Lexington, Ky. — A stingy defense and opportunistic offense fueled Kentucky’s 38–7 rout of Florida on Saturday night, as the Wildcats turned four Gator turnovers into points and earned their first home SEC victory since September 2023.
Freshman quarterback Cutter Boley delivered a composed performance, completing passes to 10 different receivers for 168 yards and two touchdowns, while Seth McGowan and Dante Dowdell powered the ground game. McGowan ran for two scores, and Dowdell broke free for a 65-yard touchdown run to help Kentucky (4–5, 2–5 SEC) snap a four-game home conference skid.
“This whole week, we came in with energy and focus,” Boley said. “Everyone was ready to play. You could feel the heartbeat of this team tonight.”
Turnovers Doom Florida
Florida’s offensive woes began early and never stopped. Starting quarterback DJ Lagway threw three interceptions in the first half before being benched for freshman Tramell Jones Jr. after halftime.
Kentucky’s defense was relentless — Quay’sheed Scott returned an interception 55 yards deep into Gator territory, setting up a short Kentucky scoring drive. Though Boley fumbled moments later, the Wildcats’ defense immediately answered when Daveren Rayner picked off another Lagway pass. On the very next play, however, Boley’s throw was intercepted by Bryce Thornton, one of four total turnovers committed in a chaotic final 35 seconds of the first half.
Kentucky managed to convert 10 points off those miscues, entering halftime up 24–7.
Wildcats Seal It Early
Kentucky opened the third quarter with a 13-play, 75-yard drive that drained more than seven minutes off the clock. McGowan capped the march with his second touchdown of the night, a 5-yard plunge that effectively put the game out of reach.
“That was an enormous drive to start the second half,” head coach Mark Stoops said. “We mixed it up, stayed balanced, and finished it the right way. You get seven points after a drive like that — that’s huge.”
Boley’s two touchdown passes — a 29-yarder to J.J. Hester and a 15-yarder to Jason Patterson — highlighted a steady night for the Wildcats’ offense, which totaled 401 yards despite the cold November conditions.
Florida Falters Again
The Gators (3–6, 2–4 SEC) entered the game ranked 32nd nationally in scoring defense (20.5 points per game) but couldn’t overcome their offensive mistakes. The loss marked their second straight defeat since the firing of head coach Billy Napier on Oct. 19.
Jones Jr. provided a brief spark in relief but couldn’t sustain drives against Kentucky’s aggressive front.
A Step Toward the Postseason
With back-to-back victories, Kentucky has regained a glimmer of postseason hope. A win next week against FCS No. 5 Tennessee Tech would put the Wildcats one victory away from bowl eligibility, with upcoming road matchups against No. 15 Vanderbilt and No. 14 Louisville looming.
“There’s a path there,” Stoops said. “We’ve just got to keep stacking wins.”
Off-Field Distraction
The Wildcats also dealt with headlines off the field this week. Former starting quarterback Zach Calzada issued a public apology after posting a viral social media video flashing cash in response to criticism. Calzada, who lost his starting job to Boley after suffering a shoulder injury, called the video a “mistake.”
“Zach has taken responsibility for his actions and apologized,” the athletic department said in a statement. “Now, it’s time to move forward.”
Up Next:
Florida: Travels to No. 7 Ole Miss next Saturday.
Kentucky: Hosts Tennessee Tech before closing the season with two ranked opponents.
The win in Lexington may not fix everything for Stoops’ squad, but it marked a confident step forward — fueled by defense, discipline, and a young quarterback beginning to find his stride.
