Coverage from the game:
Florida football’s freshman duo runs circles around shell-shocked Kentucky defense
Coverage during the game:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Kentucky football has a chance at history tonight. A win over Florida would be its fourth straight on-field victory in the series. (The first in this run, a 20-13 win in 2021, has since been vacated due to NCAA violations.) The Wildcats have notched four consecutive victories over the Gators only one other time: 1948 through 1951, with Bear Bryant guiding UK’s program during all four triumphs.
But the Wildcats‘ offense needs to score more touchdowns. Through four SEC games, UK has crossed the goal line just four times. Perhaps the addition of prized transfer Chip Trayanum will help. The former Ohio State tailback has yet to play this season after suffering a hand injury during preseason camp. He’s listed as “probable” to play tonight in what would be his Kentucky debut.
The Gators’ injury luck is trending in the opposite direction.
Starting quarterback Graham Mertz‘s season, and college career, are over after he tore his ACL during last week’s loss at Tennessee. The Gators’ top running back, Montrell Johnson Jr., also suffered an injury in the Tennessee game. Because of that injury, he’s been ruled out of tonight’s contest.
With so much on the line for both teams — each is 3-3, with added pressure on Florida coach Billy Napier given the tenuous nature of his job security — expect a tight tussle tonight in Gainesville, Florida, when the Wildcats and Gators tangle at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Kentucky freshman quarterback Cutter Boley enters the game. His first pass is returned 29 yards for a pick-six touchdown by Cormani McClain.
Stop if you’ve heard this one before: Jadan Baugh just scored another TD. This was his fifth of the game.
Jadan Baugh scores his fourth rushing touchdown of the game to push Florida’s lead by to 14 following Trey Smack’s extra point.
The Wildcats take the opening drive of the second half and cross the goal line.
Quarterback Gavin Wimsatt punched it in from the 1-yard line to conclude the 12-play, 75-yard possession.
Read more about Barion Brown’s record-setting kickoff return by clicking here.
Barion Brown takes it 99 yards to the house for a touchdown.
It’s a record setter, as he becomes the first player in SEC history with five kickoff return TDs in a career.
Give Jadan Baugh his third rushing TD of the second stanza. This one was from 1 yard out after a near-pick-six by Devin Moore.
Chalk up another TD drive for Florida: This one was a 98-yard possession, too.
It’s capped by a 10-yard run by Jadan Baugh, his second rushing TD of the night.
The Gators respond to the Wildcats’ touchdown with one of their own: Jadan Baugh goes in from the 7-yard line for a score on the ground. Florida covered 65 yards in just three plays, taking 1:10 off the clock.
Kentucky receiver Barion Brown gets behind the Florida secondary and BRock Vandagriff puts it on the money for a 45-yard scoring strike. But Alex Raynor’s extra point attempt is no good, leaving the game knotted at 6-all.
Trey Smack makes his second field goal of the contest to push Florida’s lead to six points.
The Gators cruise down the field on the game’s opening possession before UK’s defense stiffens in the red zone.
Trey Smack connects on a 29-yard field goal to give the hosts the first points of the night.
The final availability report for Saturday’s game was released 90 minutes prior to kickoff.
Five players are out for Kentucky:
Florida has a far longer list of players who won’t appear tonight — 14 total.
That group is comprised of:
Kentucky vs. Florida will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network. Tom Hart and Jordan Rodgers will call the game from the booth at Kroger Field, with Marilyn Payne reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Kentucky 20, Florida 17: The Wildcats’ defense will be as ferocious as ever. Which is bad news for a Florida offense with a freshman quarterback (DJ Lagway) making his first start against an SEC foe. Who likely won’t have his first-team running back (Montrell Johnson Jr.) at his disposal, either. For Kentucky’s offense, Chip Trayanum’s season debut will boost a unit in desperate need of a spark. And ever-steady kicker Alex Raynor’s fourth-quarter field goal will help UK earn its second road win in as many tries — and by the same score as its stunning victory in Oxford, Mississippi, last month — to move to 4-3 this fall.
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of today:
Per the SEC’s latest availability report, posted at 8:01 p.m. Friday, Kentucky has five players — all on defense — listed as “out” for tonight’s game.
That group includes:
UK had five more players listed as probable: Running back Chip Trayanum, defensive lineman Keeshawn Silver, defensive back Terhyon Nichols, offensive lineman Gerald Mincey and kicker Jacob Kauwe.
Florida has a staggering number of players expected to sit out, 14 in all.
That group includes:
Gators defensive back Bryce Thornton is questionable.
The high is 79 degrees with partly cloudy skies and a 6% chance of rain in the forecast.
Record: 3-3 (1-3 SEC)
Record: 3-3 (1-2 SEC)
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Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
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