Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky final score, highlights as Ray Davis returns in Week 4 SEC opener

Vanderbilt football returns home after two tough road weekends with losses to Wake Forest and UNLV.

The Commodores (2-2) face Kentucky (3-0) in their SEC opener at FirstBank Stadium coming off a win over the Wildcats on the road in 2022. That win snapped an SEC losing streak that dated back to 2019. Vanderbilt has another unfortunate streak going: it has not won an SEC game in September since 2011.

Quarterback AJ Swann will be available after dealing with an elbow contusion, but reserve safety Savion Riley and offensive lineman Junior Uzebu are out, and corner BJ Anderson and safeties De'Rickey Wright and Jaylen Mahoney are questionable.

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Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky score, highlights from 2023 SEC opener

Final Score: Kentucky 45, Vanderbilt 28

Kentucky 45, Vanderbilt 28: Ken Seals TD pass

Ken Seals replaced AJ Swann late in the fourth quarter and capped off a 14-play, 75-yard drive with a 10-yard TD pass.

Kentucky 45, Vanderbilt 21: Maxwell Hairston's second pick-6

Kentucky's Maxwell Hairston intercepts AJ Swann for 54-yard interception return touchdown with 4:15 to play. It's Hairston's second pick-6 of the day.

Kentucky 38, Vanderbilt 21: Patrick Smith 2-point TD run

Patrick Smith's 2-yard TD run capped a 7-play, 66-yard drive with 8 minutes remaining. AJ Swann connected with Quincy Skinner on the 2-point try.

Kentucky 38, Vanderbilt 13: Dane Key 22-yard TD receptions

The rout is on. Dane Key 22-yard TD reception from Devin Leary makes it a four-possession game with 10:35 to play.

End 3Q: Kentucky 31, Vanderbilt 13

Kentucky 31, Vanderbilt 13: Ray Davis 1-yard TD after wild interception

Ray Davis punched in a 1-yard touchdown run after an AJ Swann interception but the Wildcats in scoring position.

Swann was intercepted by D'Eryk Jackson, who lateralled to Andru Phillips for a 50-yard return. A personal foul penalty put the Wildcats in the red zone.

Kentucky 24, Vanderbilt 13: Vanderbilt cashes in on interception

A Vanderbilt interception stalled Kentucky's second possession of the half. Vanderbilt converted the turnover into a 32-yard Jacob Borcila field goal, but a touchdown was attainable in the red zone (and would have made it a one-score game with 11:25 to play).

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Halftime score: Kentucky 24, Vanderbilt 10

Kentucky 24, Vanderbilt 10: Sedrick Alexander TD run

Vanderbilt found its offensive rhythm just before halftime with freshman Sedrick Alexander's 7-yard TD run 18 seconds before halftime.

The score, which capped a 6-play, 57-yard drive, came after an AJ Swann touchdown pass to Will Shepard was negated by holding. Kentucky will get the ball to start the second half.

Kentucky 24, Vanderbilt 3: AJ Swann helps break scoreless streak

Vanderbilt is finally on the board. AJ Swann's success on first down, combined with a Zion Childress late hit, moved the Commodores into field goal range. Jacob Borcila capped the drive with a 41-yard kick with 2:51 remaining in the half.

Kentucky 24, Vanderbilt 0: Alex Raynor extends UK lead

Alex Raynor's 27-yard field goal extended the Wildcats' lead with 4:53 remaining before halftime.

End 1Q: Kentucky 21, Vanderbilt 0

Kentucky 21, Vanderbilt 0: Barion Brown reception sets up Ray Davis TD

It's early still, but a rout is imminent after Vanderbilt transfer Ray Davis put Kentucky up 21-0 with 1:56 remaining in the first quarter. The TD, which tied a UK school record for first-quarter points, was set up by Devin Leary's 55-yard pass to Barion Brown, a Nashville native.

Kentucky 14, Vanderbilt 0: Maxwell Hairston pick-6 against AJ Swann

Not a good start for the Commodores. Maxwell Hairston stepped in front of an AJ Swann pass and returned it for a 29-yard touchdown with 8:14 left in the quarter.

Kentucky 7, Vanderbilt 0: Jutahn McClain 36-yard TD run

It wasn't Ray Davis who struck first for Kentucky. It was Jutahn McClain, who broke off a 36-yard TD run with 9:51 remaining in the first quarter.

Vanderbilt's Jaylen Mahoney ejected for targeting

Vanderbilt safety Jaylen Mahoney was ejected for targeting for helmet-to-helmet contact against Kentucky receiver Dane Key, not even three minutes into the first quarter. Mahoney will miss the remainder of the game.

Vanderbilt football: Game time, TV channel, betting odds today vs. Kentucky

Kickoff: 11 a.m. CT

TV: SEC Network

Betting odds: Kentucky by 13.5

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on Twitter @aria_gerson.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky final score, highlights from SEC opener