SEC Nation coming to Lexington for Florida-Kentucky game

It’s not College Gameday, but ESPN will still make a trip to Lexington next weekend.

When the Kentucky Wildcats host the Florida Gators at Kroger Field on Saturday, Sept. 30 at noon EST, they’ll do so with the SEC Nation crew in attendance. It was announced on Sunday morning that the SEC Network’s weekly, traveling pre-game show is coming to Lexington. A location for the show — which will run from 10:00 a.m. – noon EST — has yet to be announced, but a good bet would be right outside the University of Kentucky’s William T. Young Library, the same spot SEC Nation has been held at in past years.

Usual host Laura Rutledge is out this week; she’ll be replaced by Marty Smith. Smith will be joined by panelists Paul Finebaum, Roman Harper, Jordan Rodgers, and Tim Tebow to break down the UF-UK matchup along with everything else that’s happening in the SEC this week.

SEC Nation will be preceded by Marty & McGee, which begins at 9:00 a.m. EST. Lexington will also host Friday’s edition of The Paul Finebaum Show from 3-7 p.m. EST.

NEXT STOP: LEXINGTON 🚨@GatorsFB x @UKFootball#MartyandMcGee #SECNation pic.twitter.com/HgwusmIQxT

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) September 24, 2023

The last time Kentucky was featured on SEC Nation was during the 2022 season, although it came on the road against Ole Miss. The Wildcats would lose that game 22-19 in Oxford. UK last hosted SEC Nation during the 2021 season when Kentucky took on LSU in what ended up being a massive 42-21 win for the Wildcats.

Kentucky has hosted SEC Nation, which started in 2014, a total of six times with an overall record of 2-4. The Wildcats have made nine appearances overall, but have lost all three times they’ve been featured as the road team.

Florida-Kentucky was actually in the running as one of the possible College Gameday locations for next weekend, however, the Duke Blue Devils earned the bid for the first time ever. No. 18 Duke will host No. 9 Notre Dame for a primetime showdown on ABC.