KSR Gameday: Kentucky Hosts No. 8 Alabama on Senior Day

Wake up, Big Blue Nation. This could be a day you remember for the rest of your life. For the 2023 season finale at Kroger Field, Kentucky will try to knock off the Alabama Crimson Tide for just the third time in program history.

Nick Saban is returning to Lexington right when it appears his team has turned a corner. After a rocky start to the season, Jalen Milroe and the Alabama offense have found their groove. Fresh off back-to-back rivalry wins, including an impressive 42-28 W over LSU, Saban said it’s his team’s “most complete game” to date.

“They’ve just found comfort and consistency in what they want to do. They’ve sort of found their identity,” said Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White. “We’ve talked about that from the start to where we are. Every team is different. Every team identity is a little different. I think it just took them a little while to find that.”

The Kentucky defense rediscovered its identity by limiting Mississippi State to three points and 3.3 yards per play. The Wildcats snapped a three-game losing streak with a win in Starkville, the first for the program since 2008. Devin Leary was injured in the victory, but is preparing to play on Saturday. Meanwhile, Alabama will likely be without two of their top three tacklers, LB Deontae Lawson and S Jaylen Key.

Mark Stoops has struggled to get his teams up for games against Top 10 opponents. The Wildcats are still searching for a signature win to “fix our legacy for this year.” An upset this afternoon would certainly create a legacy the Big Blue Nation would not soon forget.

Kentucky Football Gameday Schedule

• 7:00: Kroger Field Tailgate Lots Open
• 8:00: KSR Pregame Show on 630 WLAP
• 9:00: KSBar and Grille opens for breakfast and a Toy Drive for Military families
• 9:00: Marty and McGee LIVE from outside the Joe Craft Football Training Facility
• 9:45: The Cat Walk
• 10:00: SEC Nation
• 11:40: Senior Day ceremonies
• 11:55: Kroger Field crowd sings the National Anthem
• Noon: Kickoff on ESPN

How to Watch Kentucky vs. Alabama

For the second time this year, the Cats are getting the four-letter network’s B-crew for a Noon kickoff. Joe Tessitore, Jordan Rodgers and Katie George are on the call for ESPN. If you can’t attend the game or stream the Cats, you can always listen to the Voice of the Wildcats, Tom Leach, and Jeff Piecoro.

• AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
• FM: 98.1 WBUL
• Satellite: Sirius 134 or 191

Kentucky vs. Alabama Gambling Angles on FanDuel

Alabama is a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 46.5 at FanDuel. The over has been a big winner for each team, with the two combining to go 10-3 against power conference foes. Alabama is 4-8 against the spread (ATS) as a road favorite since 2021 with three outright losses as a touchdown-plus favorite. Kentucky is 5-1-1 ATS as a touchdown-plus home dog since 2018 with three outright upsets.

You can get in on the action with our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook, America’s No. 1 Sportsbook. Head on over to FanDuel.com/kysports. New customers get $150 in BONUS BETS with any winning $5 moneyline bet.

Senior Day at Kroger Field

Kentucky will salute those who served on Veterans Day and 20 seniors who are playing their final game at Kroger Field, with a disclaimer. Many of the players participating, like D’Eryk Jackson and Dru Phillips, will be joined by their families on the field but are eligible to use a COVID-19 waiver for another season in Lexington. Five players on this year’s squad went through Senior Day ceremonies a year ago.

Kentucky is 6-4 on Senior Day in the Stoops era, 6-1 since 2016. The festivities will begin approximately 20 minutes before kickoff.

Wear Blue and Arrive Early

It’s mentioned in the schedule, but you may have just scrolled right by it. The University of Kentucky is asking you to arrive early to sing the National Anthem. If you’ve never been in attendance when Everett McCorvey leads 60,000 people to sing the Star Spangled Banner together, it’s unlike any other sporting event experience.

The school is also asking fans to wear blue, but the Cats will not. Only blue lids will be worn with this new alternate look.

Kentucky will debut new gray jerseys tomorrow vs. No. 8 Alabama.

Thoughts, #BBN? pic.twitter.com/6lP8uYorX4

— KSR (@KSRonX) November 10, 2023

Follow @KSRonX, KSR’s official Twitter/X account, for all the latest Kentucky Wildcats news, videos, and content.

College Football on TV

No. 3 Michigan at No. 10 Penn State | 12 p.m. | FOX
No. 8 Alabama at Kentucky | 12 p.m. | ESPN
Georgia Tech at Clemson| 12 p.m.| ABC
Texas Tech at No. 16 Kansas | 12 p.m. | FS1
Tulsa at No. 23 Tulane | 12 p.m. | ESPN2
Vanderbilt at South Carolina | 12 p.m. | SEC Network
NC State at Wake Forest | 2 p.m. | CW Network
Rutgers at No. 22 Iowa | 3:30 p.m. | BTN
Miami (Fla.) at No. 4 Florida State| 3:30 p.m. | ABC
No. 18 Utah at No. 5 Washington | 3:30 p.m. | FOX
Minnesota at Purdue | 3:30 p.m. | NBC
Northwestern at Wisconsin | 3:30 p.m. | FS1
No. 13 Tennessee at No. 14 Missouri | 3:30 p.m. | CBS
No. 15 Oklahoma State at UCF | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Auburn at Arkansas | 4 p.m. | SEC Network
Washington State at Cal | 4 p.m. | ESPN2
West Virginia at No. 17 Oklahoma | 7 p.m. | FOX
Cincinnati at Houston | 7 p.m. | FS1
San Diego State at Colorado State | 7 p.m. | CBSSN
No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 2 Georgia| 7 p.m. | ESPN
No. 7 Texas at TCU | 7:30 p.m. | ABC
Florida at No. 19 LSU | 7:30 p.m. | SECN
Michigan State at No. 1 Ohio State | 7:30 p.m. | NBC
Mississippi State at Texas A&M | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN2
Duke at No. 24 North Carolina | 8 p.m. | ACCN
New Mexico at Boise State | 10 p.m. | FS1
Iowa State at BYU | 10:15 p.m. | ESPN
USC at No. 6 Oregon | 10:30 p.m. | FOX
Fresno State at San Jose State | 10:30 p.m. | CBSSN

Subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for press conferences, interviews, original shows, fan features, and exclusive content.

Kentucky Basketball Records Win No. 2

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: the Wildcats had a sluggish start in a November basketball game against a bad non-conference opponent at Rupp Arena. Kentucky dug itself into an 8-0 hole and trailed by as many as 13 points.

The Cats woke up just before the second media timeout by going on a 19-3 run to retake the lead and never looked back. Kentucky ran away with an 81-61 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce. Five players scored in double figures, led by 21 points on five three-pointers from Antonio Reeves.

Did Kenny Payne Win that Game?

No, he did not.

After escaping with a win by the skin of their teeth in the season-opener against UMBC, the Cardinals weren’t quite as fortunate against the Mocs. UT-Chattanooga knocked down 14 three pointers to take down Louisville 81-71 at the KFC Yum! Center. The loss should be a stunning upset, but really it’s just another day that ends in y.

Kentucky WBB in action at Rupp Arena

The Rupp Arena lights will not get to take too much time. A couple hours after the football game ends, Kyra Elzy’s Cats will play their first regular season home game at Rupp Arena. Tip-off against USC-Upstate is set for 6 pm EST and you can stream all of the action on SEC Network+.

Want more coverage of the Cats? Join the KSR Club.

Folks, if you enjoy reading Kentucky Sports Radio everyday, you’re only scratching the surface. You could be discussing Tom Green in the middle of a 20-point basketball win or debating punting styles in-between significant football recruiting scoop. It’s a beautiful world we’ve created on KSBoard and right now you can enjoy for a year with half-priced admission. Just $1 gets you one month of access, and with the Alabama game coming up, we’re taking 50% off the annual price. The internet isn’t always a great place, but the club we’ve created is pretty awesome. Check it out now with this discounted price before it’s gone.