NCAA 25 College Football PDavis Lg: #11 Kentucky Wildcats at #8 Auburn Tigers

you can't walk very far in these parts without being greeted with a war eagle and boy do they hope it will be a joyous Wonder day welcome to Jordan hair stadium in the home of the Auburn Tigers and while today is the final home game of the season for one team it is more importantly a celebration senior day as we'll see the number 11 team in the country the Kentucky Wildcats taking on the winners of four straight the Auburn Tigers for EA Sports college football I'm reys Davis joined here in the booth as always by David Pollock and Jesse Palmer guys let's te this one up [Applause] Auburn will kick it off to get things [Applause] started oh look at Mr hands taking the squiver inside the 30 this crowd bringing an ear splitting welcome to their visitors going to run it it's Patterson finds enough room to get three out to the 34 the emotions and energy figure to be high all day guys because of what's at stake this late in the season really a must- win for both teams and these are the ones that get your blood moving race you get jacked up man we don't have to say anything in the locker room give these big speeches you know what's at stake Jesse you're ready to rock and roll this is when you prove you're the Big D which is pretty cool too because it's been a long season these teams obviously are both physically and mentally tired but you're right for this kind of game this is the one you circled at the start of the year you knew that this was going to matter there was going to be a lot on the line now it's time to go out and prove you're the better team on Third and long he has to throw for it fires a full and now it's picked off oh the ball's out now the defense has got it and they're going the other way not a lot on the return but they can live with that as they've got it at the 49 and that is a roller coaster we got the pick oh no we just lost it oh no we got it back at the end of the day the defense David still has yeah and all you're trying to do is for turnovers create plays nice job getting the interception and listen when you're running to the football the block that ball comes out nice job falling on it creating the turnover the offense will have to use its first timeout of the half line gets set first down easy one running back in the back field and he has it and he'll get behind those pads and deliver the blow and get it down to the 44 well it's plays like that that will help this offense stay in Rhythm all game long if you can have that kind of success on first down running the football it just opens up your entire Playbook moving forward got six on first down now a lot of options on second and four Yankee blue Yankee blue wide receiver shows motion touch pass on the Run he works his way inside the 30 down to the 29 and picks up a first down it's so important this offense is able to get this guy the ball in space especially in the perimeter of the field and I love that last play call because he's able to get outside and use his speed to me that's this guys is most dangerous inside the 30 at the 29 it's a first down defense showing plenty of pre-nap movement of their own good timing on the quick out he's brought down quickly minimal gain there still a bit short of the first down well that's one the DB I think would like to have back out route he was in man coverage if he could have just got out of his break a little bit sooner he might have had a chance to intercept that one and take it to the house that completion leaves us with second and [Applause] medium On The Run it's ol and a big hit at the end but it didn't stop him from getting the first down I love when players understand situations and they understand where the first down marker is and they understand where I got to get to a lot of people you'll see run north south and try to bounce out wide and make big plays sometimes it's not about making big plays sometimes it's about getting that first down to make sure I get an extra set of downs instead of trying to make those big touchdown runs from the shotgun now here's an inside GI they bring him down and he's going to lose a yard on that one Auburn to the line in a hurry receivers telling the quarterback what they see white going to attack through the air and the defense makes a play and they get the quarterback down at the 26 playaction pass success has a lot to do with selling that fake you could tell defense was not buying it got in the back field got the big play they close enough for a takeable field goal from the 26 but they'd love to convert this third in Long PS and fired complete spins away from the defense and he's not going to get there the defense Stands Tall and makes the stop now on fourth down they'll settle for a field goal try the holder will put it down on the right Hash a 33 yd try it's G and the first points of the day come on that field goal this is a team that really Prides themselves on starting fast we've seen that before and here they are playing at home today nice job on the opening drive lots of poise good emotion they don't get the touchdown they would have liked but they kick a nice field goal they've got the lead head coach has to be happy Kentucky has it back and the big blue offense takes the field after that last pick David they really need to take care of the ball this time no doubt and Palmer I want to know what Spurrier said to you on the sideline after a pick do that again and you'll be right here beside me for the rest of it and it's caught inside the 30 they are finding soft spots in this defense he's got it down to the 25 and this defense is going to have their hands full because they're going to need to be comfortable with guys one-on-one on islands in the perimeter of the field and they're just going to have to make better plays than what we saw right there they knew this offense was going to try to be aggressive got to need better effort in the back end for this defense moving forward quick strike complete and just a short save pass play they pick up a few well the drag routs put in this Playbook to fight against manto man coverage so there you see the receiver using his speed working his way across the field get separation on the DB trying to Trail him makes the catch turns it up field for the first and after the stop that is going to put a bow on this first quarter offense calls a timeout here critically important to make sure they have the right play call and everyone on the same page here a third down play to open up this quarter back to throw it's Vandergriff takes his shot picked off got some room to run he's inside the 40 he's at the 20 and he's going to score on the interception touchdown tigers just one moment and all of a sudden the Fortune's turn you're in the position where you're about to give up points and now you flip that around and you put points on the board perfectly executed what do you do in an interception first guy blocks the intended receiver everybody else starts to P the wall where the ball's going nice blocking nice interception nice return for the touchdown and with the extra point there now up by a touchdown and a field goal at 10 they'll kick it off and send that defense right back out there to try to score again after the pick six oh look get Mr hands taking the squiver inside the 30 he got him stopped and he was close to taking that one a long ways down at the 38 Kentucky sends the offense back out onto the field that last pick six after a drive like that David can swing the momentum of a game the defense is still celebrating I mean such a big play I mean they they gave up some yards but did what they're supposed to do now Jesse this offense has to put a drive again yeah they have to recapture some momentum here can't do is go three and out give the ball right [Applause] back Red Pass it's complete and the defense had that one well covered just a short game there well we knew coming into this game this offense was going to try and get this receiver involved and get him involved early so here they are just finding an easy completion it's not a touchdown but they just want to get this guy lathered up and get him into a r he's got it he's got first down yard yage as they move it to the 44 well look that wasn't a touchdown but that was a massive play for this offense they needed some momentum they needed to find a rhythm in what better way than converting on third down awesome job by the quarterback getting through his progression the wild cats will have it first and 10 here's the handoff you'll take this every time five yards on the first down play I know the passing game sells the passing game is exciting but it's not exciting to get five or six yards a pop on the ground but it will be very successful finds his man down the middle that's a really good tackle there giving up some siid and still making the play I don't know who on defense is going to cover this guy honestly it could be a problem for this defense over the middle of the field in the passing better find the earplugs here comes the noise backing this defense on third down dropping back it's Vander grip he'll take a shot and they can't hook up on the big play and that brings up a fourth down I think for the quarterback he's going to have to be so good with his eyes in this game they're going up against one of the best defenses in the country you got to look guys off especially when you're trying to throw to your primary target like he was on that last one Kentucky trying to convert on fourth down he'll try to throw and pick up the first down he's going to take off how about that defense rising up and stopping him short on fourth down and they decide to go for it decide to be aggressive try to throw the football down the field reer quarterback not on the same page no dice turnover on Downs comes out throwing on first down and he was drilled just as he released the pass it's incomplete doesn't take this defense a lot of time to get to the quarterback man they've got speed all over the place they hit him so quickly and because of that the ball Falls incomplete second down coming up he's looking to throw this time it's complete put it right on him sweet PL good pick up and they'll move the chains with the first down you know it's a nice throw by the QB there when you're throw into running backs you got to make it easy so you want to put it right on their body make the catch simple and let them go to work like they did just there getting that first quarterback checking the play the give from the gun and that's a very productive first down play and bringing up second and three you want to talk about making it easy for an offensive coordinator you pick up a bunch of yards on first down make that second down really really manageable that's a great job by the offense good spot after that seven yd pick up on first down it's second and three white wants to throw it and the pass is intercepted and they'll close in on him after a good return on the interception and linebackers have to do a really good job of playing the run but you can see sitting back in cover two understanding I got to get my zone get my eyes on the QB break on the football nice play by that linebacker nice pick first down here with time for maybe one more play until the minute warning pocket starts to collapse and he can't escape and down he [Applause] [Applause] goes after the big first down sack for the D it's second down [Applause] he's looking to throw going to let it fly makes the catch he gets it in touchdown Kentucky lining up for the p and with the extra point the lead is cut to three it's 10 to7 the officials offer the deal and the coach accepts it they will take the penalty the kickoff team out there to boot it away in 15 yds farther up the field after the roughing the kicker penalty and he takes this from inside the five nice job executing all of the assignments as they put a stop to that return at the 22 first and 10 here's this offense with a fresh set of downs quarterback making adjustments with his receivers white going to attack through the air finds the tight end and the defense settled in to stop that one for a short game a nice job by the defense there tackling the catch and smothering the tight end they know this off is going to try to find him in the passing game in a lot of different situations that time perfect coverage and nice job bringing the big guy down not easy to do that one could really put this drive into high gear as they have a first down at the 37 I like the slot receiver because he gives his quarterback a good option working the middle of the field he's a nice weapon in this offense they've got it at the 37 it's first and 10 he's going to pass quickly out to the tight end they make the stop but not before they do their work up top and pick up a first down all right defense it ain't working right we're stringing together several first downs here we're going to need to change this up find something we can disrupt the quarterback and mess up this offense a little bit coaches always harp about staying ahead of the chains and when you can run with that type of efficiency on first down man you are doing just that sixy pickup on first down leaves him with second and four the p and throw off the RPO he's run out of bounds but not before turning in a big pick up and moving the sticks for a first down another first down man this this defense this defense couldn't stop a nose bleed right now is that bad here comes Au to the line on First and 10 looking to move it through the air got it in the middle it's Simmons and a good job of coverage by that defense just a short pick up great job creating SP that's what you're supposed to do when you get man covered you got to find a way to get a step make it easy for a quarterback to read that leverage and when he drags across the field he can see had he completes it for the first half really nice stop there from this senior leader and sticking to the r I'll tell you what a lot of teams that are really good are really stubborn and they continue to run the football even with little success so this offense is going to continue to focus on running the football you can tell and he found plenty of Running Room on that one before the defense was finally able to get him down we've got a timeout in the waning seconds of the half maybe a chance to get off a couple more plays just a few seconds remaining here as they try to put something up before halftime trying to cap this drive with the pass pass is incomplete and we dwindle down to 7 seconds and sometimes you see great Shooters and they get on fire and they just can't miss and that's what this QB looks like the last couple weeks man just completion percentage through the roof running the offense at an elite level you can tell in complete control of this offense so they get the late field goal right before the half and not much time after this kickoff for an answer from inside his own 15 looking for a crev maybe if he could have eluded just one or two more guys it would have a big return but they'll mark it at the thir they'll have just enough time to get one more snap before the half back to pass it's Vander grip got his man quickly they make the Stop and that is the end of the first half that's going to wrap up the first half here and now we join Kevin with the halftime update Kentucky teeing it up and ready to go here in the second half from inside the 15 here comes the return gets it all the way out to the 33 before he sto and Auburn is ready to go back to work on offense tosses to the quarterback going to throw it over the top of the knee it's complete a huge pickup and he'll take it to the house he got loose touchdown tiger well they've been working on these trick plays in practice and they must have felt Ultra confident to go with it here and we practice him all the time and everybody gets so excited in practice when are we going to do it this week when are we going to call it the great timing on the call for the trick play you can see defense way often and the extra point will tack another one onto this lead that drive not too taxing on the Playbook One play put it in the end zone just like that about to kick it away after scoring the touchdown from inside the 15 here's the return he was looking for more Running Room but none to be found as he stopped at the [Applause] 23 Kentucky has it back and the big blue offense takes the field looking for a man it's Vander grip l one deep down the right side snags it inside the 20 touchdown wild cats and once he got away from the KNE they had no shot at catching him getting set for the point after and with the extra point every little bit counts as they get closer we check in with Kevin Conor what's going on Kevin a bit of an under the radar game this week but take a look at this Troy is ahead in this one this team plays a fun brand of football there in the funb but they're a long way from closing this out they're up by four over Southern Miss we'll Circle back if anything big happens you should know about it oh and how about that I know Kevin and those guys will be keeping an eye on it for us now here comes that Auburn offense onto the field again they torch this defense with an explosive passing play for a score last time out let's see if they go right back at him just a short pass to the tight end ripping off a pretty good Chun of yardage they've got it out to the 41 with a first down well I know the tight end did some good things after the catch but got to give the quarterback credit too for the location of the throw because he put it out in front of his big man he was able to make the catch accelerate creating some distance there between him and the defense perfect call for that big gain to open the drive now here they come on First and 10 and the Freshman does a great job using his technique and getting the man on the ground small gain I know but again the defense knows he's going to run the football he's willing to run the football not just drop back and pass make him on to the Run game you got to do a lot of this after the three- yd pickup they come to the line Second and seven the back goes in motion caught behind the line it's C at the 45 on his way he will step out of bounds but not before the big pick up and a first down for this offense they built this offense around finding mismatches and just get the ball to the back and let him do his thing yeah it it didn't have to be long down the field like it threw it right near the line of scrimmage but you know I got a guy when he gets in space he can make big plays happen nice decision by the QB motion trying to get the defense to show it hand we'll give him a couple on that one second and eight coming up man that D tackle is a freaked athlete did you see him come out of the stance and beat the offensive lineman getting to the running back catlike quickness after picking up a couple at second and eight from the gun they'll try to impose their running game what a good run there he has enough for the first down and that is just an attitude run running it right up the middle right into the teeth of that defense Auburn ready to go back to work after getting another first down they've marched to the Red Zone and here they go catch in the middle it's Thompson they make the stop trying to pick up just a little bit at a time to get to that first down Mark operating in the Red Zone here on second down the give to the tail back got enough space and he rolls into the house touchdown over offense gets the job done again you want to build that cushion as we get deeper into the second half man it makes it easy doesn't it you start getting up by a couple possessions making the offense very predictable on the other side great job by the offense extending their lead ling up to attack one more onto that lead the kick is good but the penalty flag indicates we've got a roughing the kicker call coming so the decision has been made and the coach will take the penalty the kickoff team on the field he ought to just boom this thing through the end zone with that extra 15 yards on the penalty that one bouns through the end zone and it'll be a [Applause] Touchback white outs all wed up in a [Music] bunch motion from the offense this defense will try to keep everything in front looking to pass it's Vandergriff he's right on target they make the stop after the catch and still some work to do to pick up that first down Slants against man that wide receiver has to win right now right now at the line of scrimmage against that DB play Man coverage quarterback timing with the wide receiver put it on the money wide receiver probably still get hit too and got a hold on of that they'll line up for a second down play from the gun the ground game and they'll finally get him down after a terrific pick up man who says you can't run up the middle anymore right everybody thinks I got to make big plays I got to go way out to the left way out to the right way out in space nope right down the middle nice blocking how about the running back you could tell the speed the wheels does a great job getting down the field making a huge rushing play now a first down from the 45 yd line he's looking to throw it grabed behind the line it's Patterson and a good job in coverage there as they stop it after just a few and listen I know that wasn't a huge gain it was positive but I like doing more of that in today's college football I'm just going to try to give my Playmakers a chance to do damage in space away from all the big boys inside now here on second down see if they keep tossing it [Applause] around he's looking to throw blasted as he lets it go that pass is incomplete and they might be fortunate it wasn't not cre for a fumble it'll be third down well the offensive line has got to give him at least a little bit of time to survey the field he had no chance that time getting hit almost immediately after he got the ball looking to throw it's Vander grip can't make the connection on third down thanks to that tough hard noosed cast defense and now it's Fourth Down now this is a point where you just got to be able to focus and the critical down and distances in this game like that third down right there when it's a good throw you got to make the catch you've got to be able to make that play a famous Rider once said most men lead lives of quiet desperation here is a desperate move going for it on fourth down trailing by double figures looking to scramble hit as he throws and that is interception number three on the day God room on the return and a big return after the int sets up the offense for this possession and this safety is a ball Hawk he's a playmaker not only have we seen him get involved in the running game and make tackles playing down field but he plays the center field position as well as anybody in college and he takes it in for the score touchdown tiger the offense strikes again to extend it lead here in the second half and they got everything working how great is this you extend your lead now you get your defense back on the field great job taking advantage of the situation and building on that lead they'll try to add another to their lead and the extra point is good and the lead moves to 20 that's exactly what you want to do when you have that type of field position stri quickly and they did one play and they put it on the board almost ready to kick it away after scoring the touchdown and they thought about a return Then thought e [Music]