Kentucky's Recent Dominance over the Gators

From February 8, 2000 to March 3, 2018, the Florida Gators held a 36-26 record against the Kentucky Wildcats in basketball/football games since the start of the new millennium.

It all started that February of 2000. Kentucky, ranked #11 in the country, marched into the Stephen C. O’Connell Center and got run out of the gym by #12 ranked Florida. Six Gators, including future NBA stars Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller, scored in double figures en route to a 90-73 chomping of the ‘Cats.

We fast forward to March of 2018. In the last game of the regular season for both teams, Florida avenged a loss at Rupp Arena earlier in the season with an 80-67 win over the #23 ranked Wildcats at the O’Connell Center.

For that 18-year time period, the Florida rivalry really meant something to Kentucky fans. They were probably Kentucky’s second biggest rival during this time behind Louisville. When the Gators came to town, it had a big fight feel. In fact, six of the ten largest crowds in Rupp Arena’s history came in games against Florida (2003, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019). Kroger Field, f.k.a. Commonwealth Stadium’s largest crowd ever (71,024) came in 2007’s top-15 matchup against the Tim Tebow-led Gators.

There was an argument to be made that the Florida Gators owned the Kentucky Wildcats. This would soon change however after an outcome Kentucky fans had been waiting 31 years for.

Kentucky Football Breaks the Streak

Some of the most notable streaks of all time include Cal Ripken Jr’s 2,632 consecutive games played streak, The Undertaker’s 21-0 WrestleMania streak, and Florida football’s 31 consecutive victories over Kentucky football streak. The thing about a streak is that they all come to an end.

Boasting one of its most talented rosters in the history of the program, the ‘Cats finally drained The Swamp and broke the curse. A 54-yard touchdown pass from Terry Wilson to Lynn Bowden Jr. with 4:11 minutes remaining in the third quarter made this thing really feel like it could happen. The Gators cut it to a five-point deficit with 3:34 remaining in the game, and the same thoughts flooded the minds of Kentucky fans young and old.“How does Kentucky lose this year?”

The ‘Cats punted to the Gators with 2:04 remaining in the game and everybody thought, “Is this really going to happen again?” Except this time, it didn’t.

Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks was hit as he released the football by Chuck Bednarik award winner Josh Allen with nine seconds remaining. Kentucky DB Davonte Robinson scooped the ball up and was tackled awkwardly in the end zone with no time remaining. After a deliberation between officials, a touchdown was awarded to the Wildcats and the game was over. The curse was over.

That fateful evening in Gainesville, Kentucky football finally got over the hump that had been holding them back for nearly 30 years. They had come so close, but always fell just short. After a devastating 28-27 loss at Kroger Field the year prior, Mark Stoops and co. decided that enough was enough.

This program-changing win would mark a changing of the guard in the rivalry.

Kentucky Basketball Wins Eight of Nine

Unlike Kentucky football, the Kentucky basketball program enjoyed some success against the Gators in the 21st century.

From January 2002-February 2005, the Wildcats won eight consecutive matchups against the Gators, including the legendary 70-55 thrashing of the #1 Gators at home in 2003, and the SEC Tournament Championship in 2004. The following year Billy Donovan’s team snapped the skid and the Gators would go on to win seven straight against the ‘Cats. That run included back-to-back National Championships for Joakim Noah and co.

A neck-and-neck rivalry over the next decade, from 2009 through 2018 Kentucky held a 16-9 advantage over the Gators. These teams played in some classics, including Kentucky’s narrow 74-71 SEC Tournament victory over the Bradley Beal-led Gators en route to a National Championship victory in 2012. A couple years later the Wildcats were on the wrong end of a 61-60 SEC Tournament Championship loss. Both teams finished the season at the Final Four in Dallas.

Since the Kentucky football victory over the Gators in September 2018, John Calipari’s basketball team has won eight of the last nine contests over the Gators. In those eight wins, Kentucky’s margin of victory has been nearly 10 points. Absolute domination by Coach Cal.

Wildcats Win Back-to-Back Matchups

After losing two consecutive games in the rivalry since that 2018 win, Kentucky had to get another win to avoid falling right back into line as Florida’s punching bag. The Gators came into Kroger Field ranked #10 in the country, hot off a victory over Tennessee and a two-point loss to #1 Alabama.

With Kentucky trailing 10-7 mid-way through the third quarter, Josh Paschal blocked Florida kicker Jace Christmann‘s 48-yard field goal attempt. The ball fell right into the hands of Trevin Wallace, who returned it 76 yards for a touchdown in one of the most iconic moments in the history of Kroger Field.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. made it a 10-point game with a rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Another Florida field goal cut the deficit to seven, then Emory Jones and the Gator offense got a chance to tie this one up with four minutes remaining. This is where some fans thought, “Here we go again. Here comes Old Kentucky Football.” That cliche has since been proven irrelevant.

On 4th & Goal from the UK 8-yard line, Jones’ pass was incomplete. Kentucky took another from Florida as 7.5-point home underdogs. Fans rushed the field. The stigma around the program was evaporating.

One year later, that stigma was completely gone.

In the 2022 matchup in Gainesville, the Gators were on cloud nine. After knocking off #7 Utah in the season opener, unranked Florida jumped from all the way to #12 in the AP Poll. Mark Stoops’ team took that personally.

Florida jumped out to a 16-7 lead mid-way through the second quarter thanks to a Will Levis safety, yet the Kentucky defense was undeterred. A pair of interceptions, including a pick six from Keidron Smith, turned into 19 unanswered points for the Cats to hand Florida their second consecutive loss in the series.

Since that 2018 Kentucky Football victory over Florida, Kentucky is a combined 11-3 against the Gators in both sports. Kentucky is dominating Florida consistently on the gridiron and hardwood. All is right in the world.