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Auburn football series history: Kentucky

by: Caleb Jones16 hours agoCalebJ_Rivals
Lexington, KY - 20241026 - Auburn Tigers Football vs. Kentucky Wildcats
LEXINGTON, KY - OCTOBER 26 - Auburn Running Back Jarquez Hunter (27) during the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field in Lexington, KY on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

Auburn and Kentucky are set to do battle for the 36th time Saturday.

It’s a series that’s not been kind to Kentucky — Auburn’s dominated the history between the two schools. The Tigers lead the overall series 28-6-1, with the last 60 years overwhelmingly one-sided.

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Early meetings: 1934-1935

The two programs first played in 1934, as Kentucky played host in Lexington to a struggling Auburn team. Kentucky won the first meeting 9-0, but Auburn returned the favor in 1935 with a 23-0 victory in Montgomery.

Conference foes

Beginning in 1954, Auburn and Kentucky faced each other annually until 1971. Kentucky won sporadically throughout the years, but in 1967, Auburn took firm control of the series.

Auburn won 15 straight against Kentucky from 1967 until 2009 and only once did the Wildcats keep it within one possession. The Tigers outscored Kentucky 520-178 throughout the 15-game win streak.

Kentucky finally broke the streak in 2009, upsetting Auburn 21-14 in Jordan Hare Stadium. Auburn entered the game favored and 5-1, but Kentucky ended its own three-game winning streak with the upset. The Wildcats scored two touchdowns with less than seven minutes remaining in game to cap off the victory.

Since then, Auburn’s won the previous four matchups, which occurred once every five years until this season. This weekend marks the first time since 2004-2005 that Auburn and Kentucky play in back-to-back seasons.

Last time out: Tigers run wild over Cats

Auburn trailed early in Lexington last season, down 10-0 after the first quarter before Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter took over the game. Hunter tallied a career-high 278 yards rushing and two touchdowns, as Auburn scored 24 straight to secure its first SEC win of the season.

Both Kayin Lee and Jay Crawford recorded crucial interceptions in the win, with Lee’s interception on fourth-and-goal late in the fourth quarter all but ending it.

Auburn and Kentucky kick off Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. CST on the SEC Network.