The Wildcats (3-3, 1-3 SEC) and Tigers (2-4, 0-3 SEC) will face off at 7:45 PM ET at Kroger Field, airing live on the SEC Network. This will be Kentucky’s third consecutive 7:45 kickoff on the SEC Network, following matchups against Vanderbilt and Florida.
Auburn holds a commanding 27-6-1 lead in the all-time series, having won 18 of the last 19 meetings since 1967. Kentucky broke a 15-game losing streak to the Tigers with a 21-14 win in 2009, but Auburn has won the three meetings since then (2010, 2015, and 2020).
Under head coach Hugh Freeze, now in his second season, Auburn started the 2024 campaign with a 73-3 win over Alabama A&M, followed by a 21-14 loss to California. After a 45-19 victory over New Mexico, the Tigers have dropped three straight SEC games against Arkansas (24-14), No. 21 Oklahoma (27-21), and No. 5 Georgia (31-13). They will play No. 19 Missouri before heading to Kentucky.
Starting quarterback Payton Thorne, also in his second year since transferring from Michigan State, has completed 59.7% of his passes for 1,238 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions while adding 147 rushing yards and two scores. Thorne was benched after the loss to California, with backup Hank Brown starting against New Mexico. Brown, who was pulled at halftime in the loss to Arkansas, has completed 62.8% of his passes for 403 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Auburn’s ground game is led by Jarquez Hunter, who has rushed for 528 yards and three touchdowns on 6.8 yards per carry, with Damari Alston contributing 186 yards and two scores. Wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith leads the team with 24 catches for 510 yards and six touchdowns.
Defensively, Auburn ranks in the top 50 nationally in scoring defense (20.8 points per game), rush defense (124.3 yards per game), and total defense (337.7 yards per game). The defense is anchored by linemen Keldric Faulk and Jalen McLeod, who have combined for over 50 tackles and eight sacks.
Kentucky, meanwhile, is coming off a 20-13 loss to Vanderbilt, marking its sixth straight SEC home defeat and 10th in its last 12 SEC games. Earlier in the season, the Wildcats earned a significant 20-17 road win over No. 6 Ole Miss, their biggest victory over a ranked team since 1977. At 3-3, head coach Mark Stoops’ streak of eight straight bowl appearances is in jeopardy. The Wildcats will travel to Florida for a Week 8 game before hosting Auburn.
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