Self-inflicted wounds piled up to derail a promising start for Kentucky in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and those coupled with a listless second-half showing added up to another big victory for the nation's No. 1 team and the Cats' worst loss under head coach Mark Stoops.
Alabama defeated UK, 63-3, behind an exemplary showing by standout receiver DeVonta Smith, who during the game set a league record for career touchdown receptions (now 33). He racked up 144 yards and caught two touchdowns for the Crimson Tide, who improved to 7-0 three weeks following their most recent game.
Before Saturday, Kentucky's largest margin of defeat under Stoops was a 59-17 loss to Georgia in 2013, his first season at the helm. It was the program's worst loss to an opponent from the Southeastern Conference's West Division in school history.
Kentucky had multiple opportunities to apply pressure in the first half but couldn't score on two of its three red-zone trips after moving the ball effectively on the road. It settled for a field goal after giving up the game's first score and failed to even get three points on the next two trips, a blown snap and a missed attempt combining to undo the special teams' effort both times.
