KYLE CURTIS: Florida vs. Kentucky Game Notes

Coming off a colossal win for the entire Florida program against a top-10 Utah team, the Gators have no time to waste as SEC play begins this week with a lethal Kentucky team. Led by veteran quarterback Will Levis, this is not a Kentucky team to take lightly. Mark Stoops has brought the Wildcat program back to life after struggling to find stability for decades. Now Stoops and his 20th-ranked Wildcats have a date in The Swamp with the 12th-ranked Gators.

Florida hosts Kentucky for what will be their 35th matchup in Gainesville with the Gators leading the all-time series 53-19. The rivalry has not been close as of late with Florida winning 33 of the last 35 including 20 of the last 21 home matchups. Nonetheless, the Gators can’t take this game lightly. Kentucky beat Florida last year 20-13 and has had the Gators on the ropes a few times within the past decade. Usually, a rival on the basketball court has now been transitioned in between the hash marks.

The Gators have gained some national spotlight after last week’s performance under the lights. Florida went from unranked in week 1 to No. 12 in week 2, which is good enough for the Gators’ largest jump in Associated Press top-25 era. This was in large part due to Anthony Richardson, who catapulted his name into the Heisman conversation after a stellar week one performance. Richardson was +4000 odds to win the Heisman before Saturday’s contest and moved all the way up to fourth best at +1200 afterward. Comparisons have already begun on resemblance to Tim Tebow or the closest thing we have seen to Vince Young.

Although Richardson had a tremendous performance, Billy Napier is not one to dwell on the past.

“I don’t know that we did anything ‘elite’ in the game. We did things average and below average, but we made some ‘wow’ plays,” said Napier. “There were times we did it exactly right, and it was beautiful but the percentage of that was too low for me.”

This is what separates a good football team from a great football team. The product on the field producing itself and fixing out the kinks itself is what can separate.

“We beat Utah. Proud of our team,” Napier said. “We have a lot of crap to fix.”

Going into Kentucky Napier will look to fine-tune special teams and penalties, spots that they lacked in week 1.

This is the second time in the past 70 years that Florida and Kentucky have faced each other when each of them is ranked. This is the first meeting between Billy Napier and Mark Stoops. Napier - after being the first Florida coach to beat a ranked team in his debut - is also now on the hunt to be a part of the first team to beat two ranked opponents in the first two games since 1982. In 1982, the Gators took down No. 15 Miami along with No. 10 USC with both games being at home. Mark Stoops is the only Kentucky coach to beat the Gators dating back through 1987. Stoops has a record of 2-7 against Florida since joining Kentucky in 2013.

The Gators are wearing the traditional blue jersey with white pants for their matchup Saturday. The Gators have a 26.11 average of margin of victory over Kentucky when wearing blue since 1990.

Like Utah, Kentucky has been practicing with built-in crowd noise to try and prepare for the atmosphere in The Swamp.

The Gators averaged 7.3 yards on the ground against Utah along with a team total of 283 rushing yards. Anthony Richardson led the way with 11 carries for 106 yards. Kentucky will look to contain Richardson and limit his explosive plays, although it is easier said than done. Kentucky’s starting linebacker, J.J. Weaver, was asked about Anthony Richardson’s impact.

“He’s not going to be able to do any of that against us,” said Weaver. “We’re going to contain him.”

Weaver also commented two years back before facing Kyle Pitts that “Kyle Pitts has never had J.J. Weaver on him”. Pitts proceeded to dominate the game and finish with 5 catches for 99 yards along with 3 touchdowns.

Nonetheless, the game script will be similar for Billy Napier and his Gators this week. Ground, pound and execute. Another electrifying night in The Swamp is in store.