A few thoughts to jump start your Tuesday morning: Napier: “There’s no re-dos” This isn’t like the playoffs in either Major League Baseball or the NBA where you can win a best-of-seven series and advance. With college football, it’s one-and-done. There are no second chances to avenge a loss. You live with it the rest of the regular season. As much as Billy Napier wishes for a second chance to show the 18th-ranked Florida Gators (1-1, 0-1 SEC) are every bit as good and perhaps even better than now 9th-ranked Kentucky, he’s got to wait until next year to prove it. He has to live with a mistake-filled 26-16 loss to the Wildcats for a whole year. “You don’t get them [losses] back,” Napier said at his Monday press conference. “That’s what losing does to you. It makes you very aware that you don’t get back, there’s no re-dos. You don’t go back and fix those things. It causes you to have a different perspective, I think as a coach and a player. I think everybody in the organization taking ownership in their role, maybe what could I have done better throughout the week that could have impacted the outcome. “It’s critical you learn from mistakes. I think it’s critical that you have integrity, that you tell the truth and you make necessary changes. Then, hey, look, you’ve got to turn the page. I think part of this game is it teaches you a lot of lessons and quickly you’ve got to get focus on the next task. Certainly that’s what we’re going to try to do.” What’s next for the Gators is South Florida (1-1) which is in its third year of a total team makeover under Jeff Scott, who was on the Clemson staff with Napier from 2008-10. The Gators played the Bulls in Tampa in their second game of the season last year, thrashing the Bulls 42-20. Anthony Richardson came off the bench to go 3-3 passing for 152 yards and two touchdowns while carrying the ball four times for 115 yards and a TD. Richardson also tweaked his hamstring in that game and was never as effective again the rest of the season. South Florida is a non-conference game and the Gators are prohibitive 24.5-point favorites but Napier will have the Gators going about this one the same way they go about preparing for every game on the schedule. Monday was spent correcting the mistakes made in the Kentucky game while putting elements of the South Florida game plan on the field. Tuesday and Wednesday, the Gators will sharpen up their game plan and Thursday will be spent working out any kinks. Friday is a walk-through. When he met with the coaching staff Sunday, Napier issued a challenge to “do our best work for the players, the level of detail that we can offer the players throughout the week – meetings, walk-throughs and practice – and try to position in a better place as we approach Saturday.” What Napier wants is for the Gators to go into the South Florida game ready to earn the right to win. He mentioned after the Kentucky game that the Gators didn’t earn the right to win the game. Monday he took a moment to explain what that means. “Well I think it’s kind of about our formula to win, what’s worked for us in the past, right?” he said. “The top of that is own the ball, attack the ball. If you just want to take a bird’s eye view of the game, that’s where we didn’t earn the right to win. If you include the turnover on downs stat, we turned the ball over four times to their one, right, so we’re minus three. We didn’t play on conversion downs on offense, had to kick a couple of field goals in the front, so the four-point play red zone part of the field we weren’t very efficient, so we didn’t do enough on offense to win the game. “When I say earn the right to win, I’m talking about our formula and how we win. We play complementary football and there were parts of our team where we didn’t earn the right to win. It’s that simple.” SEC football #2 Alabama (2-0): Recapping Alabama’s great escape win over Texas, Nick Saban said Monday, “We didn’t execute the way we wanted, but you can’t fault the mental toughness” … Placekicker Will Reichard was the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week after kicking a 52-yard field goal and a game-winning 33-yard field goal with 10 seconds left against Texas. #10 Arkansas (2-0, 1-0 SEC): HBC Sam Pittman paid tribute to former Arkansas HBC Bobby Petrino, now the head coach of D1AA Missouri State, which comes to Fayette Nam ranked 7th in the D1AA poll this weekend. “Last time Arkansas was relevant was when Coach Petrino was here and we’re grateful for his time here and what he did for the program,” Pittman said Monday ... Linebacker Drew Sanders, who had 11 tackles including three for loss in the win over South Carolina, was the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Center Ricky Stromberg was chosen SEC Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week. Auburn (2-0): Auburn expects to have starting wide receiver Malcolm Johnson Jr. back for the Penn State game Saturday. Johnson missed the Tigers’ 24-16 win over San Jose State. #1 Georgia (2-0): Georgia leads the SEC in both total offense (525 yards per game) and total defense (220 yards per game). The Bulldogs are allowing only 1.5 points per game, best in the nation … Wide receiver AD Mitchell is day-to-day after suffering an ankle injury on the first play of Saturday’s game with Samford. #9 Kentucky (2-0, 1-0 SEC): Linebacker Jordan Wright, who had an interception, six tackles, a sack and a forced fumble against Florida was the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Wide receiver Dane Key, who caught at 55-yard touchdown pass against Florida was chosen SEC Freshman of the Week. LSU (1-1): The Tigers will be trying to stop Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense when Mississippi State comes to town Saturday. Regarding the difficulty in stopping the offense, HBC Brian Kelly said Monday, “If you’re not taking care of your assignment and doing your job, you’re going to get exposed. It is a precision offense. It is extremely well-coached.” Mississippi State (2-0): The MSU defense will have to contain LSU QB Jayden Daniels, who is a dangerous runner when the pocket breaks down. Mike Leach said Monday, “Good player. He can definitely help himself out with his feet and when coverage breaks down he throws it up. He gives you two things to keep track of” … Center LaQuinston Sharp was chosen as the SEC Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance in MSU’s win over Arizona. Missouri (1-1): In their 40-12 loss to Kansas State, Missouri gained only 222 yards and didn’t score a touchdown until the final play of the game. #20 Ole Miss (2-0): The starting QB job apparently is still up for grabs between Jaxson Dart and Luke Altmeyer. The Rebels play at Georgia Tech Saturday. Monday, HBC Lane Kiffin said, “We’ll figure out who goes first at some point later in the week.” South Carolina (1-1, 0-1 SEC): Edge rusher Jordan Strachan and middle linebacker Mo Kaba are done for the year with ACL injuries. #15 Tennessee (2-0): Quarterback Hendon Hooker, who threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns was selected SEC Offensive Player of the Week. Defensive end Byron Young, who had two tackles for loss and a sack in the win against Pitt was the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week. #24 Texas A&M (1-1): In losing to Appalachian State, the Aggies ran only 38 offensive plays for 186 yards. Appalachian State, on the other hand, ran 82 for 315 yards. Vanderbilt (2-1): HBC Clark Lea pointed to 21 first half points Wake Forest scored off Vandy turnovers as the reason the Commodores lost their first game of the season. “Giving up 21 points off turnovers is not going to be a formula against a good team, especially a good offense,” Lea said. Our SEC orphans in the Big 12 #6 Oklahoma (2-0): In their win over Kent State, Oklahoma had three sacks, 10 quarterback pressures and 14 tackles for loss. #21 Texas (1-1): The earliest quarterback Quinn Ewers can return from the SC sprain of his left shoulder is October 8 when the Longhorns face Oklahoma in Dallas. ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: From 1971-1997, the Nebraska Cornhuskers were the winningest college football program in the country at 277-51-4, 21 more wins than second place Penn State which was coached by Joe Paterno. During that time the Cornhuskers won four national championships, the first by Bob Devaney in 1971, the last three by Dr. Tom Osborne. Osborne succeeded Devaney (102-20-2) in 1973, compiling a remarkable 255-49-3 record until he retired after winning the national championship in 1997 with Scott Frost as his quarterback. Dr. Tom won with option football in an era when there was an abundance of option quarterbacks, which is no longer the case. The good quarterbacks these days come from spread attacks in high school and they go to schools that throw the ball. Nebraska has struggled to keep up with the times since Dr. Tom required. The Cornhuskers are 187-119 since he retired with only a 1999 Big 12 title won by Frank Solich to show for it. Solich, by the way was fired after after going 58-19 in six seasons having never won fewer than nine games. Now that Frost has been fired, Nebraska diehards are beginning one more search for the next Tom Osborne. In the weeks ahead, expect to hear the names Kentucky’s Mark Stoops, Iowa State’s Matt Campbell and Kansas’ Lance Leipold mentioned prominently. Of the three, Campbell and Leipold will probably listen and one of them may take the job, in large part because the Big 12 will not be one of the top tier conferences in the country and Nebraska will back up a Brinks Truck to land one of them. Stoops, if he’s smart (he is), will parlay the Nebraska interest for a raise and will stay at Kentucky where he already coaches in the top college football league in the country. Stoops is a fine football coach who should heed the lessons of Dan Mullen or at least read a copy of “The Peter Principle.” In retrospect, Mullen should have stayed at Mississippi State, where he never would have been fired and the fans and boosters were content with a January bowl trip. Had he stayed in Starkville, they probably would be talking about a statue of Mullen to go outside Davis-Wade Stadium. He did the Peter Principle thing, however, went to Florida where championships are expected and discovered that you can’t win championships with diamond in the rough talent. Stoops has a similar situation at Kentucky. His feathers were ruffled recently when John Calipari called UK a basketball school, but that’s what it is. Kentucky football fans love Stoops, who has made the Wildcats respectable and gets them to bowl games every year. Getting to the Citrus Bowl is dream city for UK football fans. Nothing less than Final Fours and national championships are expected of Cal. Stoops has succeeded at Kentucky with diamond in the rough recruiting. Someday he may actually win the SEC East but even if he doesn’t the UK football fans are happy with him. At Kentucky, he can recruit Ohio kids, he’s close enough to metro Atlanta to dip down for some speed and occasionally he can get a kid in Florida who the Gators, Miami and FSU overlooked. If he goes to Nebraska he will be surrounded by Iowa, Colorado, Kansas, South Dakota, Wyoming and Missouri, not exactly hotbeds for recruiting. Now that he’s surpassed Bear Bryant as Kentucky’s winningest football coach ever – with 61 wins – Stoops can be content being the first Mark Stoops. If he were to take the Nebraska job he would always be just another football coach until he wins at least one national championship like Bob Devaney or Dr. Tom. Of course, that would mean beating the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and now Southern Cal for the Big Ten title. He's better off being the first Mark Stoops than trying to live up to a legend.

Maybe the Florida Gators were not the 12th best team in America, despite what the AP poll said. By BUDDY MARTIN GatorBaitMedia.com GAINESVILLE -- Maybe Kentucky’s not a basketball school anymore. Mark Stoops came into the once-hostile environs of Steve Spurrier-Florida Field Saturday night and broke the dreams of Gator fans who thought maybe Billy Napier had Florida back on a Steve Spurrier-type trajectory. At the same time, the brother of former Florida defensive coordinator Bobby Stoops accomplished a personal best by notching a 26-16 win in his 61st victory at Kentucky, eclipsing Paul “Bear” Bryant as the winningest coach at UK. It was just the second time Stoops has beaten the Gators in Gainesville, but it was impressive. Maybe the Florida Gators were not the 12th best team in America, despite what the AP poll said. And maybe Kentucky is, indeed, a better team than we realize, as Chris Doering has been saying – perhaps even No. 2 to Georgia in the eastern division. And maybe Anthony Richardson is not that wunderkind Heisman hopeful that he was beginning to look like. For a moment it looked like a setup for the Gators to come back and claim their second win of the season. However, after playing to a 16-16 tie midway through the third period, with Richardson missing targets badly, the Florida offense was stoned by Kentucky. Richardson seemed out of rhythm and kept missing open receivers. It was an ugly night for Billy Napier’s offense, with his star quarterback off the mark, overthrowing receivers and coughing up two interceptions, including a Pick Six to Kentucky’s Keidron Smith, who went 65 yards with a ball that had inadvertently hit him right in the hands. After that, with only a little more than three minutes left in the third quarter, Napier’s team was out of bullets. Giving credit where it is due, in some mid-week trash talking, Kentucky linebacker J.J. Weaver had warned that the Wildcats had a good game plan for the Florida quarterback. “He’s not going to be able to do any of that (using his legs) against us because we gonna game plan,” said Weaver. Turns out he was right. Most disappointed in Anthony Richardson was Anthony Richardson. “My confidence got shot down when I missed some wide open receivers. Mentally I shot myself down, but I tried to stay in the game physically,” said Richardson. His coach took part of the blame, saying, “We didn’t earn the right to win the game.” Mistakes said Billy Napier, were made by the players and the coaches alike. “We can play better and we can coach better, “said Napier. “But one thing I know about Anthony is he is a fighter.” Napier went on to stay that no matter that his team was struggled to stay in the game, “it’s a tribute to them that we even had a shot at it after all those mistakes.” No matter the words, there’s no way to spin it, that Kentucky came into this game at a touchdown underdog, with several suspended players, including the SEC’s No. 1 rusher in Chris Rodriguez and knocked off the nation’s No. 12 team. It was left to big Gervon Dexter to find a few words to placate the disappointed players, coaches and fans. “Ain’t nobody won a championship tonight,” said the 6-5, 312-pound defensive tackle. True, but Dexter and his teammates better hope they pull out of this nosedive before he and his teammates have lost one.

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning: IT WAS UGLY, BUT THE GATORS STILL COULD HAVE WON THE GAME Let’s start with the obvious. After the Utah game, Billy Napier warned us that the Gators had a long way to go. That was confirmed Saturday night when Kentucky beat the Gators 26-16. Kentucky had a superb game plan, made the right halftime adjustments and came away with one of the ugliest wins you’ll ever see. Steve Spurrier used to point out that you have wins and you have losses. Blowout wins don’t count more than ugly ones and losses are still losses no matter the score. Florida is 1-1 now. The season is far from over but for the Gators to get to the more than eight wins they’re capable of, they’ll have to do a much better job in the future against teams that will look at the tape of the Kentucky game as a blueprint for success. Kentucky bracketed wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, took away Anthony Richardson’s running lanes and spent the second half dropping seven into coverage. We can expect more of the same until Napier and his staff are able to come up with adjustments that work. Richardson had a bad game. There’s no questioning that he wasn’t anywhere close to the magical QB he was in beating Utah. In the first half he overshot open wide receivers in the middle of the field on several occasions. On three occasions he made the good throw only to have receivers drop the football. When Kentucky adjusted its coverage in the second half, Richardson was clearly pressing. From the press box it looked a lot like that baseball pitcher who starts trying to aim his pitches when he struggles with the strike zone. Post game, Richardson admitted that as he grew frustrated with his passing he began trying to aim the ball. It’s rare that works. It also appeared that as the game wore on, Richardson became hesitant to tuck the ball and run. He wanted to make downfield throws so he held the ball too long and tried to throw fast balls into tight windows when he should have tucked it and picked up four or five positive yards with his legs. Despite all this, the Gators could have and should have won the game. They may not match up talent-wise with some of the teams on the schedule, which means they can’t blow opportunities to win games. Kentucky was winnable. Consider this: (1) Kentucky’s first touchdown was a jump ball throw 55 yards downfield that the replay booth said the UK receiver came down with. Why was the safety trailing 12-15 yards behind instead of offering help over the top? (2) Kentucky’s second touchdown came on a 6-yard drive after Richardson threw an interception. It was third-and-three. Richardson had a lane to run the ball that would have easily gotten the first down if he tucked it. The UK linebacker drifted wide, got into the throwing lane to make a one-handed interception. (3) Kentucky’s third touchdown was a pick six. Nay’Quan Wright ran a fade. Richardson expected a 12-yard out. The throw went to a UK DB. The fade was open. Napier said there was miscommunication although we don’t know who was on the wrong page. The Gators gave Kentucky three touchdowns and a field goal after UF failed to convert a fourth down from its own 24 late in the game. So 23 of Kentucky’s 26 points came on glaring Florida mistakes. The Gators could have and should have won the game. It would have qualified as one of the uglier wins in recent memory, but dog’s butt ugly wins count the same as the ones you win by 50 points. This team is a work in progress, one that can’t afford to pass up opportunities like the one that Kentucky presented Saturday. Give the Wildcats credit. They’re good, but at the same time, they should be the team that’s 1-1 right now, not Florida. Associated Press Top 25 poll: 1. Georgia 2-0; 2. Alabama 2-0; 3. Ohio State 2-0; 4. Michigan 2-0; 5. Clemson 2-0; 6. Oklahoma 2-0; 7. Southern Cal 2-0; 8. Oklahoma State 2-0; 9. Kentucky 2-0; 10. Arkansas 2-0; 11. Michigan State 2-0; 12. BYU 2-0; 13. Miami 2-0; 14. Utah 1-1; 15. Tennessee 2-0; 16. North Carolina State 2-0; 17. Baylor 1-1; 18. FLORIDA 2-0; 19. Wake Forest 2-0; 20. Ole Miss 2-0; 21. Texas 1-1; 22. Penn State 2-0; 23. Pittsburgh 1-1; 24. Texas A&M 1-1; 25. Oregon 1-1 AFCA Coaches Top 25 poll: 1. Alabama 2-0; Georgia 2-0; 3. Ohio State 2-0; 4. Clemson 2-0; 5. Michigan 2-0; 6. Oklahoma 2-0; 7. Oklahoma State 2-0; 8. Southern Cal 2-0; 9. Michigan 2-0; 10. Kentucky 2-0; 11. Arkansas 2-0; 12. North Carolina State 2-0; 13. Miami 2-0; 14. BYU 2-0; 15. Utah 1-1; 16. Tennessee 2-0; 17. Ole Miss 2-0; 18. Wake Forest 2-0; 19. Baylor 1-1; 20. Texas 1-1; 21. FLORIDA 1-1; 22. Texas A&M 1-1; 23. Penn State 2-0; 24. Oregon 1-1; 25. Pittsburgh 1-1 SEC football (AP rankings) #2 Alabama (2-0): The 15 penalties Alabama was flagged for in the win over Texas were the highest total in the Nick Saban era. Next week: vs. Louisiana-Monroe (1-1) #10 Arkansas (2-0): Former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino returns to Fayette Nam next Saturday as the head coach of the Missouri State Bears. Before he was fired after a motorcycle accident exposed an inappropriate relationship, Petrino was 34-17 as the Arkansas coach with an 11-2 record in his final season in 2011. Next week: vs. Missouri State (2-0) Auburn (2-0): In their two wins, Auburn quarterbacks TJ Finley and Robby Ashford have thrown one touchdown pass while completing four passes to the other team. Next week: vs. #22 Penn State (2-0) #1 Georgia (2-0): Georgia is averaging 525 yards and 41 points per game offensively. Defensively, the Poodles have yet to allow a touchdown. Next week: at South Carolina (1-1) #9 Kentucky (2-0): Mark Stoops is now the winningest coach in Kentucky history, which means that Steve Spurier is now the only coach in SEC history to be the winningest coach at two schools (Florida and South Carolina). Next week: vs. Youngstown State (2-0) LSU (1-1): The Tigers gave up 320 passing yards to D1AA Southern U. Saturday they get Mike Leach’s Air Raid, which ranks fifth nationally. Next week: vs. Mississippi State (2-0) Mississippi State (2-0): Through two games, QB Will Rogers is 77-98 passing for 763 yards and nine TDs. Next week: at LSU (1-1) Missouri (1-1): Even though Brady Cook threw two interceptions and no TDPs in the loss to K-State, HBC Eli Drinkwitz doesn’t plan to change quarterbacks. Next week: vs. Abilene Christian (2-0) #20 Ole Miss (2-0): Based on what we saw Saturday against Central Arkansas, Jaxson Dart seems to be the right guy to take over as the starting QB. He was 10-15 for 182 yards and two TDs without a pick, looking downfield for his receivers instead of dinking and dunking like he did the week before. Next week: at Georgia Tech (1-1) South Carolina (1-1): The good news for South Carolina is that DB R.J. Roderick is practicing and should be back for Georgia. Also WR Corey Rucker and D-lineman Alex Huntley are expected back. The bad news is edge rusher Jordan Strachan and linebacker Mo Kaba will miss the Georgia game. Next week: vs. #1 Georgia (2-0) #15 Tennessee (2-0): The Vols scored a win at Pitt despite the following second half mistakes: Giving up a blocked punt that gave Pitt the ball at the UT 19, fumbling to give Pitt a short field to work with and a muffed punt that allowed Pitt to tie the game and send it to overtime. Next week: vs. Akron (1-1) #24 Texas A&M (1-1): There is no question Haynes King is not the answer at quarterback, but is Jimbo Fisher willing to make a change. A lot of people wonder why Max Johnson (35 TDPs and only 7 picks in two SEC seasons at LSU) wasn’t the choice in the first place. Next week: vs. #13 Miami (2-0) Vanderbilt (2-1): There may be a quarterback controversy brewing in Nashville after AJ Swann played so well in relief of Mike Wright in the loss to Wake Forest Gump. Wright averaged 2.3 yards per pass attempt in the first half. Swann was 8-11 for 146 yards and two TDs in the second half. Next week: at Northern Illinois (1-1) Our SEC orphans in the Big 12 #6 Oklahoma (2-0): UCF transfer QB Dillon Gabriel has completed 70 percent of his passes for 529 yards and five TDs without a pick. Next week: at Nebraska (1-2) #21 Texas (1-1): The Longhorns will be without quarterback Quinn Ewers for the next 4-6 weeks. Ewers suffered an MC sprain to his left shoulder in the second quarter of the loss to Alabama. Next week: vs. UT-San Antonio (1-1) They call it football, but it’s not in the SEC Nebraska (1-2): They are no longer the Fighting Frosts after losing to Georgia Southern (2-0) of the Fun Belt. Athletic director Trev Alberts could have saved $7.5 million if he had waited three weeks to fire Scott Frost, but he opted to pay the $15 million buyout after the Saturday embarrassment. Frost was 16-31 at Nebraska but he was 5-22 in game decided by eight or fewer points. If you are prone to wager on such things, watch for Scott Frost to become Nick Saban’s latest reclamation project when Bill O’Brien takes a HBC job after this year. Notre Dame (0-2): The luster is off Marcus Freeman after an 0-2 start which includes Saturday’s 26-21 loss to Marshall (2-0) of the Fun Belt. Freeman is now 0-3 in his short career as the Notre Dame head coach. An 0-3 start is something no Notre Dame coach in history has ever done. Appalachian State (1-1): A week after scoring 40 points in the fourth quarter and losing 63-61 to North Carolina, the Happy Appys held then #6 Texas A&M to one offensive touchdown and 186 total yards. Not only that, they ran for 181 yards on that vaunted Aggie defense. #12 BYU (2-0): The Cougars are knocking on the door of the top 10 after their win over Baylor (1-1). They travel to Oregon (1-1) Saturday. BYU owns a 5-game winning streak over the Pac-12, sort of revenge for when the Pac-12 wouldn’t expand and bring them into the conference years ago. #5 Clemson (2-0): This is starting to feel more and more like 2018 all over again. Clemson started the season 2-0 with Kelly Bryant at QB. Bryant was okay, but when the switch was made to Trevor Lawrence in game three the offense took off. D.J. Uiagalelei was not particularly great last year when Clemson’s offense was very bad. He’s just okay this year. Freshman Cade Klubnik lingers. He’s the next Trevor Lawrence for Dabo. ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Texas had no chance against Alabama. Or so we thought. Marshall had even less chance against Notre Dame. Or so we thought. Appalachian State over the Aggies at Kyle Field. Oh please. Yet, here we are, heading into the third full week of college football and Alabama, although it beat Texas, looks nothing like a national championship contender. Notre Dame? The Irish look like candidates for the Weedwacker Bowl in Shreveport, where, if they lose, they have to stay an extra week. The Aggies? At least a year away. Or more if Jimbo insists on playing Haynes King as his QB. We’re told Georgia is incredible and dynamic. Maybe better than last year. Of course, we thought the same thing about Alabama and then the Crimson Tide played somebody decent that exposed a whole bunch of flaws. I’ll reserve judgment until Georgia plays a decent team. I can say the same thing about Ohio State. They have a win over Notre Dame. Whoopdeedoo. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not the least bit disappointed with all these upsets. In fact, I hope there will be more in the future. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for someone other than the usual suspects and media darlings to steal a bit of the college football limelight.

It was "Scared Money” moment #1: Billy Napier elects to go for it on 4th and 2 at Utah 16. Anthony Richardson hits Montrell Johnson down to the 1, then takes it in for a TD to tie Utah, 7-7. It rewarded Napier later as the Gators rambled 75 yards to take a 14-13 lead at halftime, with AR taking it 45 yards for the score. They are lovin’ them some Billy at The Swamp. -- BUDDY MARTIN (PHOTO BY CHRIS SPEARS)

The voters in the Associated Press Poll say the Gators are the 12th best team in America. Many of the Nervous Nellie & Norman fans are certain this lofty ranking will curse their team. (Enjoy it, Gator Nation!) By BUDDY MARTIN GatorBaitMedia.com You’re battling your ass off to stay in stride with the demands of today’s technology. After four hours of chasing codes, repeating your name, rank, serial number and nickname of your first-born, somebody in the universe of engineering and algorithms writes back: “OK, fine, now we need your mother’s maiden name, your grandfather’s last known address and your oldest kid’s ACT score.” Well, not really, but you get the point. It’s no longer enough to say who you are — you’ve also got to prove it. Which is where the Florida Gators find themselves on the eve of playing Kentucky at a sold-out Swamp for what is going to be a monster game. Who do they say they are? Who do WE stay they are? Depends on who you ask. The voters in the Associated Press Poll say the Gators are the 12th best team in America. Many of the Nervous Nellie & Norman fans are certain this lofty ranking will curse their team. (Enjoy it, Gator Nation!) Some Gator fans think it’s a jinx. Their team being exposed as a really good – good, not great – football team with an upward trajectory I mean, they just got rid of that Humpty Dumpty stench left by the previous coach. Why do they want to go and mess a perfectly good hiding-under-the-radar plan? Will this unranked team reluctantly be pushed onto a brightly lit stage of arrogance and NIL indulgence? Probably not, if you take note of how their coach is handling sudden success. To continue the answering of the Two-Step Verification process -- who do WE say they are? -- I went to Mount Rushmore and asked the Godfather of Gator Nation. He referenced his start at Florida in 1990 when nobody really even knew if he could coach at such a high level. There’s a parallel between the debut of Steve Spurrier and Billy Napier. Both started out unranked and exploded on the scene. Spurrier’s team blew out Oklahoma State 50-7, crashed into the rankings and stayed there for 12 years. One guy who's happy about No. 12 ranking is Spurrier, who sees a similarity, (Chris Spears Photo) “I told Billy he has a chance to do the same thing,” Spurrier said. Spurrier admits he was “shocked” at this 2022 Gator team’s high ranking coming so fast but thinks it’s a positive. “You gotta remember, we were 38th (in the poll last week),” he said. “It’s not like we were 29th, or 27th. I thought we would jump to about 20 and that would be 10 spots right there. But to jump all the way to twelve? That means the voters watched the game. And they felt like we were that good and can continue being there.” How good? Good enough to take off the “Don’t Fall in Love On The First Date” sign now we’ve been flashing like a hurricane warning. Go ahead and fall in love with Billy Napier. In fact, the engagement party is now underway, and the wedding is in the works. Just from what we saw, plan to be at the wedding and the celebration of many anniversaries together. What we suspected but were afraid to say: Billy Napier is the Real Deal. Scott Stricklin got the right guy. How do I know? I know because I know. Relax, it’s a good thing. If you paid attention to the videos of Billy talking to his team after the 26-23 defeat of No. 7 Utah, he admonished them to “stay humble,” but followed that comment with the assurances “you ALL know how to play football! You’ve been doing it all your life.” The trick, he said, is how to play as a team, to stand back-to-back and fight. And that’s exactly what they did in the Utah win. Can they do it again? Simple as it sounds, that’s one of the most brilliant coach’s post-game comments I’ve ever heard. And that beauty of that simplicity undergirds the key to Napier’s success: He knows how to communicate to his team. I wish those were the things we would hear in press conferences – maybe we don’t ask the right questions? -- but Napier’s dial-it-down demeanor to the media and fans is also part of what you get with his obsession for quality control and messaging. And I like it. Key comment by the HBC was the pollsters “felt like we were that good and can continue being there.” If you’re into analytics and can help quantify the following observations in some sort of algorithm, then you can help with the second portion of the “Two-Step Verification.” 1. Anthony Richardson is exactly who I’ve felt he was going to be all along. It’s easy for the bandwagon jumpers to forget now, but some of these so-called preseason ratings of quarterbacks in which he was snubbed as not even worthy of making the SEC’s top eight QBs are not only laughable, but disgraceful. I said it then and I say it now: How can these so-called “experts” pretend to know these things by watching a few clips? I also said, and I repeat: He is the most promising Florida QB at this stage I’ve ever seen – and that includes Cam Newton. Oddly enough, his so-called “Heisman Moment” might have come on the two-point conversion pass where he did what HBC calls the “Whirly Bird” to avoid tacklers and rifle the ball to Ja’Quavian Fraziars. 2. The most surprising unit was the offensive line. Not only was O’Cyrus Torrence a bona fide road-grader, but the manner in which all eight blocked, stayed disciplined and protected their quarterback was beyond impressive. Not a single sack, of course aided by their QB’s scoots. So kudos to OL coaches Rob Sale and Darnell Stapleton. 3. Yes, the Gators CAN run the football – and not just Richardson. Who knew Trevor Etienne was so quick and powerful? His good-fortune bounce of the football after fumbling and his technique for recovering it was a game-saver. It impressed the HBC. “You could tell he knew what to do because he reached out and retrieved the ball with his hands,” said Spurrier. You loved the way Napier came back to Montrell Johnson on the scoring drive after his fumble, and then the Louisiana transfer gobbled up A.R.’s pass on fourth down for the 14-yard gain to the 2, where Richardson scored the tying TD. Nay’Quan Wright remains solid as the starter. Now this week, they’ve got Lorenzo Lingard back as the fourth RB. 4. The front seven was undermanned and underwhelming at times and couldn’t seem to corral Cameron Rising or get much pressure on him with limited blitz packages of Patrick Toney. The defense yielded a whopping 446 yards (Florida gained more at 451). But I like the way the ‘D’ arose to the occasion. 5. Takeaways have been a priority and the one they got to win the game will be forever remembered: Amari Burney’s diving interception of Rising’s pass in the end zone will be immortalized as one of The Swamp’s memorable moments. The veteran leaderships showed up in the tackle stats: Trey Dean led with 12, Brenton Cox had a career high 10 and Ventrell Miller 9. At times the secondary was brilliant, led by Jason Marshall. Actually, one of the best answers to “Who Are They?” was provided by the new coach in the first quarter. His very first litmus tests for his “Scared Money Don’t Make Money” came on fourth-and-two at Utah’s 16 with 1:09 to play in the first quarter. Down 7-0 and still not establishing themselves as an offensive threat, I thought Napier would opt for the field goal. Instead, he called Johnson’s number and Richardson hit him in stride with a pass to the two. Florida scored to tie it 7-all. So much for Scared Money. Then at the end, Napier put the ball in the trusted hands of Richardson and said, "Go win it!" Which his QB did. Napier says there's plenty of room for improvement. There's a wish list (mine): More push up front. Linemen stop playing a yard off the ball. More "shots" or downfield passes (why didn't Trent Whittemore have any targets?) A few too many penalties. But watch for those fixes and corrections. So that should give us both confidence and sufficient data for the verification part 2. The rest of it will be determined by the results of Saturday night’s outcome in another sold-out setting for two ranked teams, in which Florida is favored by about a touchdown or slightly less. I’ve seen enough to complete the “Two-Step Verification. I like Florida to beat Kentucky, 38-31, just like it has 33 of the last 35 times and 20 of the last 21 times at The Swamp. And maybe boost that upward trajectory to the Top Ten. Then Scott Stricklin might want Napier to repeat his vows, even before the wedding. They’re getting there and the journey looks promising. Can they do enough to stay there?

"Florida coming off a mild upset of then #7 Utah is looking to continue to grow under first year head coach Billy Napier. Kentucky is seeking a second straight win against the Gators for the first time since 1977. In what has become one of the SEC’s most underrated rivalries, Florida and Kentucky have split the last two contests with only one of those games (Florida win in 2020) decided by more than one score. By LOREN MEADOWS GatorBait.com Football Analyst Saturday night the 12th ranked Florida Gators welcome the 20th ranked Kentucky Wildcats to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for an SEC East showdown. Florida coming off a mild upset of then #7 Utah, looking to continued growth under first-year head coach Billy Napier. Kentucky is seeking a second straight win against the Gators for the first time since 1977. In what has become one of the SEC’s most underrated rivalries, Florida and Kentucky have split the last two contests with only one of those games (Florida win in 2020) decided by more than one score. For those that enjoyed Saturday’s physical contest with Utah, this weekend will be more of the same as both programs like to play ferocious, sound defense, complemented by physical efficient offense. Kentucky has become a thorn in the Gators side for the last five years after such overwhelming dominance by Florida, with each team feeling they have let at least one or two games slip away. Will the Gators be up to the challenge for the second week in a row? Will Kentucky’s reshuffled offensive line protect its quarterback better than it did against a Miami of Ohio? Will The Swamp and the September humidity play a factor for the second straight week? Let’s take a look at Florida vs. Kentucky Kentucky Offense: The Kentucky offense could enter this game missing three of its top four rushers. The SEC's leading rusher in 2021, Chris Rodriguez Jr. has been indefinitely suspended for disciplinary reasons while Ramon Jefferson and JuTahn McClain are out with undisclosed injuries. With those absences the bulk of the offensive production will fall on quarterback Will Levis (#7, 6-3, 232) and reserve running back Kavosiey Smoke (#0, 5-9, 209). A second-year starter, Levis will attempt to affect the game with both his legs and arm. Levis carried the Kentucky offense with 303 passing yards in Week 1 against Miami. While he can be just as effective on the ground, Miami was able to register four sacks on the mobile quarterback. Kavosiey Smoke should receive the lion’s share of the carries against Florida. A hard runner with a low center of gravity, his 5.6-yard per carry average over a five-year career make him a solid SEC back. Ultimately to effectively run the ball, Kentucky will rely on the improvement of its retooled offensive line. New offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello will incorporate the 49ers/LA Rams outside zone rushing scheme against the Gators but will do so with three new starters and one who will be making a position change this week. Eli Cox (#75, 6-4, 298) was one of the SEC’s best guards a year ago before suffering a season ending injury and has moved to center. His counterpart on the “Big Blue Wall” is Kenneth Horsey (#68, 6-3, 304) who has started 21 of 25 career games and will make the move from Left Guard to Left Tackle against the Gators. The new look offensive line managed only 50 rushing yards last Saturday and will be looking to reinvent themselves against a gator front that struggled against the Utah rushing attack. Unlike Utah, who could not challenge the Gator secondary on the outside, Kentucky features three dynamic newcomers that could cause issues for the Florida secondary. Virginia Tech transfer Tayvion Robinson (#9, 5-11, 187) eclipsed the yardage record for a Kentucky receiver in a debut (136 yards). Four-Star freshmen Dane Key (#6, 6-3, 194) and Barrion Brown (#2, 6-1, 166) combined for 7 catches and a touchdown in their debut, with Brown adding a 100-yard kickoff return in his first game. Will Levis is a bonafide NFL prospect with the measurables NFL scouts love. Florida will have to be mindful to disguise coverage and rush with discipline to make things difficult for him throughout the evening. Florida was able to hurry Cam Rising five times but was unable to register a sack against a retooled Utah offensive front. Kentucky’s offensive line could be more vulnerable, and Florida’s defensive line should be able to take advantage similar to Miami who registered four sacks and applied consistent pressure on Will Levis. Tayvion Robinson is a legitimate concern at the receiver position and Kentucky does a nice job moving him to different spots (a la Cooper Kupp). Look for the Florida secondary to identify him on every play and adjust accordingly. Key and Brown are future stars but an experienced Florida secondary should stand up well against the freshman duo despite Brown possessing elite speed. This could be a game where sophomore corner Jason Marshall plays a prominent role after a quiet night against Utah. Kentucky Defense: Mark Stoops returns five starters to a defense that ranked 26th nationally in 2021. Former 5-star recruit Justin Rogers (#52, 6-3, 332) anchors a defensive line that features two former 4-stars recruits in Octavious Oxendine (#8 6-1, 281), and Tre'Vonn Rybka (#90 6-4, 275). At inside linebacker DeAndre Square (#5, 6-1, 221) is one of the SEC’s best starting 35 of 49 games and registering 244 career tackles. At outside linebacker is Junior J.J. Weaver (#13, 6-5, 242). Weaver is a highly motivated player who uses his long frame and athletic ability to make plays. In just 25 games Weaver has recorded 16.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. The secondary is led by safeties Tyrell Ajian (#6, 6-0, 193) and Jalen Geiger (#4, 6-1, 197). Ajian is a 5th-year senior who elected to make use of his COVID year to return to school. Jalen Geiger is a hard-working safety from Columbia, S.C. who spurned late attention from the Gamecocks. The son of highly decorated Army officers, Geiger embodies the “lunch pail” mentality of a Mark Stoops defense, one of his main reasons for sticking with his early pledge to the Wildcats. Rounding out the secondary is Carrington Valentine (#14, 6-0, 194) and Ole Miss transfer Keidron Smith (#1, 6-2, 204). Smith started Florida’s 2020 contest with Ole Miss totaling 12 tackles and one pass-breakup. Due to his size and experience, look for Smith to draw Florida’s Justin Shorter Saturday night. Florida will once again look to impose its will on the defensive front of Kentucky. The trio of Nay’Quan Wright, Montrell Johnson, and Trevor Etienne -- and now maybe even Lorenzo Lingard -- should be heavily featured in the game plan after combining for 178 yards rushing versus Utah. As Florida looks to open the passing game, particularly on the outside, Kentucky will be tasked with limiting throwing lanes while also paying close attention to the dynamic Anthony Richardson should he tuck the ball and run. The offensive line and Richardson are clearly the strength of the Florida offense. Will two hours of Ethan White and O’Cyrus Torrence leaning on Rogers and others take its toll on another sweltering night? Will Anthony Richardson’s legs be the X-Factor for a second week? The Skinny: The saying goes, “styles make fights.” Which ultimately means because Team A beat Team C, and Team B struggled against Team D, Team A may not beat Team B. Billy Napier and company have all the respect in the world for Mark Stoop’s Kentucky program stating, “This is a good developmental program that I have nothing but respect for. So, you’ve got to beat Kentucky. They are going to make you beat them.” Simply put, pay no attention to Kentucky’s early struggles against Miami of Ohio. Kentucky will arrive in The Swamp as confident as it did in 2018 win the Wildcats finally broke through with a win in Gainesville in the second game in the season, against a new Florida head coach. There is a difference. Florida was not set back then at quarterback and Kentucky featured a dominant offensive line with a future NFL running back. Anthony Richardson must -- and will be -- the difference in the game Saturday night. Florida cleans up its “sloppy” mistakes. Jason Marshall Jr. picks Levis once and Richardson hits Nay’ Quan Wright in the flat for a late score to put it out of reach for the Gators. Prediction-Florida 33 Kentucky 23

A few thoughts to jump start your Friday morning: PAYBACKS ARE HELL! A year ago in Lexington, the 10th-ranked Florida Gators all but giftwrapped a 20-13 victory to the Kentucky Wildcats. There is absolutely no way the Gators should have lost that game but stuff happens when you commit 15 penalties, have a blocked field goal returned for a TD and throw an interception that gives your opponent a 29-yard field to work with for the game-winning TD. What happened in Lexington was the foreshadowing of a meltdown for UF, the beginning of an almost dream season for the Wildcats, who went on score their second 10-win season in four years. It was an embarrassing game for the Gators, who outgained Kentucky 382-224. Post game Dan Mullen did his best Hal Mumme impersonation (Florida beat UK 59-31 in 2000 but Mumme bragged afterward of outgaining the Gators 504-452) when he seemed more pleased that the Gators outgained the Wildcats than he was disappointed that they lost and that UK fans rushed the field. A year later, the Wildcats come to Gainesville 1-0 and ranked 20th nationally. Having beaten the Gators two of the last four years including 2018 in Gainesville, Kentucky no longer fears Florida but considers itself the football equal. Tyreak Sapp, who played a key role in Florida’s 29-26 win over then 7th-ranked Utah last Saturday night, didn’t make the trip to Lexington last year when he took a redshirt. Even so, he and every UF player who was on the team in 2021, remembers the fans rushing the field all too well. “Yeah, of course, you take that personally,” Sapp said Monday. “Of course, you’re gonna take that personal, but you’ve got to understand, you’ve got to guide that motivation and those emotions in the right direction. You can’t be all over the place. You’ve got to have those things in the right spot.” That is the key to Saturday night when the Wildcats come to The Swamp to face the 12th-ranked Gators. It’s important for the Gators to not only win the game, but let the Wildcats know that there is hell to pay when your fans act like they haven’t been there and done that before. Well, it is Kentucky and it is football, so it’s true they haven’t. Just the same, the Gators need to keep their emotions under control and play disciplined football if they want to start the season 2-0. Florida wins this game if the Gators avoid stupid penalties, play under control and play a second consecutive turnover-free game. Kentucky probably stacks the box to stop the run which will put a premium on Anthony Richardson finding Ricky Pearsall, Justin Shorter and his other receivers downfield. If UK stacks the box, then UK will be either in a zone or taking its chances in single coverage. If Richardson plays under control and doesn’t try to force things he should be the difference maker. Paybacks are hell! The Sayer says sooth!: FLORIDA 28, Kentucky 20 The SEC Soothsayer #1 Alabama (1-0) at Texas (1-0): While Blondie, aka Quinn Ewers was throwing passes last week against Monroe Doctrine, astutely coached by Little Terry Bowden, his Ferrari got towed. Isn’t that a shame? This week he gets to face a real defense and a real coach who isn’t about to let this man with a mullet beat him. This is the Nick Saban Revenge Tour, payback for the indignity of losing not once, but twice last year to former assistants. Steve Sarkisian is a former assistant about to discover that the Tide will come from Alabama with something other than a banjo on its knee. The Sayer says sooth!: Stars Fell on Alabama 41, Texas Two-Step 10 South Carolina (1-0) at #16 Arkansas (1-0): A week ago, Spencer Rattler looked like the guy who lost his starting job at Oklahoma a year ago and not like a QB with a new lease on life and a chance to show he’s still THE guy. Rattler is going to have to drum up the old magic if he intends to beat Arkansas in Fayette Nam where folks think the glory days of Frank Broyles are about to happen once again. The Sayer says sooth!: Sooey State 34, Shagging on Ocean Blvd 20 San Jose State (1-0) at Auburn (1-0): Some folks say Bryan Harsin was dumb to take the Auburn job given those zany alums who bought out Gus Malzahn for more than $21 million. Dumb is in the eye of the beholder. If they fire him after this year – which you can figure they will do if he doesn’t win nine games, one of which is Alabama – they will owe him something like $18 million. Some might suggest go 7-5, take the $18 million and go back to the Left Coast where they will appreciate you. The Sayer says sooth!: Auburn 38, Do You Know the Way to San Jose 10 Samford (1-0) at #2 Georgia (1-0): Chris Hatcher gave Kirby Smart his first coaching job at Valdosta State in 2000, then promoted him to defensive coordinator in 2001. Will Kirby take it easy on his old boss? Doubtful. Highly doubtful. The Sayer says sooth!: Midnight Train to Georgia 63, Samford and Son 0 Southern (1-0) at LSU (0-1): Brian Kelly’s offensive line is a mess and he’s got injuries all up and down the defensive depth chart. Doesn’t matter Saturday but it will soon. Maybe Kelly can show off those slick Tik-Tok dance moves at halftime when Southern University’s Human Juke Box and Dancing Dolls take the field. The Sayer says sooth!: Luziane 37, Real Southern Accents 7 Mississippi State (1-0) at Arizona (1-0): Mike Leach played rugby at BYU and has a law degree from Pepperdine. Arizona coach Jed Fisch was a tennis player in high school who came to Florida to learn coaching football from Steve Spurrier. That has nothing at all to do with Saturday’s football game in Tucson, which Mississippi State should win. The Sayer says sooth!: Mississippi State 42, Arizona Ice Tea 21 Missouri (1-0) at Kansas State (1-0): Lousy Tech ran for a grand total of eight yards on the Mizzou defense. K-State will run for significantly more Saturday afternoon out in the middle of that giant cornfield known as Manhattan, Kansas. Now that he’s somewhere other than Nebraska, Adrian Martinez will look like a QB you can actually win games with. The Sayer says sooth!: Silo Tech 28, Missouri Breaks 17 Central Arkansas (1-0) at #22 Ole Miss (1-0): Central Arkansas is the alma mammy of Mike Norvell, Charlie Strong, Scottie Pippen and James Bridges, who directed “The China Syndrome,” a film about nuclear disasters. This game will feel like nuclear disaster about halftime, when folks leave the stadium to refill tumblers full of Maker’s Mark and branch water in The Grove. The Sayer says Sooth: Ole Miss 56, China Syndrome 10 #24 Tennessee (1-0) at #17 Pittsburgh (1-0): Pat Narduzzi has spent the week doing a rather nifty impersonation of Granny Holtz. You’d think the Tennessee Vols are a mortal lock for the College Football Playoff. The folks in Vegas must see something they don’t like because they only favor the Vols by six. The Sayer says sooth!: Arm Pitt 31, Smokey Mountain School for the Dentally Impaired 30 Appalachian State (0-1) at #6 Texas A&M (1-0): The Mounties scored 40 points in the fourth quarter against North Carolina last week and still lost the game. They won’t score 40 in the whole game against the Aggies, but they could make it interesting if Haynes King can’t get over his nasty little habit of completing passes to the other team. If Haynes isn’t King for a Day in College Station Saturday, watch Jimbo Fisher turn the offense over to Max Johnson, who probably should have been starting from day one. The Sayer says sooth!: Texas A&M 31, Appalachian Trail 14 #23 Wake Forest (1-0) at Vanderbilt (2-0): They’re so excited about football in Nashville that the tailgate crowd has promised to bring extra bottles of chardonnay and white seedless grapes to get ready for Saturday. Meanwhile Wake Forest Gump got good news that Sam Hartman (72 career TDPs) is healthy again, which is why the Demon Deacons are favored by 12.5 points to end Vandy’s long winning streak at two games. The Sayer says sooth!: Wake Forest Gump 37, Gloria Vanderbilt 21 Our SEC orphans in the Big 12 Kent State (0-1) at #7 Oklahoma (1-0): This is a paycheck game. Oklahoma is willing to pay $1.8 million just to beat up on the poor Golden Flashes, who couldn’t win this game even if famous alums Nick Saban and Lou Holtz were coaching. The Sayer says sooth!: Okie from Muscogee 52, Clark Kent 7 Dabo gets a new deal Clemson will pay HBC Dabo Swinney $115 million over the next 10 years, making Dabo the highest paid coach in the country in terms of total compensation. Nick Saban’s contract extension at Alabama will average out to $11.7 million per year while Dabo will have to squeeze by on $11.5 million and Georgia’s Kirby Smart $11.2 million. Nick, Dabo and Kirby have combined to win 11 national championships since 2009 and six of the eight in the College Football Playoff era. ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: The Board of Managers of the College Football Playoff has met again, just a week after agreeing to expand the playoff to 12 teams. Thursday’s meeting focused on moving expansion up to 2024 instead of 2026 when the current contract expires. ESPN, which holds exclusive broadcasting rights to the CFP, has a built-in right of first refusal to any changes in the current contract so if there is a deal made to move expand prior to 2026 then it will have to be with ABC/ESPN/Disney. It would make sense that ABC/ESPN/Disney would want to wrap up a deal now instead of allowing things to go to a bid in 2026. Additionally, ABC/ESPN/Disney is best equipped to handle an expanded playoff since it has ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN News, Disney, A&E and Lifetime networks available, plus streaming on Hulu. No other network has this kind of capability. There are questions that remain to be answered, such as how much money is on the table for broadcast rights, how will the money be distributed to the non-power conferences, how soon after conference championship games will the first playoff games take place and which bowl games will be incorporated into the playoff scenario? These would seem to be easy answers in that there are three football seasons to be played before the first playoff game would take place in 2024, but making this happen requires getting the presidents and athletic directors of 10 current conferences (plus Notre Dame) in agreement and that’s not exactly the easiest thing to do. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, the single most powerful man in college sports, wouldn’t say that a deal to move the playoff to 2024 is imminent but he did sound optimistic that it could happen. Speaking to Heather Dinich of ESPN, Sankey said, “A lot of work to do, but the opportunity is there.” One thing that should be noted: Moving the playoff ahead almost certainly assures Texas and Oklahoma will be members of the Southeastern Conference in 2024, coincidentally the same year the new SEC deal with ESPN kicks in. Expect negotiations to move quickly to get Texas and Oklahoma out of their existing deal with the Big 12 and get the Big 12 financially compensated well enough that it is willing to let them go. Part of the financial compensation should be a media deal that will be worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $50 million per year per school for every Big 12 member.

By FRANZ BEARD GatorBaitMedia.com The routine is the same every single morning. Ricky Pearsall shows up at Florida’s practice facility and with the help of a manager or whoever is available to load the Jugs machine, starts catching footballs fired at him from varying angles. The goal is to catch 100 without a drop. “You gotta get in 100 catches each time,” Pearsall said Wednesday after practice. “I mean in a row. That's how I look at it. I gotta get 100 in a row on the Jugs machine before I can leave. So if I drop one I got to restart.” From zero. Drop one pass and Pearsall starts all over again. It forces him to concentrate and see the ball all the way into his hands. When he was at Arizona State, they fired tennis balls at him with the Jugs machine. It was fun. It was even beneficial but you don’t catch tennis balls on the football field. So, now that he’s here at the University of Florida, it is a minimum of 100 footballs every morning. He arrives at the Heavener Football Center every morning for breakfast, gets treatment from the trainers at 8 a.m. and then it’s off to catch footballs from the Jugs machine. It is a routine but routines, he knows, serve a real purpose. “Like (Coach) Napier always says, get your routine together and it will carry you through your week,” Pearsall said. Routine and work ethic have already paid dividends for the Gators. In Florida’s season opening win over then 7th-ranked Utah, Pearsall and Anthony Richardson connected four times for 67 yards. All four of the catches resulted in a Florida first down, three of them critical on touchdown-scoring drives. He was precise. He was surehanded. He made the moves that separated him from Utah’s defenders, all things that come from routines and habits that don’t take a day off. Pearsall says what he does on the field is a direct result of repetition, “Just going out there every day with the same mindset that I’m going to get better at something. I think that's something that is necessary for a receiver to have: to go out in a day and knowing exactly where you’re going to get better at that day. I think I’ve stacked days on days of doing stuff and develop. That’s what I did.” Pearsall’s reputation for relentless pursuit of improvement was well known in coaching circles and one of the reasons that he was one of the highly sought transfers in the offseason. At Arizona State last year, Pearsall caught 48 passes for 580 yards and four touchdowns while playing for an offensively challenged team that had problems getting into the end zone. The Sun Devils ran the ball well enough, but in their final five games of the season they averaged only 129.2 passing yards per game. Pearsall was the only Arizona State wide receiver who could consistently get open. Arizona State’s offensive difficulties coupled with pending NCAA issues with the NCAA that forced head coach Herm Edwards to dismiss some of his assistant coaches in an effort to stave off harsh penalties that will come soon enough factored into Pearsall’s decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal. The decision to leave was painstakingly difficult, not only because he was a hometown kid playing for his hometown school, but also because it meant leaving Arizona, the only state he has ever called home. “Yeah, so it was a big decision for me to actually enter the portal because I'm from Tempe,” Pearsall said. “So it was a really big decision. I mean, I talked to my family and made sure that they would go with it as well as me and then we just decided to do what was best for me.” Once Pearsall placed his name in the transfer portal, there was far more interest than he could have imagined. Obviously, Pearsall knew he was good and would get a lot of interest, but he was completely caught off guard by how much and where it came from. He knew the West Coast schools would have an interest, but there was plenty from east of the Mississippi River, too. The morning after placing his name in the portal he was bombarded with phone calls and sales pitches. That went on for an entire week. The one call that stood out the most was from Billy Napier, Florida’s head coach, formerly (2017) the offensive coordinator at Arizona State under Todd Graham. “Entering the portal, I wasn’t expecting how it went because I've never experienced anything like that before,” Pearsall said. “So when I entered the portal, I woke up that morning and the phone calls and the rest of that entire week … honestly, I was on the phone for the entire time because I wanted to make that right decision.” Talking to Napier, Pearsall was confident he would be a good fit in Florida’s offensive scheme. He felt confident that he and Anthony Richardson could be a great pass-catch combo and he was enthralled with the idea of playing in the Southeastern Conference. Pearsall has the ability to play at the next level so it’s likely that Napier mentioned the fact that in the most recent NFL Draft, 65 players from the SEC were selected. Only 25 were taken from the Pac-12, the league that Arizona State calls home. When Pearsall weighed all the factors, what Florida had to offer made the most sense. “I put all my trust into Billy Napier,” Pearsall said. “He’s a tremendous coach and the things that he had to say, we trusted him and want to be here.” Napier liked the receivers he inherited and recruited but Pearsall added a dimension that was missing. The Gators have receivers with excellent top end speed but what they don’t have is wiggle. That’s what Pearsall brings to the Florida offense. Give him the football with a defender to juke and good things happen. He’s not just a make-you-miss type. Because he has good speed, is a precision route-runner and knows how to read coverages, Ricky Pearsall knows how to find open space in the secondary. “I think he’s skilled at the line of scrimmage, at the top of the route,” Napier said Wednesday. “He’s got really good ball skills. He’s got a really unique quickness and acceleration. I think he’s got a little creativity. The guy’s been running routes a long time and we needed a player like that, who’s got some run after the catch and some quickness. I think he’s a unique player in the slot who presents a mismatch.” Pearsall isn’t a small Wes Welker type who specializes in drag routes, bubble screens and simply turning short passes into move-the-chains plays. He’s nearly 6-2 and 195 pounds. The Gators line him up in the slot, but he’s very much a downfield threat as well as a guy who’s going to see his share of the quick outs that allow him to show his duck and dodge skills. He can run those underneath routes and get yards after the catch the way former UF All-American Kadarius Toney did, but he has the straightaway speed to get into a seam in the secondary for those 14 to17-yard throws that can slice and dice a defense. In Richardson, Pearsall has a QB who can throw those short and midrange darts but he can also fire it deep. “If he wants to throw it across the entire field, he can do it,” Pearsall said. “Just ask him. He’ll throw it a hundred yards.” At nearly 6-2 and 195 pounds, Pearsall is a dilemma for opposing defensive coordinators. Cover him with a corner and chances are Pearsall is bigger and stronger. Cover him with a safety or a linebacker and he can win with his speed. Linebackers? Forget about it. His productivity will force opponents to bracket him with a pair of defenders and that means other Florida receivers will have single coverage, which Richardson says will make life a whole lot easier. “He knows how to get open and knows how to run good routes,” Richardson said, adding, “The way he does things is going to help get the other guys open.” When the Gators were setting passing records in 2020, Kyle Pitts was the matchup nightmare whose presence and productivity opened things up for the other receivers. Pitts was called the “Unicorn” because he was a 6-6, 246-pound tight end with wide receiver speed. Pearsall certainly doesn’t have that kind of size, but like Pitts, he will command so much attention that defensive coordinators are going to have to pick their poison elsewhere. As the Gators showed in the Utah game, they have a huge, powerful offensive line, three quality running backs and Richardson, the ultimate dual threat QB who can make all the throws and is a go-the-distance threat when he elects to run. Pair him with good receivers and an X-factor like Pearsall and you have the makings of an offense that has the ability to adjust on the fly to take advantage of what the defense is willing to give. When the Gators play Kentucky this weekend, most experts believe the Wildcats will try to load up the box to stop the run, therefore putting the weight of Florida’s offense on the shoulders of Richardson to win with the passing game. If the Wildcats go eight in the box, Florida’s receivers are going to see either a zone or one-on-one coverage. Either way, Pearsall believes they will be up for the challenge. “I feel like going into every week, you got to look at it as the receivers are making a big impact on the game,” Pearsall said. “I prepare that way and I expect all the other receivers in the receiver room to prepare that way. Even in the running game, receivers are really impactful with their run blocking and stuff like that. You know what I mean? You know, running back breaks in the second level, you got to be there on your safety; you got to be there on your corner to make big run plays for Trevor, for all those guys. I think every week the receivers can be big.” No matter what Pearsall and his fellow wide receivers do Saturday night against Kentucky, the routine will be the same Monday morning. Breakfast. Treatment. Jugs machine. Make 100 catches without a drop or start from scratch. This is very serious business for Florida’s X-factor wide receiver whose dedication to improvement hasn’t changed since he switched from quarterback to receiver as a sophomore in high school. “Ever since then, just going out there every single day with the mindset of trying to get better at something,” Pearsall said. “You know, one percent [better] every day is what I live by.”

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.

A dull moment was rare and with an epic view of the field I was able to take in Anthony Richardson’s awesomeness from one of the best spots in the house. By KYLE CURTIS GatorBaitMedia.com I could not have asked for anything more for my first experience at The Swamp as a journalist. Quite honestly, it was something I have dreamed of my whole life. Growing up, I always looked up to guys such as Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso, among others, and to be steps away from TV analyst such as Dan Orlovsky really put things in perspective. While I tried my best to fit in with the rest of the seasoned vets, I had a few slip-ups. My orange and blue came out of me a few times during the game, and I almost disregarded the "no cheering" mandated for media. I gave it my all to keep in, but the emotion sometimes took over. Not only was it my first time in the press box, but the crowd at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field was lit, which help produce one of the coolest atmospheres in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium history. I found myself, with Buddy Martin to my left, analyzing and predicting each play and being transfixed on by the combination of the on-field competition and the ambiance of the crowd. I could not stop myself from constantly leaning back in my chair while banging my hand on the table with a subtle, but noticeable, foot tap in an attempt to hold in my emotions. The game was everything I could imagine and more -- an emotional roller coaster from start to finish. I felt Gator nation get behind Billy Napier in the closing moments. A dull moment was rare and with an epic view of the field I was able to take in Anthony Richardson’s awesomeness from one of the best spots in the house. There were two key moments in the game where I was able to look around the Norm Carlson Press Deck and monitor other reactions of people from what had just occurred on the field. Richardson’s two-point conversion spin move had everyone gasping for air not believing what had just happened. I even heard a fellow journalist behind chime in and say, “That definitely tops his hurdle from USF last year.” While Richardson’s spin-move is now an iconic play sketched in Florida’s history book, the same could be said about Amari Burney’s game-sealing interception. Leading up to the interception, I was overwhelmed with emotions as a fan but also felt a sense of contentment that the Gators were back. After Ventrell Miller dropped what could have been a game-saving interception, you could feel the air almost exude from all 90,799. The stadium, along with a few members in the press box (including myself), erupted when Burney made the game-clinching interception, sending chills down my spine. But I held my ground despite momentarily breaking contain. I must not forget, that Tom Petty’s Won’t Back Down was one of the most inspirational things I have seen in a while. I have experienced the tradition as a student in the stands but being able to take in everyone flashing their lights in a sold-out night game at the swamp is almost life changing. Nonetheless, I can confidently say this was one of -- if not the greatest -- experiences of my life. It has motivated me even more to pursue a career in this media industry. My love for the Gators and sports, in general, run deep in my bones. I am ready to show it to the world. While I have a few learning curves to conquer as I make my way upward, this was one of the best places to begin. I am excited for the rest of the season to be a working journalist for GatorBaitMedia.com and be fortunate to have a good seat to gain my perspective. Even if there is no cheering in the press box.

A few thoughts to jump start your Thursday morning: EGUAKUN, O-LINE LOVED IT WHEN NAPIER PUT THE GAME ON THEIR BACKS With six minutes remaining to be played in the Utah game, the Gators had the ball on their own 25, trailing the then 7th-ranked Utes, 26-22. At that point, Billy Napier essentially put the game in the hands of the offensive line. Over the next 4:57, the Gators drove the ball 75 yards in 14 plays for the winning score as Florida won the season opener, 29-26. Anthony Richardson threw two passes. He was in the pocket to throw a third on fourth down at the Utah 26 when the Utes brought the house on a blitz that forced Richardson to scramble nine yards for a critical first down. With the exception of those three snaps, it was ground and pound. The O-line lined up intent on knocking the Utes off the ball. It wasn’t like the Gators were fooling anyone. Utah knew what was coming. Once the Gators got past midfield, probably all 90,779 in the stadium knew it, too. Florida center Kingsley Eguakun, who played every offensive snap in the game, was more than pleased that Napier and the coaching staff let the big guys up front do their part to decide the game. “I’m going to be honest,” Eguakun said Wednesday night after practice. “That’s how we feel it needs to go in our [offensive line] room. In our room, we personally feel like it’s on our back. We’re good because we got veterans in the room. We’ve got guys who’ve played ball and know what’s going on. We got monsters. When I say that, I really mean that. We got dogs in that room. “So, we’re really comfortable when Coach does things like that because at the end of the day, we still got Ant (Anthony Richardson) back there. It's on all of us for real, but when he puts it on us, that makes me more comfortable than it being in someone else’s hands.” Florida pounded out 283 rushing yards against the Utes, averaging 7.3 yards per carry. Saturday night against 20th-ranked Kentucky, the 12th-ranked Gators will be going against a run defense that allowed 111 yards on 32 carries against Miami (OH). Eguakun on Dan Mullen picking the Gators fourth in the SEC East After acknowledging everyone in the locker room was aware that former UF coach Dan Mullen predicted the Gators would finish fourth in the SEC East, Eguakun said, “We joked about it the day it came out but at the end of the day, when you go play and win games, it doesn’t matter what anyone has to say.” Napier on football: It’s a game about people “There’s a human element to this game. I think we like to say that football is a game about people, strategy and competition and if you ever put strategy or competition at the top of that list, you’re not going to get the return you want. You have to keep people at the core of what you do. If you think you’re going to outsmart everybody, you’re wrong. If you think you’re going to outwork everybody, you’re wrong. It’s the right combination of those three and you’ve got to keep people at the core of what you do.” Week two depth chart for Kentucky (starter in bold face) Offense WR: Xzavier Henderson; Daejon Reynolds or Marcus Burke WR: Justin Shorter; Ja’Quavion Fraziars WR: Ricky Pearsall; Trent Whittemore; Ja’Markis Weston LT: Richard Gouraige; Kamryn Waites LG: Ethan White; Richie Leonard IV C: Kingsley Eguakun; Jake Slaughter RG: O’Cyrus Torrence; Josh Braun RT: Michael Tarquin; Austin Barber TE: Dante Zanders; Keon Zipperer QB: Anthony Richardson; Jalen Kitna or Kyle Engel RB: Nay’Quan Wright; Montrell Johnson Jr. or Trevor Etienne; Lorenzo Lingard Defense DE: Princely Umanmielen; Justus Boone DT: Jalen Lee; Desmond Watson; Jaelin Humphries; Jamari Lyons DE: Gervon Dexter Sr.; Tyreak Sapp; Chris McClellan JACK: Brenton Cox Jr.; Antaun Powell-Ryland Jr.; Lloyd Summerall III or David Reese LB: Ventrell Miller; Scooby Williams; Derek Wingo LB: Amari Burney; Shemar James; Diwun Black STAR: Tre’Vez Johnson; Jadarrius Perkins; Kamar Wilcoxson CB: Jason Marshall Jr.; Devin Moore; Jordan Young S: Rashad Torrence II; Kamari Wilson; Corey Collier Jr. S: Trey Dean III; Donovan McMillon; Miguel Mitchell CB: Avery Helm; Jalen Kimber; Ethan Pouncey Special Teams KO: Adam Mihalek or Trey Smack PK: Adam Mihalek or Trey Smack P: Jeremy Crawshaw; Jacob Watkins HOLDER: Jeremy Crawshaw; Jacob Watkins LS: Rocco Underwood; Chase Whitfield KOR: Ja’Markis Weston; Trevor Etienne; Nay’Quan Wright or Xzavier Henderson PR: Xzavier Henderson; Jason Marshall Jr. or Trevor Etienne Injured: TE Arlis Boardingham; CB Jaydon Hill; QB Jack Miller III; OL David Conner; LS Marco Ortiz SEC football #1 Alabama (1-0): Tight end Cam Latu, out since August with an injury, was pronounced 100 percent and good to go for Saturday’s game with Texas by Nick Saban. #16 Arkansas (1-0): The Razorbacks know they have to improve their pass defense when they take on South Carolina and transfer quarterback Spencer Rattler. Last week in the win over Cincinnati, the Razorbacks gave up 325 passing yards and two touchdowns. Auburn (1-0): Wide receiver JJ Evans, a former 4-star recruit who hasn’t seen the field in two seasons, has entered the transfer portal. #2 Georgia (1-0): There will be no quarterback controversy with Stetson Bennett the unquestioned starter, but will the backups – former 4-star Carson Beck and former 5-star Brock Vandagriff – tire of waiting around? Kirby Smart says his message to the QBs is the same as every other player: “They have to make decisions on what’s best for them.” #20 Kentucky (1-0): SEC Network analyst Roman Harper says, “Florida is going to win this game, and I think they’re going to win it pretty handily, too. It’s going to look dominant. I’m not trending toward a blowout, but it is in The Sawmp and they do play better, they do play differently. Use me as ammo, if you need it, I’m feeding it to you right now, Kentucky Wildcats, but if you want to win this game, you’ve got to stop Florida up front. Kentucky looked a little softer. I hate using the word softer, but they were not as physical running the football.” LSU (0-1): On the SEC Coaches Teleconference Brian Kelly said “everything is up for evaluation” this week as the Tigers deal with numerous injuries on the defensive side of the ball and try to come up with a decent combination for an offensive line that stunk against FSU. Mississippi State (1-0): When the Bulldogs face off with Arizona in Tucson Saturday, Mike Leach will be going against quarterback Jayden de Laura. “I recruited him and signed him at Washington State so I think a lot of him,” Leach said Wednesday. “He’s a good player.” Missouri (1-0): Mizzou allowed only eight rushing yards in game one against Louisiana Tech. This week the Tigers will be challenged to stop Kansas State’s Deuce Vaughn, who ran for 126 yards and a TD in K-State’s season opening win over South Dakota. #22 Ole Miss (1-0): Lane Kiffin will start Luke Altmeyer at QB this week after giving Jaxson Dart the start in the season opener. “Obviously, I’m not going to say it’s the best thing,” Kiffin said on the SEC Coaches Teleconference Wednesday, “but we’ve got to find the best guy.” South Carolina (1-0): Former Gator Chris Doering, now an SEC Network analyst, says South Carolina’s O-line has to play better than it did in week one for the Gamecocks to beat Arkansas on the road. “Until I see it I’m going to be really skeptical about what that line’s going to be able to do.” #24 Tennessee (1-0): A year ago, Hendon Hooker was the backup to Joe Milton when the Vols faced Pitt in Neyland Stadium. This year the roles are reversed for UT’s road trip to Pitt. Hooker, who threw for 188 yards and two TDs coming off the bench last year, started the 2022 season 18-25 for 221 yards and two TDs against Ball State. #6 Texas A&M (1-0): Regarding Saturday opponent Appalachian State of the Sun Belt Conference, Jimbo Fisher said, “I look at them as a true Power Five team and a team that can compete in any conference in America” … According to the Bryan Eagle newspaper, since the NIL rule went into effect in 2021, Aggie football players have earned $3,367,517.52 Vanderbilt (2-0): HBC Clark Lea should be quite familiar with what Wake Forest will be trying to do offensively Saturday. Lea worked with Wake HBC Dave Clawson at both Bowling Green and Wake Forest. He also worked with current WF offensive coordinator Warren Ruggerio when the two were on the Bowling Green staff together. Our SEC orphans in the Big 12 #7 Oklahoma (1-0): The Sooners had nine tackles for loss and six sacks in their season-opening win over UTEP last week. Texas (1-0): For Texas to have a shot at beating #1 Alabama, running back Bijan Robinson (10-71 for 1 TD last week against Louisiana-Monroe) is going to have to have a big game. Robinson ran for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games last season. ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Here we are in the second full week of college football and we still haven’t had our first head coach go down for the count. That could change this week if Nebraska and Georgia Tech rise to crashing defeat, which is entirely possible. Countdown to Firing Day, Week Two On Life Support Scott Frost, Nebraska: When it was 7-7 at halftime against North Dakota last week he was teetering on the verge of a Sunday dismissal. Georgia Southern comes to Lincoln this week, a game that the Fighting Frosts dare not lose or else the HBC will be jettisoned. Geoff Collins, Georgia Tech: If Georgia Tech loses or is pushed to the limit by the Fighting Kerwin Bells of Western Carolina, Collins could be packing his office on Monday. He’s 9-27 at the North Avenue Trade School. Scot Loeffler, Bowling Green: He won’t get fired until season’s end, unless, of course, he shocks the world by going 6-6. Bryan Harsin, Auburn: He will be 2-0 after beating San Jose State this weekend but Penn State looms and then comes the SEC West and Georgia. Jake Spavital, Texas State: He’s 0-1 this season and 9-28 since becoming the head coach. If he survives past the September 17 blowout loss to Baylor it will be a miracle. Mike Bloomgren, Rice: Stanford’s been on a downhill slide since he left there as the OC in 2017. Rice is 11-32 with Bloomgren as the head coach. It’s a matter of when not if he gets fired. Maybe David Shaw will hire him again at Stanford. Endangered Species List Herm Edwards, Arizona State: The admin threw everyone except Herm under the bus for the NCAA issues. The Pac-12 looks so weak he could actually survive. Willie Taggart, Florida Atlantic: He’s 1-1 right now, but if Southeastern Louisiana gives the Owls a tussle and then they get boatraced by UCF on September 17 the buzzards will start circling. Seth Littrell, North Texas: Three straight losing seasons have the North Texas boosters asking “we’re paying $1.8 million for what?” He really needs 7-8 wins to make the boosters happy. Steve Sarkisian, Texas: The alums won’t be happy after the Horns lose to Alabama (badly) this weekend, but Sark’s future in Austin depends on a decent Big 12 record and keeping the commitment of Arch Manning. Dino Babers, Syracuse: He should be 2-0 after UConn this weekend. Four more wins and he survives. Neal Brown, West Virginia: This is his fourth year and he’s 17-19. He really needs to do something better than 6-6 or 7-5 but it’s a difficult schedule. Ken Niumatalolo, Navy: Two straight losing seasons and now a season-opening loss to D1AA Delaware plus a schedule that isn’t conducive to a winning record. The situation is dicey. Scott Satterfield, Louisville: If he gets clocked by UCF at the Bounce House this weekend he will be On Life Support.

A few thoughts to jump start your Wednesday morning: 1969, 2022 AND THE ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL The Ray Graves-coached 1969 Florida Gators led by John Reaves, Carlos Alvarez and a bunch of sophomores nobody really knew about were unranked when they destroyed 7th-ranked Houston 59-34 in the season-opener at Florida Field. When the Associated Press poll came out after opening weekend, the Gators found themselves ranked 12th. Fast forward 53 years. The Billy Napier-coached 2022 Gators led by redshirt sophomore QB Anthony Richardson and a bunch of freshmen and sophomores nobody really knew much about opened the season with a 29-26 win over 7th-ranked Utah, the reigning Pac-12 Conference champions. The new AP poll came out Tuesday. The Gators are ranked 12th. They’re also ranked 19th in the Coaches poll. Those 1969 Gators went on the road in week two to face a Mississippi State team that won only three games all season. Perhaps the euphoria of the previous week took a toll because Florida’s 47-35 victory bore resemblance of a team still celebrating the week before. The 2022 Gators will be home for game two and the opponent is 20th-ranked Kentucky, a team that has beaten the Gators two of the last four years. When the Wildcats beat the Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in 2018, it broke a losing streak that dated all the way back to 1986. To put it mildly, the fear factor that once existed for UK when it came to playing the Gators, has disappeared. What Billy Napier, winner of the weekly Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Week award, has to be sure of is that the Gators have gotten over beating Utah and are 100 percent focused on a Kentucky team that is quite similar to Utah. The Wildcats are very physical on both sides of the line of scrimmage, love to run the ball last week’s 50-yard output against Miami (OH) notwithstanding. Like Utah, which was led by transfer QB Cameron Rising, Kentucky has an outstanding transfer QB in Will Levis, who began his career at Penn State. Last Saturday, Levis threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns. A season ago he showed has has good wheels by running for nine touchdowns in addition to his 24 TDPs. So how does Napier keep the Gators feet on the ground and eliminate the noise in the system that a high ranking can give a young team? “I think sometimes we hear the things we want to hear and we don’t hear the things we need to hear,” Napier said at his Monday press conference. “So just remaining objective, evaluate it for what exactly it is. I think sometimes we get consumed with the results. Reality is we need to always evaluate, win or lose, independent of the result. What does the film look like and what can we do better?” The film doesn’t lie. Napier knows it. His coaching staff knows it. He’s hoping his young team knows it, too. “I think we’ve got some momentum but we also have a team that is very self-aware,” Napier said. “I think we’ve got a smart group. I think they understand good football. They watched the tape. They know they can do better.” Quarterback Anthony Richardson, who was the SEC Offensive Player of the Week for his outstanding effort against Utah, will be the toughest on himself when it comes to believing he can do better. “He’s going to watch the film three times and tell you everything he could have done better, but he rose to the occasion is what I would say,” Napier said. If the rest of the team is as determined as Richardson to correct the mistakes and improve, then the Gators should be very well-prepared for Kentucky Saturday night. Associated Press Top 25 poll: 1. Alabama 1-0; 2. Georgia 1-0; 3. Ohio State 1-0; 4. Michigan 1-0; 5. Clemson 1-0; 6. Texas A&M 1-0; 7. Oklahoma 1-0; 8. Notre Dame 0-1; 9. Baylor 1-0; 10. Southern Cal 1-0; 11. Oklahoma State 1-0; 12. FLORIDA 1-0; 13. Utah 0-1; 14. Michigan State 1-0; 15. Miami 1-0; 16. Arkansas 1-0; 17. Pittsburgh 1-0; 19. North Carolina State 1-0; 20. Kentucky 1-0; 21. BYU 1-0; 22. Ole Miss 1-0; 23. Wake Forest 1-0; 24. Tennessee 1-0; 25. Houston 1-0 Coaches Top 25 poll: 1. Alabama 1-0; 2. Georgia 1-0; 3. Ohio State 1-0; 4. Clemson 1-0; 5. Michigan 1-0; 6. Texas A&M 1-0; 7. Oklahoma 1-0; 8. Baylor 1-0; 9. Notre Dame 0-1; 10. Oklahoma State 1-0; 11. Michigan State 1-0; 12. Southern Cal 1-0; 13. North Carolina State 1-0; 14. Pittsburgh 1-0; 15. Utah 0-1; 16. Miami 1-0; 17. Arkansas 1-0; 18. Wisconsin 1-0; 19. FLORIDA 1-0; 20. Kentucky 1-0; 21. Wake Forest 1-0; 22. Texas 1-0; 23. Ole Miss 1-0; 24. Oregon 0-1; 25. BYU 1-0 SEC football (AP rankings) #1 Alabama (1-0): Alabama ranks #1 in the SEC in total defense. In the Crimson Tide’s season opening win over Utah State, Alabama gave up 79 rushing yards and 57 through the air. #16 Arkansas (1-0): HBC Sam Pittman says the reason the Razorbacks are winning games and showing up in the rankings is because “they believe in what we’ve done, what we do at practice and how we play is the only reason why we’re winning.” Auburn (1-0): Tank Bigsby (147 yards, 9.19 per carry) leads the SEC in rushing. The Tigers are third in the SEC in rushing at 285 yards per game. #2 Georgia (1-0): Kirby Smart was none too pleased with Georgia’s Tuesday practice. “Thought we had one of our best practices of the year yesterday,” Smart said. “Thought we had one of our worst practices of the year today. Not sure where we are today.” Kirby is sounding a lot like Lou Holtz. Georgia plays D1AA Samford. This will be over before the end of the first quarter. #20 Kentucky (1-0): There is still no word on the status of All-SEC running back Chris Rodriguez, who missed game one on suspension from a summer DUI. Kentucky’s running back room is quite thin even if Rodriguez can play. JuTahn McClain may not be available to play and Ramon Jefferson is done for the year with an ACL tear … Former Kentucky and Baylor head coach Guy Morriss passed away from complications from Alzheimers. He was 71. LSU (0-1): All-American wide receiver Kayshon Boutte caught just two passes for 20 yards against FSU. He was clearly perturbed on the sideline and during the game. Brian Kelly said Tuesday, “His standard is so high. It wasn’t his best game but he’s going to have great games. He’s the least guy I’m concerned about on our offense.” Mississippi State (1-0): Ahead of Saturday’s road trip to Arizona, HBC Mike Leach said he’s looking for improvement from his receivers after the 49-23 opening game win over Memphis. Leach said, “I thought the receivers have to be faster and more precise with their routes, although I saw improvement and occasionally guys did what I thought they would do.” Missouri (1-0): Wide receiver Chance Luper is home from the hospital after being diagnosed with an undisclosed illness that could keep him out six to eight weeks or longer. Luper is the son of Mizzou running backs coach Curtis Luper … Mizzou has the #1 run defense in the country. The Tigers gave up only eight rushing yards in the season opening win over Louisiana Tech. #22 Ole Miss (1-0): Lane Kiffin, discussing the lack of second half enthusiasm from the Ole Miss crowd in the win over Troy, said, “It seemed like it was really good, especially in the first half but they probably got bored in the second half. I would be too with our offense.” South Carolina (1-0): Wide receiver Corey Rucker is considered doubtful for Saturday’s game with 16th-ranked Arkansas while offensive lineman Jake Moore and defensive back RJ Roderick are listed as questionable. Wake Forest transfer running back Christian Beal-Smith is expected to be ready to play. #24 Tennessee (1-0): Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi keeps fluffing up Tennessee ahead of Saturday’s matchup in Pittsburgh. Narduzzi said Tuesday, “There’s only two real Power Five conferences in the country, the SEC and the Big Ten, so we’re in the pee-wee league and we’re going to line up and see if we can play.” #6 Texas A&M (1-0): Asked if he’d ever coach at West Virginia, Jimbo Fisher responded, “You never say never in this business and home is home. West Virginia’s always dear to my heart. I love ‘em and always have, always rooted for ‘em my whole life. Hey, you never say never in this business where it takes you. I’m happy where I’m at and I love where I’m at, but home is home.” Vanderbilt (2-0): Quarterback Sam Hartman, who was thought to be out as long as the entire season, has been cleared to play Saturday when Wake Forest travels to face Vanderbilt in Nashville. Our SEC orphans in the Big 12 #7 Oklahoma (1-0): Saturday opponent Kent State will be guaranteed $1.8 million to take its beating against the Sooners Saturday. Kent State will be paid $5.2 million in paycheck games this season after getting $5.25 million in 2021. Texas (1-0): HBC Steve Sarkisian, a graduate of St. Nick’s Rehab Center for Wayward Coaches, says he would not be a head coach today except for Nick Saban. Speaking to ESPN, Sarkisian said, “He gave me a chance when I had a hard time getting an interview, never mind a job. There were days I thought, ‘Man, I’m never going to be a head coach again. I’m never going to get another job’ but Coach Saban took a chance on me when I needed somebody to believe in me again.” Coach O discussing the negotiations of his LSU contract buyout Speaking at the Little Rock Touchdown Club, former LSU coach Ed Orgeron explained just how tense the negotiations were for the buyout of his contract. Coach O explained, “They said, ‘Coach, you’ve got $17.1 million on your contract. We’re going to give it to you. I said, ‘What time do you want me to leave and what door do you want me out of, brother?’” ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: When it comes to the quarterback position consider the NCAA’s transfer portal to be the great equalizer. Take a look at the Southeastern Conference, for example where six of the league’s 14 starting QBs are transfers – Hendon Hooker, Tennessee; Will Levis, Kentucky; Spencer Rattler, South Carolina; TJ Finley, Auburn; Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss); and Jayden Daniels (LSU). According to the research done by Mike Hugenin of On3Sports, there are 11 former SEC quarterbacks starting somewhere else and with the exception of Texas A&M, Kentucky, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, every school in the SEC has a former quarterback starting somewhere else. Of the 131 Division I football schools, 61 have a starting quarterback who began his career at another school. By conference it breaks down like this: Sun Belt 8, Pac-12 and Mountain West 7 each, Big 12 and SEC 6 each, ACC 5 and Big Ten 5 each, MAC 4, and independents 2. Of the Associated Press top 25 teams here are the ones with transfer quarterbacks: 7. Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma; 10. Caleb Williams, Southern Cal; 13. Cameron Rising, Utah; 17. Kedon Slovis, Pittsburgh; 20. Will Levis, Kentucky; 24. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee. Eight of the next ten teams in the top 25 voting have transfers starting at QB. Before there was a transfer portal, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray found a home at Oklahoma where they won back-to-back Heismans (2017-18). Joe Burrow left Ohio State as a grad transfer, resurfaced at LSU and won the 2019 Heisman while leading the Tigers to the national championship. They are the poster children for quarterbacks in Division I who believe there must be greener grass and stardom somewhere else if someone will only give them a chance. So, when you survey the quarterback room at Florida or any other Division I school, you can figure that at least half of them will be finishing their careers somewhere else. Get used to it. It’s the way of today’s world.