Jalen Milroe (six total TDs) fuels No. 8 Alabama past Kentucky

Field Level Media|published: Sat 11th November, 15:52 2023

Nov 4, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) waves to fans as he walks off the field during the second half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. credits: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

Jalen Milroe became the first player in Alabama history to pass for three touchdowns and run for three scores in the same game while leading the No. 8 Crimson Tide to a comfortable 49-21 victory over Kentucky on Saturday in Southeastern Conference play at Lexington, Ky.

Milroe completed 16 of 23 passes for 240 yards with one interception and added 36 yards on the ground. The quarterback, who was benched for a Week 3 game at South Florida, has rushed for seven touchdowns over the past two games and thrown for 10 in the last five contests.

Amari Niblack, Kobe Prentice and Roydell Williams caught touchdowns passes for the Crimson Tide (9-1, 7-0 SEC), who clinched a spot in the conference title game against No. 2 Georgia.

Alabama improved to 39-2-1 all-time against Kentucky.

Ray Davis rushed for two touchdowns for the Wildcats (6-4, 3-4), who have lost four of their past five games. Davis had just 26 yards on 12 carries.

Devin Leary completed 17 of 31 passes for 158 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Kentucky. Tayvion Robinson caught a touchdown pass.

Alabama outgained the Wildcats 450 to 253.

The Crimson Tide scored three first-quarter touchdowns to ensure this wouldn't be a competitive contest.

Milroe tossed a 26-yard scoring pass to Niblack to cap Alabama's opening drive and later threw a 40-yarder to Prentice to make it 14-0 with 5:32 left in the period.

Twenty seconds later, Milroe scored from the 1-yard line. The touchdown was set up by Caleb Downs' 12-yard fumble return to the 1.

Leary threw a 6-yard scoring pass to Robinson to get Kentucky on the board with 1:30 left in the first quarter.

Milroe threw a 26-yard scoring pass to Williams to make it 28-7 with 10:14 left in the half.

The Wildcats pulled within 14 on Davis' 2-yard run with 10:53 left in the third quarter. Milroe tacked on a 3-yard scoring run later in the third and added a 1-yard keeper 12 seconds into the final quarter to make it 42-14.

Jamarion Miller tacked on a 3-yard run to push Alabama's lead to 35 with 9:46 left in the game. Davis scored from the 1 two minutes later.

—Field Level Media