LIVE BLOG: Kentucky vs. Florida

FINAL: Kentucky 38, Florida 7

Victory Formation! Beau Allen takes a knee. The long home losing streak ends against the team UK last beat at home. The Cats are 4-5 (2-5) leaving Week 11. Let’s Rapid Reaction.

Another Florida turnover on downs

The Gators got the ball inside the Kentucky 30 but could go no further. Two incompletions created a fourth-and-long. UK’s offense is back on the field at their own 21 with just over two minutes left on the game clock.

Kentucky’s fourth turnover ends another scoring opportunity

Kentucky goes run, run, run, run, run before a Beau Allen sack fumble gives the ball back to Florida. Each team now has four turnovers in this game. The Gators regain possession at their own 47.

“Get you some money, Garrett”

The quote that caught fire in Big Blue Nation this week somehow made it on the broadcast. What a sport.

Beau Alen enters the game

Mark Stoops has made a change at quarterback. It is not Zach Calzada. Lexington Catholic’s own Beau Allen is now in the game.

Florida turns it over on downs — The Cats are at midfield again

The drive started with some successful runs before Florida bogged down around midfield. Gators went drop, seven-yard run, tackle for loss, and incompletion to give the ball back to Kentucky. Big play from David Gusta to put the Gators behind the sticks on fourth down.

The party rolls on at Kroger Field as UK regains possession at their own 49.

Dante Dowdell just made this thing ugly

The Kentucky running back just ripped off his second long touchdown run of the year, rushing 65 yards for a score to make it 38-7. The Wildcat is getting tired of doing all these push-ups. Man, does it feel good to smash the Florida Gators.

Bleeding Clock

Florida converted a couple of fourth downs, but Kentucky gave them nothing easily. The Gators only went 31 yards in 14 plays before they had to punt it back to the Cats. The drive chewed up 7 minutes of clock. That means each team only had one possession in the third quarter. That’s how you play with a lead.

Florida made a QB Change

It was a rough first half for DJ Lagway. He completed 11-19 passes for 83 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions. Interim coach Billy Gonzales pulled the plug and handed the sticks to Tramell Jones. They’re playing every card to get back into this game.

Long, Sustained, Touchdown Drive

It doesn’t get much more demoralizing than that. It took a minute to find an offensive rhythm. Cutter Boley bought ’em some time with another pretty throw to the sideline on third and long. Then Kentucky pounded the pavement.

Kentucky ran seven straight run plays before Seth McGowan punched it into the end zone. The 13-play, 75-yard drive took almost eight minutes off the clock. Kentucky leads 31-7. The Fat Lady is doing vocal cord exercises.

Injuries are piling up on defense

Alex Afari Jr. and Jordan Lovett both left this game in the first quarter with an injury. Add Sam Greene to the list. The redshirt sophomore left the field on crutches. Injuries are starting to pile up on defense.

Kentucky is dominating this game

The Cats are +17 on the scoreboard. The play-to-play data backs that up. Kentucky is winning every statistical battle and dominating field position. We have not seen Aidan Laros yet as UK’s average starting field position on six drives was at midfield.

Yeah, that will work.

Big-Time Visitor on Campus

Carsyn Baker is a four-star, Top 200 talent from Georgia who Kentucky has been recruiting for years. It looked like the Cats didn’t have a chance. He committed to Florida this summer. Tonight he’s watching the Wildcats beat up the Gators as an official visitor. Interesting development.

I Spoke Too Soon

There were two more turnovers before half. Rayner picked off a pass that gave the ball back to Kentucky in Florida territory. On the next play, Boley threw it deep and got picked off. What a wild half.

Late Boley Fumble

Kentucky lost a chance at least three points. He was being chased from behind and tried getting to the turf, but a Florida defender stripped him before he could get down. It still feels good going to halftime with a 24-7 lead over the Gators.

PICK TIME!

Quay’sheed Scott picked off a deep ball and returned it 55 yards into the Kentucky red zone. No. 12 has some jets. The Cats have 30 seconds to get another score on the board.

TOUCHDOWN KENTUCKY!

Kentucky scored too quickly. Thanks to a pair of jaw-dropping sideline throws by Cutter Boley, the Cats got down inside the 5-yard line to let Seth McGowan punch it into the end zone. The Cats went 54 yards in 5 plays and only 1:12 to take a 24-7 lead with 1:26 until halftime.

MORE GOOD THINGS!

Kentucky got a stop, then Florida shanked a punt. The Wildcats have the ball 54 yards away from the end zone with 2:38 to play.

Kentucky gets the ball first to start the second half. A touchdown drive to go up 24-7 might take all of the wind out of Florida’s sails. Fingers crossed.

Two Touchdowns for Cutter Boley

What a drive. Kentucky had three “had to have it” downs, and they got it every time. The Cats went for it on fourth down at midfield, got a crucial third and three just outside of field goal range, and had a Kendrick Law end-around convert another fourth down near the red zone. The drive was capped off with a 15-yard touchdown to Jason Patterson on a wheel route.

Fumble Luck? What is Happening?!?!?

Kentucky had not recovered a fumble until last week. They just got another one. Redshirt freshman Lorenzo Cowan forced it, and Cam Dooley was there to scoop it, giving the Cats the ball at their own 41-yard line.

What Team Are We Watching?

Things looked dire at the end of the first quarter. Then Kentucky did something I’ve never seen Mark Stoops do before: Play with tempo.

After moving the sticks on third and long with a pass to Willie Rodriguez, Kentucky immediately got back to the line of scrimmage. They went fast and Florida had no answers. Kentucky ran seven plays in less than three minutes before Boley hit JJ Hester on a play-action fade for a 29-yard touchdown.

Kentucky leads 10-7.

Touchdown Florida

On third and long, Lagway connected with Jadan Baugh for a 10-yard touchdown. The Gators lead 7-3. Brutal turn of events.

Kentucky scored three points from a Florida turnover. The Gators got seven.

Maclin Muff

Kentucky received a gift from Florida. A beautiful Lagway pass into the red zone was called back by an illegal formation penalty. Kentucky got a stop, but the ensuing punt was fielded by Ja’Mori Maclin, not the usual returner, Ty Bryant. Maclin had issues with catching punts a year ago. Those issues resurfaced. He muffed it and Florida recovered the ball inside the UK 15-yard line.

Postgame Traffic will be Tricky

If you’re at the game, prepare accordingly.

Two Kentucky Injuries on Defense

It looked like Kentucky had Lagway gobbled up on the first third down play of the day. He lowered his shoulder about two yards away from the sticks and bowled over a couple of Wildcats. That appears to be when Alex Afari and Jordan Lovett suffered injuries. The two starters are questionable to return.

Turnover Turns Into Three Points

Kentucky couldn’t turn it into a touchdown, but they’ll take the three with an assist from the defense. Jacob Kauwe hit a 39-yarder from the left hash to get the Cats on the board first.

DJ Miller made the play of the drive. On the edge of field goal range, Florida blitzed on third and 11. Cutter Boley quickly got it to Miller, who made a nice run and catch to extend the drive and ensure Kentucky got points on the scoreboard.

INTERCEPTION!

Kentucky finally got a little turnover luck. Daveren Rayner tipped a pass on third and long right to Ty Bryant for the safety’s third interception of the season. Kentucky gets the ball near midfield.

We’re LIVE on ESPNEWS

The game is rolling, and the Gators keep converting on third down. Not ideal.

Florida gets the Ball First

Kentucky won the toss and elected to defer. It’s Football Time in the Bluegrass.

QB Commit in the House

The four-star quarterback in the 2027 class has visited quite a few campuses this fall. Good to see him get to Lexington.

DJ Waller Jr. is a game-time decision

Will Kentucky get their starting cornerback for the first time since Week 1? We are still playing the waiting game. Waller was listed as probable on the availability report all week. He is active tonight but is currently a game-time decision. We’ll see how warmups go. Nasir Addison would be in line to play a lot of snaps if Waller cannot go.

Kash Daniel threw Ryan Lemond through a table again (sort of)

The last time Kentucky won an SEC home game was against Florida in 2023. Before that game, Kash Daniel threw Ryan Lemond through a table during the pregame show. In hopes of snapping the SEC home losing streak, Kash did it again today — although Ryan had a bit of padding thanks to some bushes.

This is the Perfect Tailgate

Folks, there’s no better place in the world to be right now than the parking lots outside of Kroger Field. The temperature is serene, smokers fill the air with aromas, the drinks are cold, and the fans are rowdy. It pained me to walk away, so I’m going to turn around and go back for more. Prepare for a lively crowd at the Kroge.

DJ Waller is a Game-Time Decision

How to Watch, Listen

Tonight’s game is on the SEC Network, with BBN’s favorite announcing crew, Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, and Cole Cubelic on the call. If you’re a YouTubeTV subscriber, it could be especially difficult to follow along, as Google’s dispute with Disney drags on. If you don’t want to subscribe to ESPN Unlimited, there are some options. You can get a five-day trial to FuboTV or DirecTV Stream, or a day pass from Sling. Or, you can hope someone streams it for free on YouTube.