:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67994082/En78NpWXEAMGbDH.0.jpg)
It’s fair to say that even the most optimistic Kentucky football fan didn’t have extremely high hopes entering Saturday’s matchup with #6 Florida.
The Cats traveled to Gainesville with a depleted roster and haven’t showed many recent signs of being capable of beating a top-10 team on the road.
The massive 24-point spread said about all that needed to be said in relation to the experts faith in Kentucky’s chances at pulling off the huge upset.
Despite the odds stacked heavily against them, UK came out ready to play and gave the Gators all they wanted in the first half. Had it not been for a horrific special teams blunder, the Cats would have impressively taken a halftime lead into the locker room.
Instead, it was an all too familiar story of Kentucky football not taking advantage of early opportunities against good teams and it ultimately costing them the game.
Third quarter penalties and overall uninspired second half play destroyed any chance that Mark Stoops’ team had to pick up their fourth win of the season.
The Gators would go on to punish Kentucky for the remainder of the game before winning the game by a score of 34-10, which really isn't a fair indicator of just how lopsided the contest was.
With the highs of the first quarter followed by the lackluster performance provided some great real time Twitter reactions.
Before the game — College Gameday did a touching Tribute for OL coach John Schlarman.
Kentucky OL coach John Schlarman died Nov. 12 after a prolonged battle with cancer.
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) November 28, 2020
The Wildcats are playing for him and remembering his legacy pic.twitter.com/4olPNuyGfE
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 28, 2020
Honored to be wear #22 today #oatstrong ‼️ pic.twitter.com/NUo74rKp77
— yusuf corker (@YCorker) November 28, 2020
Go Cats https://t.co/cE4mH9KaDn pic.twitter.com/JOYxnx6sVi
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 28, 2020
17 players and 4 Offensive starters out for today’s game for Kentucky https://t.co/FpcL2rY7l0
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 28, 2020
Chris Rodriquez is out today
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 28, 2020
Mark Stoops tells UK Radio’s Tom Leach that Kentucky’had a real solid week’ of practices. ‘Real pleased with our guys.’ Stoops says he expects the Cats ‘to come out and play well.’
— Mark Story (@markcstory) November 28, 2020
Luke Fortner is playing today at left guard. Austin Dotson starting at right guard.
— Derek Terry (@DerekSTerry) November 28, 2020
Man, that went from promising to putrid in a hurry.
— Josh Moore (@JoshMooreHL) November 28, 2020
UK reached the Florida 20 yard line... and had to punt. Darian Kinnard whiffed on first down and Wilson was sacked again on third down. Stop me if you've heard this before: a promising drive for Kentucky ends with no points.
— Derek Terry (@DerekSTerry) November 28, 2020
Kentucky creates a scoring opportunity on their first possession. Need to finish with points.
— Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) November 28, 2020
I will be disappointed if UK doesn't score a couple touchdowns today. Florida's run defense is garbage. #RunTheDamnBall
— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) November 28, 2020
Second straight week the Kentucky offense did some really good things in the first half and then completely went in the tank.
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) November 28, 2020
Kentucky has outplayed Florida in the First Half and is losing bc of stupid errors
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 28, 2020
That’s really frustrating
So who had UK 1H ML?
— Travis Graf (@TravisGraf_) November 28, 2020
I feel sorry for you if you did https://t.co/csQmL5UeUb
— Travis Graf (@TravisGraf_) November 28, 2020
Special teams are really really important.
— Jacob Tamme (@JacobTamme) November 28, 2020
Might be a good idea to hire a special teams coordinator.
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) November 28, 2020
Halftime in the Swamp. pic.twitter.com/GHkfFIOyu7
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 28, 2020
All UK football fans know that when opportunities are missed against teams like Florida that the Cats will come out and get them all back and then some! Right?
— Big Blue Drew (@BigBlueDrew33) November 28, 2020
Short yardage running has been brutal today
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) November 28, 2020
Through 3 pic.twitter.com/mK1HEI3PCy
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 28, 2020
Christopher Rodriguez Jr. is greatly missed.
— Freddie Maggard (@FredMaggard606) November 28, 2020
Smoke has been stuffed at the line more than Rose today. Rose is the best they got today. Is what it is.
— Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) November 28, 2020
Here are Kentucky's last six drives
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) November 28, 2020
3 plays, 9 yards, punt
3 plays, -3 yards, punt
3 plays, 1 yard, INT
3 plays, 9 yards, punt
4 plays, 8 yards, turnover on downs
3 plays, 1 yard, INT
Florida 65th in total defense
Mark Stoops cannot go into next year without big changes to O
I am ready for the Beau Allen era to begin. I’ll always appreciate Terry Wilson. One of the most successful Kentucky QB’s ever honestly, but it is time to move forward.
— Brandon Ramsey (@BRamseyKSR) November 28, 2020
If they don't put a different QB in they're crazy. They'll also lose the last remaining fans they have left.
— Big Blue Nation ‘til the end (@proberts27) November 28, 2020
UK with just 21 total yards in the second half.
— TheCatsPause247 (@TheCatsPause247) November 28, 2020
Bingo. https://t.co/vgpB5dglYz
— Travis Graf (@TravisGraf_) November 28, 2020
LOT of change should be coming to Kentucky football this offseason.
— B££ZY (@Burke_Franklin_) November 28, 2020
And Beau Allen should start next season QB1. Open up the playbook.
All that said...we have to push the ball downfield, now we are upset when it's an int. Again who was open. When you have guys creating separation makes throwing passes easier...
— Van Hiles (@vstyles17) November 28, 2020
Don’t put in Allen or Gatewood. No point. Play them against South Carolina. Nothing will be gained with them in this game. Nothing.
— Round Daddy (@JStreble82) November 28, 2020
Terry Wilson became QB1 after that win at Florida in 2018, and I think we’re seeing his Kentucky career coming to an end at Florida in 2020. Weird circle of life.
— Tres Terrell (@TerrellTres) November 28, 2020
JJ Weaver just got hurt on that play.
— OTHeroics - Kentucky Wildcats #BBN (@OTHwildcats) November 28, 2020
Coach Stoops... TAKE THE STARTERS OUT.... GET THE YOUNG GUYS REPS. THIS IS A BLOODBATH#bbn
Josh Paschal is still giving it everything he's got. #bbn #ukfootball
— John Clay (@johnclayiv) November 28, 2020
You know the game is over when the announcers start practicing their Spanish on air
— Braden Nevius (@BradenNevius) November 28, 2020
Nothing more difficult in the world of sports than being a Kentucky football fan.
— Tori Alascio (@torialascio) November 28, 2020
A Florida FG makes it 34-10.
— TheCatsPause247 (@TheCatsPause247) November 28, 2020
Kentucky's offense had 27 yards in the second half last week against Alabama. The Cats have 21 in the second half so far today against Florida. Those who wondered why TOP was a noteworthy stat at halftime are getting a crash course today.
— Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) November 28, 2020
UK's extended red zone defense showed up today. They also forced two turnovers and have played less than 50 snaps. Brad White's defense did enough to give the team a chance.
— Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) November 28, 2020
Defense has not been great but with NO UK OFFENSE this half at least the defense has not just rolled over. Just no help from the offense again
— Vaughts' Views (@vaughtsviews) November 28, 2020
Final pic.twitter.com/g5VeEzNQZ9
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 28, 2020
FINAL: Florida 34, Kentucky 10
— Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) November 28, 2020
Gators score 27 unanswered points, hold Cats to 46 yards in second half en route to easy win. pic.twitter.com/5rNQ5jDmOf
If Stoops wants to hold on to the rest of the WR class committed you better play Beau against South Carolina
— Shaun Dunn (@Dunn30) November 28, 2020
Very, very, very bad. https://t.co/cWV61IhzFb
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) November 28, 2020
Certainly some changes need to be made and we need a fresh start this spring but it might really be as simple as the program being so emotionally and mentally drained from everything that’s gone on this year. Football, more than most sports is so much about energy and emotion.
— Michael Paul Clark (@UKDad21) November 28, 2020
I deserve this for betting Florida -24.5.
— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) November 28, 2020
Probably time for Kentucky to start playing more guys who will be returning next season with the future - as in 2021 and beyond - in mind.
— Oscar Combs (@wildcatnews) November 28, 2020
Insanely frustrating game. It was Alabama on steroids. UK wasn’t going to win but things should have been tighter.
— T.J. Walker (@TJWalkerRadio) November 28, 2020
QB/WR/Special Teams.
There ya go.
And be sure to go follow our Twitter page and ‘like’ our Facebook page to get all of the latest Kentucky Wildcats news, views and other fun stuff.