LEXINGTON, Ky. – The upset two weeks ago of then-No. 11 Tennessee sent a jolt of energy through Gator Nation. If No. 22 Florida (3-1, 1-0) finds a way to defeat unbeaten Kentucky (4-0, 1-0) in their Saturday afternoon date at sold-out Kroger Field, the Gators will instantly have the attention of the rest of the Southeastern Conference.
And beyond.
Not because the Wildcats have looked like world-beaters to date – they haven't, what with all four wins coming against a light schedule and not one opponent with a winning record – but more so because it could serve as a sign (maybe) that order is getting closer to being restored in the SEC East Division. The kind of order, that is, the league was once accustomed for a long time. The kind of order where the Gators were playing meaningful conference games well into October (if not November).
[Read senior writer Scott Carter's comprehensive 'Opening Kickoff' setup here]
Remember when Florida used to have an ownership deed on its series against Kentucky? The Gators won 31 straight from 1987 to 2017, but the Wildcats snapped what once was the nation's longest run of consecutive wins with an upset victory at Gainesville in 2018. UF bounced back with wins in '19 and '20, but UK won again in '21 (the Cats' first over the Gators on their home field since '86) and again in '22 at the "Swamp," making for Kentucky's first two-game winning streak in the series since it won four in a row from 1948-51 when Paul "Bear" Bryant roamed the Lexington sidelines.
Can Mark Stoops work more magic that will again make him mentioned in the same breath with the "Bear?"
UK, now in its 11th season under Stoops, again is built on defense, with a strong front and opportunistic secondary. The Wildcats are ranked 21st nationally in total defense, allowing just 293.3 yards per game, which is also fourth in the SEC. They're tied for 20th in takeaways with eight (that leads the league) and 35th in sacks per game (2.75).
Mark Stoops is 70-59 in his 11 seasons at Kentucky, with at least seven wins in the previous eight seasons (10 in 2021), as well as a 3-7 record against the Gators.
Offensively, UK is racking up 396.5 yards per game (64th in FBS, 9th in the SEC), but is not running the ball particularly well (131.5 ypg, which rates 94th). The passing attack, with North Carolina State transfer Devin Leary (1,090 yards, 9 TD, 5 INT) in command, is averaging 265.0 yards, but Leary's completion percentage of 59.3 is last among league starters.
It all adds up to a Kentucky squad that has started 4-0 – and is averaging 38.0 points per game and surrendering just 15.5 – for a third straight year, yet has done so against the following schedule: Ball State (now 1-3), FCS-classed Eastern Kentucky (1-3) and Akron (1-3), all at home, and most recently last week's 45-28 win at Vanderbilt (2-3).
Florida, clearly, will be Kentucky's best opponent to date. Conversely, the Wildcats will represent a significant road challenge for the Gators, considering what UF put on tape when it opened the 2023 season at No. 14 Utah in what turned into a messy, mistake-marred 24-11 loss, the program's lone setback of the season.
The Gators revisited some of that sloppiness in last week's 22-7 win over Charlotte, as the offense sputtered repeatedly in the red zone and required kicker
Trey Smack for bailout duty to the tune of five field goals. Fourth-year junior quarterback
Graham Mertz (league-high 77.8 percent, 951 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT), who toyed some with Kentucky during his transfer portal dalliance, knows his unit (UF ranks 55th nationally at 412.5 ypg) has to be crisper than that in league play; even more so on the road.
The UF defense has been an absolutely pleasing development, given the debacles on that side of the ball the last couple years. The Gators, under new coordinator
Austin Armstrong, check in at No. 5 in the country (first in the SEC) at 244.8 yards per game and are allowing just 13.5 points per outing (tied for 18th overall, t-2nd in the conference). UF needs to pick up its takeaway game, though, as the Gators have just one on the season, which not only is last in the SEC, but 128th nationally.
Kickoff is set for noon on ESPN, with Joe Tessitore on play-by-play, former UF quarterback Jesse Palmer providing analysis and Katie George working the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network from Learfield will air with pregame coverage beginning at 9 a.m. and eventually give way to Sean Kelly, Shane Matthews and sideline reporter Tate Casey for kickoff. For stations,
click here.
The game will be replayed Sunday at 9 p.m. and again Wednesday at 3 a.m., both on SEC Network.
Finally, follow senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and analysis throughout the game.
FloridaGators.com will have complete post-game coverage from the game Saturday.
