KSR Today: Kentucky beats Florida for 2nd year in a row

Good freaking morning, folks! How the hell are we feeling today? My adrenaline rush from last night has me running on fumes right now, but I have a feeling writing about Kentucky football will be all the caffeine I need this morning.

Let’s be honest with ourselves: Kentucky dominated Florida in the second half. The Gators failed to score a single point and the second coming of Cam Newton/Vince Young, QB Anthony Richardson, came back to earth with the speed of a crashing meteor. Brad White has this defense looking elite once again. Last year’s “dip” on that end of the field appears to have been the fluke some assumed. Even without Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kentucky established a threatening run game in the second half behind a re-energized Big Blue Wall. Kavosiey Smoke changed the momentum and offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello found a way to get him rolling. Dane Key is something special.

By the time the clock hit 0:00, there was no doubt left in anyone’s mind: Kentucky was the better overall program. It wasn’t even close to how well this team can perform, either. Mark Stoops officially holds the most wins in program history. Will Levis proved himself in front of plenty of NFL scouts. The season is now set up for something special. Dreams of Atlanta are becoming real.

Steve Zahn said it best…

Xs and Os = Ws

– Steve Zahn pic.twitter.com/pBorQEoegh

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) September 11, 2022

All eyes now turn to the AP poll that expects to come out later today. Kentucky should receive a healthy bump from its No. 20 ranking, especially since Florida came in ranked No. 12 following an unprecedented rise in the standings the week prior. I’m going to predict the ‘Cats come in at No. 13, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see them rise a couple of spots higher. I also wouldn’t be shocked to see Kentucky stay at No. 20 and the voters move Florida up into the top 10…

I’m joking, but only partly so.

If you missed any of the win, the KSR crew absolutely crushed the postgame coverage Saturday night. Check it all out. We’ve already got merch available, too!

• Kentucky beats Florida 26-16 for third victory over Gators in five years
• Mark Stoops passes Bear Bryant on Kentucky Football’s all-time wins list
• Kentucky smothers Florida in big road win
• Jalen Geiger suffers “significant” knee injury in win at Florida
• Kentucky Responds to Criticism with a Question: “Who’s Soft Now?”
• Three Plays: Kentucky’s veterans provide game-changing plays
• Will Levis wins the battle of quarterbacks in Kentucky vs. Florida
• Jordan Wright Provides Energy, Playmaking in Homecoming Win over Florida

Postgame celebrations abound

From Gainesville to Lexington, the Big Blue Nation was celebrating the win wherever it could. Couches were being burned and cars flipped on Kentucky’s campus. The locker room in The Swamp was something out of a movie. Dane Key even recreated the now-famous Kash Daniel “Stone Cold Steve Austin” clip from Kentucky’s win against Florida in 2018.

And that's the bottom line …@DaneKey6 🤝 @KashDaniel15 🤝 @steveaustinBSR pic.twitter.com/OYwOznTBWE

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) September 11, 2022

It’s a party. pic.twitter.com/M9Fggf4ZvV

— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) September 11, 2022

STOOPS IN THE LOCKER ROOM AFTER THE GAME !!! SOUND UP!!@KySportsRadio @DrewFranklinKSR @RoushKSR @RowlandRIVALS @KyleTucker_ATH @vincemarrow pic.twitter.com/3eOQRpXjxI

— Cody Couch (@Couch_29) September 11, 2022

Will Levis celebrates the win at Florida in the stands with the #BBN pic.twitter.com/ZFC2U7XgzS

— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) September 11, 2022

Gatorade bath for Mark Stoops 💦

Back-to-back wins over the Gators for @UKFootball! pic.twitter.com/WLCVLUW7Pk

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) September 11, 2022

A car has been flipped on State Street… pic.twitter.com/XNytXBr4Xi

— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerKSR) September 11, 2022

Scenes from State Street pic.twitter.com/NGGDcuRc6V

— Grant Grubbs (@grant_grubbs_) September 11, 2022

State Street is a special place pic.twitter.com/d2ZiDHEj7l

— Grant Grubbs (@grant_grubbs_) September 11, 2022

Highlights from the win

Hear from Stoops and the ‘Cats

It was a happy locker room after No. 20 Kentucky’s 26-16 win over No. 12 Florida. Mark Stoops, his coordinators Brad White and Rich Scangarello, and select players paused their celebrations to chat with reporters about the victory.

Check out all of their comments below courtesy of Nick Roush and Adam Luckett.

Mark Stoops (on KSR)

Mark Stoops

Rich Scangarello

Brad White

Will Levis

Kavosiey Smoke

Keidron Smith

Jordan Wright

Dane Key

NFL Week 1 kicks off today

Get those fantasy rosters set. Over 25 former Kentucky Wildcats will suit up for an NFL team today to kick off the 2022 season. Thursday was the official start, but with 14 games set for Sunday (including nine at the 1:00 p.m. EST slot), you have no excuse not to sit on your couch all day long.

1:00 (FOX): New Orleans @ Atlanta (J. Ali)
1:00 (FOX): San Fransisco @ Chicago
1:00 (CBS): Pittsburgh (J. Rigg, B. Snell) @ Cincinnati (Y. Corker)
1:00 (FOX): Philadelphia @ Detroit (J. Paschal, L. Stenberg)
1:00 (CBS): New England (L. Bowden) @ Miami
1:00 (CBS): Baltimore @ New York Jets (B. Echols)
1:00 (FOX): Jacksonville (J. Allen, L. Fortner) @ Washington (J. Davis, J. Toth)
1:00 (CBS): Cleveland @ Carolina (P. Hoskins, M. McCall)
1:00 (CBS): Indianapolis @ Houston
4:25 (FOX): New York Giants (W. Robinson) @ Tennessee (B. Dupree, L. Johnson)
4:25 (FOX): Green Bay (R. Cobb) @ Minnesota (Z. Smith)
4:25 (CBS): Kansas City (D. Kinnard) @ Arizona
4:25 (CBS): Las Vegas @ Los Angeles (TJ Carter)
8:20 (NBC): Tampa Bay (M. Edwards) @ Dallas (Q. Bohanna, K. Joseph)

Monday Night Football

8:15 (ESPN): Denver @ Seattle (Q. Mosely)