No. 9 Auburn made a successful return to national television, extending the nation's longest Division I-A winning streak to 16 games with a 41-14 victory over struggling Kentucky on Thursday night.
Terry Bowden still hasn't lost as coach of the Tigers, while Kentucky is heading in the opposite direction. The Wildcats (1-4, 0-3 Southeastern Conference) have lost four in a row and coach Bill Curry still hasn't figured out how to beat Auburn in 11 tries.Auburn (5-0, 3-0) was barred from TV last year by NCAA probation, but the blackout was lifted this season. Two of the Tigers' first four games were shown regionally, but the ESPN telecast marked their first national exposure since 1992 - which also was the last time they lost.
Bowden didn't need to consult his father, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, who made the trip to Jordan-Hare Stadium. In fact, Auburn didn't even need to bring its offense.
Ken Alvis returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown, his second score of the season and fourth for the Auburn secondary, and Mike Pelton fell on two Kentucky fumbles, one in the end zone for a touchdown, the other at the Wildcats 2 to set up a TD.
Auburn attempted two passes on its first series and failed to gain a first down, then seemed to remember that Kentucky was surrendering an average of 321 yards per game on the ground.
The Tigers ran nine straight times on their next possession, with Stephen Davis gaining 53 yards on five carries and Joe Frazier getting 27 on three rushes before Patrick Nix scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak.
Auburn built the lead to 14-0 in the second quarter with a 15-play, 82-yard drive that was extended by a fake punt. Davis finished it off with another 1-yard touchdown run.
Then the Tigers watched Kentucky self-destruct.
On the Wildcats' next possession, Antonio O'Ferral's sideline pass was picked off by Alvis, who scooted untouched to the end zone. It was reminiscent of Auburn's performance two weeks earlier against LSU, when the Tigers returned three interceptions for touchdowns in the fourth quarter for an improbable 30-26 victory that kept the streak alive. Auburn has now equaled last season's school record for scoring off interception returns.
Kentucky, which is giving up 40 points a game, finally scored after falling behind 35-0.