Kentucky gets new offense in gear after sluggish start

Will Levis came to Kentucky expecting this kind of performance, though his first time out created a tough act to follow.

Levis threw for career highs of 367 yards and four touchdowns in his Wildcats debut, including two to fellow transfer Wan’Dale Robinson, and host Kentucky overcame an early hole to blow out Louisiana Monroe 45-10 in Saturday’s season opener.

Playing on a sunny afternoon before its biggest crowd (in nearly two years following a season of COVID-19-related attendance restrictions, the Wildcats shrugged off a 7-0 deficit after a turnover to overwhelm the rebuilding Warhawks. Unveiling a new pro set offense with former Penn State quarterback Levis behind center, Kentucky piled up 341 of its 564 yards by halftime alone to lead 28-7 and only allowed the Warhawks past midfield twice besides after the giveaway.

The offensive numbers thoroughly demonstrated Levis’ grasp of new coordinator Liam Coen’s up-tempo scheme that ULM couldn’t stop before 47,693. After his first pass went off Josh Ali’s fingertips to ULM’s Jabari Johnson, the junior quickly regrouped to deliver the flashy plays Kentucky lacked last season.

ULM managed just 87 yards in Terry Bowden’s coaching debut and lost its 12th consecutive game dating back to 2019.

(At) Mississippi State35, Louisiana Tech 34: Will Rogers threw for 370 yards, and Mississippi State scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns to secure a comefrom-behind victory over Louisiana Tech.

Tech trailed 14-0 in the first quarter before rattling off 34 unanswered points against the SEC’s No. 4-ranked total defense from a season ago.

Mississippi State turned the ball over four times, committed 12 penalties for 95 yards and often looked confused and listless in the first game of head coach Mike Leach’s second season in Starkville.

But in the game’s final 12 minutes, down 20, the Bulldogs regained their offensive composure.

(At) Arkansas 38, Rice 17: Trelon Smith’s 2-yard touchdown run with 12:44 left in the fourth quarter was the winner, and Arkansas rallied to beat Rice in both teams’ season opener.

Smith was Arkansas’ most consistent offensive player in a game the Razorbacks struggled on that side of the ball. He finished with 102 yards on 22 carries with the score.

The Razorbacks opened the scoring on a 34-yard touchdown run by first-year starter KJ Jefferson but gave up the next three scores and trailed 17-7 midway through the third. Jefferson scored again on the ground, from 5 yards, and Cam Little’s 34-yard field goal tied it at the end of the quarter.

Smith’s go-ahead touchdown was set up two plays prior when Jalen Catalon intercepted Rice quarterback Wiley Green after Arkansas defensive lineman Markell Utsey deflected the ball.

(At) Missouri 34, Central Michigan 24: Tyler Badie ran for 185 yards with touchdowns on the ground and through the air, and Connor Bazelak threw for 257 yards and two scores, helping Missouri hold off Central Michigan.