The Opening Kickoff (Part III): Gators-Wildcats Series Has Heated Up, Players to Watch, Notable Numbers

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Following their resilient comeback bid in a two-point loss to No. 1-ranked Alabama two weeks ago, the Gators voiced a common position after such close-but-no-cigar outcomes.

There are no moral victories in college football.

You heard a similar view 700 miles north on Interstate 75 this week from Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, whose undefeated Wildcats (4-0, 2-0) host the 11th-ranked Gators (3-1, 1-1) on Saturday night.

🟠⚪️🟠 for Kentucky this weekend. #GoGators pic.twitter.com/BJGdE7JMve
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) September 30, 2021

Since the 54-year-old Stoops took over the Wildcats in 2013, the Florida-Kentucky series has been more competitive than at any point since the 1970s, the decade Stoops entered elementary school and Gators head coach Dan Mullen was born. Stoops is 1-7 against Florida — the lone win coming in 2018 in Mullen's first SEC game as UF's head coach, snapping Florida's 31-game win streak in the series — but the Kentucky program has definitely grown muscles under his watch.

"One of the things that Mark's done a really good job of is build a program that has an identity,'' Mullen said this week. "They're a very big, physical defense. Obviously they have their scheme, they play their scheme, the guys know it inside and out. I mean, a very good scheme. They have experience, a lot of veterans on the team. But he's done a great job of building the program with the identity. They're going to be a big, physical defense. Then they have a strong running game that is complemented by play-action pass.

"When you play them with that identity, that's who they are and he's been really successful with that. I always give Mark a lot of credit. I think he's built a program the right way and it shows with their consistency with how they've won the last several years."

This is the Gators' fifth game at Kentucky since Stoops arrived, and the previous four proved tough. Florida won each time, the average margin of victory 7.8 points. In the Gators' previous four trips to Kroger Field before Stoops took over, they beat the Wildcats on the road by an average of 25.3 points.

Stoops was asked about the improvement the Wildcats have shown against the Gators under his watch.

"We are not into moral victories,'' he said. "I think our players know that we can play with anybody if we play well. That's the point we have gotten to as a program."

Meanwhile, the Gators have the look up a program on the rise as well. They moved into the top 10 in the national polls after their win over Tennessee last week and seek to maintain their upward trajectory at Kentucky.

If recent history is any indication, they can't let up until the clock runs out.

Here is more on Saturday's matchup:

THREE STORYLINES

There's probably no school in the Southeastern Conference that has improved its game-day atmosphere as much as Kentucky over the past decade. Kroger Field has rocked the past few years when the Gators have visited and the scores reflect that. Florida escaped Lexington with 14-9, 28-27 and 29-21 wins in its last three trips there. Another sold-out crowd is expected Saturday night when the 11th-ranked Gators visit a place they have not last a game since 1986.
UF quarterback Emory Jones is coming off the best game of his career in last week's 38-14 win over Tennessee. Jones threw for 209 yards and rushed for 144 to become the first Gators QB since Tim Tebow 12 years ago to pass for 200 and rush for 100 yards in a single game. Jones also did not throw an interception for the first time in his four career starts and appears to be gaining confidence on each drive. Kentucky's defense is ranked ninth in the country (260.0 yards per game) to provide another stiff test as Jones continues to grow into his new role.
Turnovers could be a factor in this one. Kentucky ranks last among FBS schools (129th overall) in turnover margin at minus-9. The Wildcats have thrown five interceptions and lost six fumbles. Meanwhile, the Gators rank 108th in turnover margin, having turned the ball over seven times (five interceptions, two fumbles) while forcing only three (two fumble recoveries, one interception).

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

For the third consecutive game, everyone is asking whether Gators backup quarterback Anthony Richardson will play. "He's ready to go, 100 percent ready to go," Mullen said Wednesday. Richardson has missed the past two games while nursing a sore right hamstring he injured on his 80-yard touchdown run at USF on Sept. 11.
Gators junior cornerback Kaiir Elam is expected to return from a knee injury that caused him to miss the victory against Tennessee. Freshman Jason Marshall Jr. started in his place, but anytime Elam is on the field the UF defense is better. Elam has Florida's only interception this season and leads the team with three pass breakups.
First-year Kentucky quarterback Will Levis is a 6-foot-3, 232-pound transfer from Penn State. Levis has thrown for 902 yards through four games with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. He also isn't afraid to tuck the ball and run in Kentucky's pro-style offense. Levis has quality skill players around him, but if the Gators can apply consistent pressure, he has shown a tendency to throw into coverage and get picked off.

SIX DIGITS

35 – Years since Gators lost a game at Kentucky.
16 – Consecutive road wins for Florida in the series.
13 — Fumbles for Kentucky through four games. The Wildcats have lost six.
650 – Combined rushing yards for Gators quarterbacks Emory Jones (375) and Anthony Richardson (275) through four games.
11 – Career-high tackles for fifth-year senior safety Trey Dean III in the win over Tennessee.
3 – Times Kentucky has started 5-0 in last 70 years (1984, 2007, 2018). Wildcats need a win over Gators to make it four.

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