops is known for having a good defense but has not been able to find the right quarterbacks to lead the offense all the time. Brock Vandagriff, the former Georgia backup quarterback, is not having the season he expected to have as a Wildcat. Beside the team's lone SEC win against the Ole Miss Rebels, the Wildcats have struggled in SEC play.
Players to Watch
Kentucky:
Deone Walker (DL)
Walker is a force on the defensive line and coaches knew that going into the season. He was ranked 40th overall in the top 150 college football players in the 2024 season by CBS sports. He has 25 total tackles on the season with 0.5 sacks.
Brock Vandagriff (QB)
Vandagriff is having a similar year to Payton Thorne statistically speaking. He has thrown for over 1,000 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions. If he can replicate the kind of game he had against the Rebels however, he will be a threat to the Tiger defense.
Dane Key (WR)
Key has been the leading wide receiver for the Wildcats this season, overtaking Barion Brown who held the honor last season. He has over 500 total receiving yards on the year with a couple touchdowns. The duo of Key and Brown is something the Auburn secondary is going to have to lock down to keep the Wildcats from having explosive plays.
Auburn:
Keandre Lambert-Smith (WR)
Lambert-Smith has been Auburn’s top wide receiver this year, leading the team in touchdowns and receiving yards. He has been the veteran of the Tiger receiving room and it has shown in the conference games, and he’s been the main playmaker besides Jarquez Hunter on the offense.
Keionte Scott (DB)
Scott will need to step up his play in this one if the Tigers are going to come out of Lexington, Ky. with a win. He has struggled in tight game situations or just staying on his designated man. Scott will need to maintain focus in locking down his assignment so there will not be any wide-open wide receivers catching a third down pass or touchdown.
Payton Thorne (QB)
Thorne has struggled this season, and his challenges have included missing open receivers and making questionable decisions in run-pass option (RPO) plays. As the season progresses, it's crucial for Thorne to improve his decision-making, especially in high-pressure moments that could define close games—similar to the nail-biter against Missouri.
Keys to Victory
Kentucky:
The Wildcats will need to rely heavily on their defense, which has kept them competitive in tight matchups all season. If they can replicate the defensive intensity shown against Ole Miss or Georgia, they have a strong chance to come away with a victory. With tough road games at Tennessee and Texas looming, this might be Stoops’ best shot at securing another SEC win. A victory here is crucial if the Wildcats hope to remain in contention for bowl eligibility, so Stoops will ensure his team is prepared for the challenge.
Auburn:
The Tigers have won their past three matchups against Kentucky and will need their defense to carry the weight it has all season. Let the run game take care of itself and give Hunter more carries in the first half.
The Tigers' offensive strength lies in their ground game, not their passing. However, targeting the middle of the field in the passing game could open up opportunities for explosive plays, particularly for Lambert-Smith.
Consistency over all four quarters is crucial for the Tigers, who have struggled to close out games this season. The defense tends to falter late, while the offense often stalls in the fourth quarter. Key moments—like third- or fourth-down stops and converting on short-yardage situations—will be pivotal if the Tigers hope to stay competitive. Making those critical plays when it matters most could be the difference between a win and another late-game collapse.
Auburn heads to Kentucky on Saturday, Oct. 26 to face the Wildcats. Kickoff is set for 6:45 p.m. CST and will be televised on SEC Network.
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William Halliday is a junior journalism major from Memphis, Tennessee. He started with the Plainsman in fall 2022.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @wphalliday3
