South Alabama’s 41-36 win over Ohio counts the same as a blowout in the standings, but the Jaguars’ coaches spent Monday focused on what the scoreboard did not show. After watching a 24-7 halftime lead shrink to one score, South Alabama now heads to Lexington for its first SEC test of the season, and the staff’s message for the South Alabama vs. Kentucky matchup is blunt: the Jaguars will need a full 60 minutes to compete at Kroger Field on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Cleaning Up the Second Half
The win over Ohio moved South Alabama to 2-1, but the second half raised some of the same concerns that surfaced a week earlier in a 28-24 loss at Tulane, a game the Jaguars led for much of the night. Against the Bobcats, a 17-point halftime cushion nearly disappeared before South Alabama held on.
Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando did not sugarcoat it. Orlando said Monday they have to get better at closing out games and winning in a style necessary to continue moving forward later in the season.
He identified sustained focus as the core issue. Orlando said the inconsistency about keeping focus throughout 60 minutes was an issue going into the game and continues to be.
Orlando did find a positive in how the Jaguars responded after Ohio seized momentum, regaining control and closing out the victory. He said they found a way to get out of it and win a ball game, so continue to grow.
Kentucky Arrives With Momentum of Its Own
The opponent only makes the task harder. Kentucky is coming off a 31-21 road win over nationally ranked Texas A&M at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, a game in which the Wildcats scored 21 points in the third quarter. First-year head coach Will Stein’s team showed enough on both sides of the ball to catch the attention of head coach Major Applewhite and Orlando.
Orlando was struck by how Kentucky controlled the line of scrimmage against the Aggies, running the ball and creating explosive plays. He said they pushed them around, ran the football when they wanted to, and hit their shots when they could.
Solving Jay Bateman’s Defense
On the other side of the ball, Applewhite singled out Kentucky’s defense under coordinator Jay Bateman as one of the week’s biggest challenges. The Wildcats mix fronts and coverages, disguise their looks and can load the box with extra defenders, which can make life difficult for an offense that wants to establish the run.
Applewhite said they do a great job with their schematics in terms of fronts, coverages, mixing looks, and tying those together with disguise. He noted the levers they play with on routes, the way they can add numbers to the box, and pressure path — trying to get a hold of those things and run the ball efficiently.
For a team that leans on its ground game, that is a significant puzzle. Disguised coverages can bait a quarterback into bad reads, while late pressure and extra box defenders can take away running lanes before they develop. How well the Jaguars identify those looks before the snap will go a long way toward determining whether they can stay on schedule offensively.
A Rebuilt Offensive Line Faces Its Biggest Test
The matchup also puts a spotlight on a South Alabama offensive line that has changed dramatically. Applewhite noted that several key linemen from recent seasons have moved on to other programs: last year’s left tackle is now at UCLA, the right tackle from two years ago is at Georgia Tech, the left guard is at Baylor and the center is at Tulsa.
The new-look group has held up so far, according to Applewhite. He said so far they’ve done well, really well, and this weekend in Lexington would be their biggest test thus far.
That kind of roster movement has become common across college football in the transfer portal era, especially for Group of Five programs whose productive players draw interest from power-conference schools. Rebuilding chemistry up front, where five players must work in unison on every snap, is one of the harder tasks a staff faces.
Two Quarterbacks in the Mix
South Alabama could have both of its quarterbacks available in Lexington. Jared Hollins made his first career start against Ohio, throwing for 192 yards and a touchdown and making plays with his legs as the Jaguars held on.
Applewhite said Hollins’ performance did not surprise him. He had all the belief in the world with Jared, feeling he’d been working for that for a long time.
Bishop Davenport, the fifth-year senior who started the first two games, missed the Ohio game with a minor injury. Applewhite said Davenport could have played in some capacity if needed and was set to return to practice Tuesday, though the staff plans to be cautious with his workload.
Applewhite said when asked for an update on Davenport that there was nothing as of now. He was able to go Saturday in some capacity, but they want to be smart about his capacity and fair to him so he can perform at a high level.
Applewhite added that he feels fortunate to have two quarterbacks he trusts.
Chasing Another Power-Conference Win
South Alabama last beat a power-conference opponent in 2023, when it won 33-7 at Oklahoma State. Applewhite acknowledged that facing a Power Four program brings extra attention but said the game ultimately comes down to execution.
Applewhite said you have to go make plays, they have to make plays, we have to make plays, then you go out there and compete.
Before worrying about what Kentucky’s name represents, Orlando said, the Jaguars must worry about themselves. The goal for the week is to eliminate the lapses that have let opponents build momentum and to play a complete game from start to finish.
Latest: Scouting the Matchup in Lexington
Saturday’s game will be the first meeting ever between South Alabama and Kentucky. Both teams enter at 2-1, and the Wildcats will be the seventh different SEC opponent the Jaguars have faced in program history. Kickoff at Kroger Field is set for 11:45 a.m. Central, which is 12:45 p.m. local time in Lexington.
Key Matchup: South Alabama’s Defensive Front vs. Kentucky’s Offensive Line
Kentucky has rebuilt its offensive line with four transfers from power-conference programs, including left tackle Lance Heard, who came from Tennessee, and left guard Tegra Tshabola. Expect the Wildcats to try to wear down a South Alabama defensive front that has, at times, struggled at the point of attack this season.
The central figure for the Jaguars is nose tackle Stephen Johnson, a 6-foot-3, 310-pound player in his second season at South Alabama after earlier stops at Auburn and McNeese. He will line up across from Kentucky center Coleton Price, a 308-pound transfer from Baylor who brings 33 career starts to the middle of the Wildcats’ line.
That battle ties directly to Orlando’s comments about how Kentucky “pushed them around” at Texas A&M. If Johnson and the interior of the defense can hold their ground, South Alabama has a better chance of forcing Kentucky into obvious passing situations.
Upset Potential
Kentucky is coming off one of its biggest wins of the season, which raises the question of whether the Wildcats could be caught looking past a Sun Belt visitor. The early kickoff could also mean a less energized crowd at Kroger Field than a night game would bring.
South Alabama has won twice on the road against power-conference opponents: at Mississippi State in 2016 and at Oklahoma State in 2023. Neither of those teams, however, had an offense of the caliber Kentucky has shown this season. To pull off a third such win, the Jaguars will likely need to win the turnover battle and keep the Wildcats from breaking big plays.
Quarterback Decision Expected Late
Davenport had started 15 consecutive games before sitting out the Ohio win, and his status is expected to come down to a game-time decision. If he is close to full strength, his command of the offense and his running ability make him the likely starter. If not, Hollins has already shown he can make big throws in a starting role.
Game Details
- Matchup: South Alabama (2-1) at Kentucky (2-1)
- Series: First meeting; Kentucky is the seventh different SEC opponent in South Alabama history
- When: Saturday, Sept. 26, 11:45 a.m. Central
- Where: Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky
- Last week: South Alabama beat Ohio 41-36; Kentucky won 31-21 at Texas A&M
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- South Alabama Opens 2026 Season Against Southeastern Louisiana With a Roster Full of New Faces
- Jared Hollins wins first start as South Alabama runs past Ohio 41-36
