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Preview: Florida at Kentucky football
Click below to read more of the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com’s preview coverage ahead of Saturday’s Kentucky-Florida game at Kroger Field.
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This week, for the first time in more than a year, Kentucky football enters a game coming off a win over a power-conference foe.
But was the 10-3 win at Auburn a byproduct of a struggling opponent that ended up firing its coach the next day or a sign that the progress Mark Stoops has promised was happening behind the scenes is actually translating into victories ? The Wildcats get another chance against a program in disarray when Florida travels to Lexington this weekend.
Here are some final thoughts and predictions about how the game will play out Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
What to expect from the Gators
While Auburn waited to fire its coach until after losing to Kentucky, Florida has already made a coaching change.
The Gators fired coach Billy Napier in October just before a bye week. Florida played with interim coach Billy Gonzales for the first time last Saturday. In that game, the Gators pushed No. 5 Georgia to the brink before falling 24-20.
“I know Billy’s not there, but Billy’s assembled a very good football team,” Stoops said. “Very talented, very physical, good team. And it’ll be another great challenge for us, and another opportunity.”
Stoops was not willing to publicly elaborate on any changes the coaches have identified between how Florida played against Georgia compared to how the Gators played before the firing, but it will be interesting to see the energy level for Florida this weekend. Can the initial surge of motivation after Napier was fired carry over after the Georgia game, or will it be more difficult to duplicate that effort after falling short against the Bulldogs?
One Florida player to watch is wide receiver Eugene Wilson, who totaled nine catches for 121 yards and one touchdown against Georgia after catching just six passes in the previous five games. Gonzales previously served as Florida’s wide receivers coach before being named the interim head coach.
“Just slight (changes),” Stoops said. “Nothing drastic, nothing I care to talk about right now that were obvious to us. I know they played very hard. They played very good, had every opportunity to beat Georgia in a hard-fought game.”
Florida quarterback DJ Lagway threw for 259 yards on seven completions in the Gators’ win over Kentucky last seasonin Gainesville, Florida. James Gilbert Getty Images
An unsung hero from the Auburn win
The bulk of the blame for Kentucky’s abysmal defensive showing against Tennessee two weeks ago was placed on the Wildcat cornerbacks, who were playing shorthanded. The injury situation appeared even worse against Auburn with Terhyon Nichols joining DJ Waller on the unavailable list, but little-used reserve Nasir Addison posted one of the best performances of his career in their absence.
“I think it started with the very first play of the game,” defensive coordinator Brad White said. “They try to throw a hitch. He pins it to the ground against a really good receiver. I think that was a confidence boost for everybody. It’s for him, for his teammates, for me as a play caller, the whole deal.
“He just continued it through the entire night. So really proud of how he played, and now he’s just got to just keep stacking performances.”
Addison’s primary role in three years at Kentucky has been the gunner on UK’s punt team, but he has occasionally filled in at cornerback when injuries have affected depth at the position. Auburn was his first career start after playing in just two of the first seven games due to a shoulder injury.
Against the Tigers, Addison recorded a career-high five tackles. Auburn star receiver Cam Coleman, whom Addison defended for much of the night, finished the game with five catches for just 34 yards.
“Very, very pleased with Nasir,” Stoops said. “They had some weapons out there as well. … Some plays he came up, really broke on the football, made good tackles, and limited them to the gains that were 5, 6 yards, and we line up and play the next play.”
Kentucky football injury report
Wide receivers Troy Stellato and David Washington, defensive back Jaden Smith, linebacker Devin Smith, offensive guard Aba Selm and tight end Elijah Brown are out. Running back Jamarion Wilcox remains suspended after a sexual assault allegation.Addison may move back to a reserve role this week. After being listed as probable throughout the week, Waller was listed as a game-time decision in the final update of the SEC-mandated availability report. Waller has not played since the season opener due to a hamstring injury. He attempted to come back for the Texas game in October but suffered a setback in pregame warmups.
Nichols was listed as out, so Addison will still likely feature in the primary cornerback rotation against Florida even if Waller plays.
“We’re going to play the best,” White said. “And so if a guy’s playing really well, like he’s going to keep playing.”
Breakout defensive lineman Tavion Gadson was initially listed as probable Wednesday but downgraded to out later in the week.
Wide receivers Troy Stellato and David Washington, defensive back Jaden Smith, linebacker Devin Smith, offensive guard Aba Selm and tight end Elijah Brown are out. Running back Jamarion Wilcox remains suspended after a sexual assault allegation.
Kentucky vs. Florida prediction
I predicted last month that Kentucky would enter the Louisville game with five wins and a chance for bowl eligibility, so I’m not changing my tune now that the Wildcats have actually snapped their 11-game losing streak against power-conference foes. Florida’s offensive struggles this season make the Gators a good matchup for Kentucky in the same way Texas and Auburn were. It will take more than 10 points to win this week, but Kentucky has momentum. Kentucky 24, Florida 17.
The last word
“I feel every week since after South Carolina, there’s been improvement. That’s just my gut. I think these players have been a group that have just gone to work. And whether the big-time results, the big points come, we’ll see. We’re working towards it, obviously, to put ourselves in the best position to win games.” — Offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan
This story was originally published November 7, 2025 at 6:30 AM.
Jon Hale
Lexington Herald-Leader
Jon Hale is the University of Kentucky football beat writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. He joined the Herald-Leader in 2022 but has covered UK athletics for more than 10 years. Hale was named the 2021 Kentucky Sportswriter of the Year.
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