Florida Upsets No. 11 Kentucky to Secure Third Ranked Win
Florida defeated Kentucky 21-14, pulling off yet another upset win in an up-and-down season at Kroger Field, OutKick reported.
The loss hurts the No. 11 Wildcats and their aspirations for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Entering the matchup, Kentucky faced a 5-4 Florida squad that had already secured surprising upset victories over Ole Miss and Texas earlier in the season.
Before the game began, Kentucky hosted a drone show. “Drones are way better than fireworks,” Matthew Reigle wrote for OutKick. “I will die on that hill.”
Kentucky and Florida score early in the contest
Offense proved difficult to come by early in the contest. Kentucky broke the scoreless tie when quarterback Kenny Minchey connected with running back CJ Baxter for a touchdown with under two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Florida got on the scoreboard in the second quarter via an offensive holding penalty committed in the end zone, which resulted in a safety. The Gators trailed just 7-2 heading into the locker room at halftime.
Florida claimed its first lead in several weeks during the third quarter. Running back Jadan Baugh carried the ball into the end zone for a touchdown.
Kentucky responded with a 1-yard quarterback keeper by Minchey for a touchdown. Florida answered with a field goal, bringing the score to 14-13 in favor of the Wildcats entering the fourth quarter.
Philo leads fourth-quarter drive to retake the lead
Gators quarterback Aaron Philo orchestrated a 14-play drive in the final period, capping it off with a touchdown run to retake the lead.
Florida head coach Jon Sumrall elected to keep the offense on the field for a two-point conversion attempt. Philo rolled out and threw a pass to a wide-open Dallas Wilson to extend the advantage to 21-14.
Late drama unfolded when Florida chose to go for it on a 4th-and-1 just past midfield. A successful conversion would have allowed the Gators to run out the clock, but the Kentucky defense stopped Florida short by about an inch.
The turnover gave the Wildcats one final possession. Minchey threw three consecutive incomplete passes before Kentucky attempted a 4th-and-10 conversion that also fell incomplete, sealing the outcome.
Florida reaches 6-4 record while Kentucky faces Missouri
The result leaves Florida with a 6-4 record on the year, highlighting a season defined by feast-or-famine performances against ranked opponents. The setback severely damages Kentucky’s playoff résumé as the postseason picture tightens.
Kentucky travels to face Missouri next week. Florida returns home to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville to take on Vanderbilt.