Kentucky at Florida – UK Athletics

preview

Two 3-3 teams meet Saturday when Kentucky visits Florida for a Southeastern Conference game at the Swamp in Gainesville (7:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network).

Kentucky lost 20-13 to Vanderbilt at Kroger Field last week. Florida lost to Tennessee in overtime in Knoxville in the Gators' last game.

The Cats have won three straight against the Gators and four of the last six. Kentucky also won two straight games in Gainesville for the first time since 1979. Overall, Florida leads the series 53-21, including a 29-6 mark in Gainesville.

Cat Scratches: Kentucky's offense focuses on explosive plays and finishing drives

Kentucky's offense has been able to move the ball in almost every game this season. The Cats are able to increase yardage and gain first downs. But the end of the ride was tough for the 2024 Cats.

On Tuesday, UK offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan said his team was focused on a number of things, but one word kept coming up: finish.

“I think the message is consistent for us. Process is the process here,” Hamdan said. “From our perspective, we definitely need to look at what these problems are and how we can fix them. Constance, you've heard that from us many times. We have to finish drives, that's the frustrating part about it. I think you look at every game we've played this year, from yardage to first downs to moving the ball and so on and so forth. From a completion standpoint, it just didn’t happen.”

The Cats were able to move the ball between the 30-yard lines, but once they reached the red zone, the drives stalled. Hamdan wants his unit to have the focus it needs to complete these drives… Read more

Kentucky vs. Florida

The series
• Florida leads the all-time series with Kentucky 53-21.
• The Gators lead the all-time series in Gainesville 29-6.
• The Wildcats have won three straight in the series and four of the last six.
• The Wildcats won two of those games (2018, 2022) in The Swamp after not winning there since 1979.
• In UK's last trip to the Swamp on September 10, 2022, the Wildcats earned a 26-16 victory.
• Last season, Kentucky defeated Florida 33-14 in Lexington and set the following season highs in its most impressive rushing performance of 2023:
• Team rushing attempts – 36
• Team Rushing Yards – 329
• Yards per rush – 9.1
• Rushing touchdowns – 3 (Ray Davis with all three)
• Player Rushing Yards – 280 (Ray Davis)
• Longest rush – 75 yards (Ray Davis)

The ties
• Kentucky's roster features eight players from the Sunshine State, including RB Henry Bennett (West Palm Beach), LB Jayvant Brown (Deerfield Beach), WR Hardley Gilmore IV (Belle Glade), OL Daniel Mincey (Pompano Beach), OL Gerald Mincey (Fort Lauderdale), RB Tovani Mizell (Fort Lauderdale), DB Jarard Mosely (West Palm Beach) and RB Jason Patterson (Sneads).
• Additionally, UK offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan was wide receivers coach at Florida in 2012.

Through the numbers

6
Times Kentucky has beaten Florida in Gainesville, including the last two meetings (2018 and 2022)

9
Kentucky ranks in the country in scoring defense through three games (14.5 points per game)

20.5
Briton JJ Weaver loses his career

66
Field victories for Mark Stoops, the most in British history

367
Career points for UK kicker Alex Raynor, second most among active FBS players