When: Saturday, 6:15 p.m.

Where: Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky

Line: Kentucky by 3.5 points

TV: ESPN

Weather: 42 degrees, 0% chance of rain

Coaches:Jon Sumrall is 5-4 at UF, 48-16 overall; Will Stein 7-2 at Kentucky.

Quick slant:Florida has lost three straight games at Kentucky and four of the past five meetings. At 37, Stein is the youngest head coach in the SEC.

About UF (5-4, 3-4 SEC):Florida scored just one touchdown in losses to Georgia and Oklahoma and lost by double digits in consecutive games after doing so in three straight in November of 2025. Establishing the run game will be critical against a Kentucky defense that allowed 240 rushing yards in last Saturday’s 34-6 loss at Tennessee. The Gators must generate some push up front to provide the 1-2 punch of Jadan Baugh and Duke Clark room to run and help Florida avoid falling behind the chains. The Gators were 7-of-25 on third- and fourth-down opportunities the past two games. Meanwhile, the Gators allowed Georgia and Oklahoma to convert a combined 18-of-36. Linebacker Myles Graham and Aaron Chiles had 37 tackles in those losses.

About No. 11 Kentucky (7-2, 5-2): Few quarterbacks have been more efficient as Notre Dame transfer quarterback Kenny Minchey. He’s completing 69.9% of his passes while throwing 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions. After injuries plagued him at Texas, former Edgewater star tailback CJ Baxter is the Wildcats’ leading rusher with 541 yards and eight touchdowns on 99 carries. Former Florida defensive backs Jordan Castell and Aaron Gates have combined for 15 passes defensed. Linebacker Grant Godfrey leads Kentucky with 78 tackles, tied for second in the SEC.

Three things to watch

1. Explosive plays have played a key role in recent losses. Kentucky managed two plays longer than 20 yards and allowed six at Tennessee. Florida produced just one play longer than 20 yards in losses to Georgia and Oklahoma.

2. Pass protection is critical for Florida. The Gators allowed 13 sacks in four losses. Kentucky’s Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace has six sacks in 2026 after recording 3.5 as a freshman.

3. Kentucky leads the SEC with a plus-10 turnover margin. The Wildcats’ 18 takeaways are second in the league to Alabama’s 21. Florida committed nine turnovers in losses to South Carolina, Georgia and Oklahoma and generated only one takeaway.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Source: Yahoo Sports