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A year later, the memories of an unlikely roll reversal remain vivid.
Auburn was leading Kentucky by a touchdown with less than seven minutes left, ready to bounce back from a tough loss to Arkansas that ended the Tigers' 5-0 start under first-year coach Gene Chizik.
Then, it all fell apart.
Led by versatile wide receiver Randall Cobb, the Wildcats put together two late touchdown drives to win 21-14, their first victory over the Tigers in 43 years.
The loss continued a tailspin that turned Auburn's potentially great season into simply a pretty good one. Heading into a rematch Saturday, the Tigers are still ticked.
''I think there's always a chip on your shoulder,'' Auburn cornerback T'Sharvan Bell said. ''You've got to have an edge. There's that sour taste in your mouth you want to get out of your mouth.''
The taste so far this season has been decidedly sweeter for the eighth-ranked Tigers (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference). Quarterback Cam Newton leads the conference in pass efficiency and is fourth in rushing. There are playmakers all over the field, and the Tigers have shown a grit they lacked a year ago.
Three of Auburn's five wins have come by eight points or less, though Chizik isn't ready to declare this team better than the one that suffered through an October swoon.
''I hope that we're a more consistent team,'' he said. ''I hope that we continue to improve maybe more so than we did at this time last year. We're on a stretch now where in this month of October we're going to find out exactly, as a team, how far we have come in a year.''
The Wildcats (3-2, 0-2) are searching for similar answers. Auburn's visit marks the start of a pivotal three-game homestand that will likely determine whether the program takes the next step toward respectability in the SEC or continues to spin its wheels in mediocrity.
The math is pretty easy for Kentucky running back Derrick Locke. The SEC's second-leading rusher figures the Wildcats have to win at least two of their next three games for the season to be a success.
''Your mind is thinking, 'You've got to get three, you want those three,''' Locke said. ''At the same time, you're like, 'What do I've got to do to get at least two out of those three?' I'm not saying we can't win (all three), but to get two out of the three would be really good.''
Though they appear to be reeling after self-destructing in a loss at Mississippi last week, the Wildcats say their optimism has not been shaken.
Are there holes to patch? Certainly, particularly on a defense that is 0 for 16 when opponents get inside the red zone. Then again, the Wildcats had holes to patch a year ago when they went into the Plains and stole one.
''We know how to beat this team,'' coach Joker Phillips said. ''We've done it, OK, and I think that makes us feel a little bit more confident.''
It'll take more than confidence, however, to slow down Newton. He's developed into arguably the SEC's most dominant player, and his combination of size and speed make him a difficult matchup.
Kentucky will need to be much more disciplined than it was against Florida two weeks ago, when it turned Gator freshman quarterback Trey Burton into a folk hero, allowing him to score a school-record six touchdowns in the Gators' romp.
The Tigers know Newton can make defenses pay with his legs, but realize the difference in their season may depend on his head. Chizik has stressed to Newton the importance of making good decisions instead of just tucking the ball under his arm and running when things break down.
Chizik ordered his star to stay in the pocket during a 52-3 win over Louisiana-Monroe last week to force him to get better at reading defenses. He ended up throwing for 245 yards and three touchdowns, including a school-record 94-yard touchdown pass to Emory Blake.
''One great think about Cameron is that he is a very smart player,'' Chizik said. ''He understands when he makes a mistake and the value of not doing it twice.''
It's an example Chizik hopes the rest of the Tigers follow. He believes his team is more comfortable than it was a year ago. A win Saturday would prove to him that it's probably also better.
''Are we going to be at a better spot this week than we were last year? I don't know,'' he said. ''We have to go out there and play a great game to be able to win it.''
