The Kentucky Wildcats (1-0) head to The Swamp for an early season SEC showdown with the high flying Florida Gators (1-0) on Saturday night. The Wildcats come into 2022 with high expectations following a 10-3 2021 season capped off by an upset win over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl. The Gators will look to capitalize on a rousing 29-26 opening night win over #7 Utah which have many people believing that high level football is back in Gainesville. The opening kickoff for this one is set for 7:00pm EST.
The Wildcats had one of the best seasons in school history in 2021 and will look to capitalize on it this season. Head coach Mark Stoops has certainly given the perception that Kentucky is strictly a basketball school a run for its money with two 10-win seasons in the last four and a Citrus Bowl win over Big 10 power Iowa last season. The team got off to the right start in the home opener with a 37-13 win over Miami (OH). The win tied Stoops with legendary coach Bear Bryant for the most wins in school history with 60.
“You can’t put my name in the same (sentence) as Bear Bryant’s,” Stoops said. “Let’s compete for six national championships, talk about that. But I am grateful to win that many games, to be here this long.”
Leading just 13-10 at halftime, the Wildcats got a dynamic play from special teams to turn the tide. Freshman Barion Brown went 100 yards with the second-half kickoff for a quick touchdown that completely changed the game's momentum. Less than a minute late, the Wildcat defense kept the momentum going as Tyrell Ajian forced a fumble that was returned by Keidron Smith all the way to the Miami eight yard line. Quarterback Will Levis threw an eight-yard strike to Chauncey Magwood to give Kentucky a 27-10 cushion before the third quarter was even halfway old. Levis finished the day with 303 yards passing to go along with three touchdowns and one interception. The Wildcats finished the game with 353 yards of total offense.
“We did some good things at times,” Stoops added. “Had some drives and didn't capitalize. A lot of things to improve on.”
#CFB's Top 5 Fastest Ball Carriers from Week 1
1?? Kentucky WR Barion Brown (@BarionBrown) 22.0 mph@UKFootball | #ForTheTeam pic.twitter.co m/hPJ8Z0mlYd
— Recruiting Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 6, 2022
In addition to the team's forced fumble and recovery that resulted in a short Wildcat touchdown, the Kentucky defense was solid. The defense allowed just 290 total yards for the game. DeAndre Square led the team with seven tackles which included his first career sack. They held Miami to just 3.5 yards per carry on the night and had three sacks and four tackles for loss in the game. The Wildcats defense also had four pass breakups in the game but now must prepare for Florida and dynamic quarterback, Anthony Richardson. Last season the Wildcats beat the Gators at home, 20-13 but Richardson, just a freshman, was not much of a factor with only one pass completion and five carries for 20 yards. Kentucky has a young defense and a lot will be expected of them against Florida's high octane offense. Stoops knows this will be a lot to ask of his young defense:
“It is. It is. And, you know, so they can handle it. And they will and they’ll get better. You can see the talent in them. You know, really good players.
Once again, they’ll continue to work. They’ll get coached. And getting this kind of action is invaluable for them to get out on the field and play somebody different. You get in the comfort zone when you play the same offense every day because you get used to it.”