Vanderbilt Snaps 26-Game SEC Losing Streak in 24-21 Win over Kentucky
The singing of Saturday’s National Anthem at Kroger Field was stopped, restarted and lines were eventually skipped before ultimately reaching the finish line. It was a sign of what was to come between No. 24 Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
Playing in wintry conditions with rain and snow swirling in the Central Kentucky wind, Kentucky fell flat in a 24-21 loss. The win snapped Vanderbilt’s 26-game SEC losing streak and was the Commodores’ first win over the Wildcats since 2015.
Facing the worst scoring defense in the SEC (125th in FBS), the Wildcats were inside the 30-yard line five times and turned it into only 15 points.
Kentucky’s first appearance in scoring territory was thanks to a forced fumble by J.J. Weaver. The Wildcats went three-and-out (one of three three-and-outs in only nine drives) and kicked a field goal. The second drive Rich Scangarello dialed up was much more promising, but stalled out on the 9-yard line after 15 plays. A goal line interception by Keidron Smith appeared to give the Cats momentum. Once Kentucky returned to the red zone, so did the mistakes. Will Levis was sacked twice and Matt Ruffolo’s go-ahead field goal was blocked. After Vanderbilt took a 14-6 lead, the Wildcats got it inside the opponent’s 30-yard line in only four plays. Once again, a Levis sack forced Ruffolo to kick a field goal.
The fifth time was the charm for the Wildcats. A fourth down stop by Trevin Wallace gave Kentucky an opportunity to take the lead. UK put the ball in Chris Rodriguez’s hands and he went right to work, leaping over a defender, then carrying more across the Kroger Field turf. JuTahn McClain’s 28-yard run got Kentucky back into the red zone and Rodriguez delivered a 5-yard rushing score. Levis was sacked, again, on the two-point conversion attempt, a play that proved to be costly.
The touchdown did not deter Vanderbilt and Mike Wright. The Vanderbilt QB looked like Lamar Jackson (126 rushing yards, 184 passing, 2 TDs), running all over the Kentucky defense to extend drives. Entering the game Kentucky’s third-down defense ranked 13th nationally, while Vanderbilt’s offense ranked 13th in the SEC on third down. The Commodores converted 11-of-17 third downs, including a few especially aggravating ones on a 12-play, 67-yard scoring drive that ended with a chip shot field goal to retake the lead.
It did not last for long, thanks to Chris Rodriguez. On the first play from scrimmage, he broke free and evaded two final defenders down the stretch to score a 72-yard touchdown. Now No. 3 on UK’s all-time rushing list, he finished the day with 162 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.
Ty Ajian was ready to deliver a dagger. He picked off a pass on fourth down that would have effectively ended the game, but Octavious Oxendine was flagged for illegal hands to the face, keeping the Commodores’ final drive alive. Three plays later, Carrington Valentine was injured. Redshirt freshman Maxwell Hairston entered the game on fourth and 11 and Vanderbilt went right after him, gaining 40 yards down the far sideline to get the ball to the UK 10-yard line. Wright connected with Will Sheppard for an 8-yard score with only 32 seconds left on the clock.
Kentucky climbed the SEC East ladder on the backs of wins over Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Missouri. UK had not lost to two of these schools in the same season since 2013, Mark Stoops’ first. A season once filled with high hopes has turned into a disaster.
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