Kentucky’s matchup with Florida on Saturday already comes with the kind of atmosphere the Wildcats wanted: a sold-out crowd, a black-out look, and a chance to get back on track after the loss to Tennessee. But the weather may end up being part of the story too.
The Weather Channel is projecting a high of 46 degrees during the day, with temperatures dropping into the mid-20s overnight. Kickoff is set for 6:15 p.m.
ET, and with clear skies expected, the temperature should fall quickly once the sun goes down. It’s early in the season, but it figures to feel much more like winter than fall in Lexington.
That could matter, especially for Florida. The Gators have 62 players on their roster from Florida, while Kentucky has 10. Jon Sumrall even referenced the forecast during Florida’s team meeting this week.
“I asked how many of them would love to play in the NFL one day, at any point in their career. Everybody thinks they’re an NFL player, and I said, ‘You know what you get to do if you play in the NFL? You get to go play in Lambeau at some point, which might be in the negatives in certain games.’”
Sumrall knows cold-weather football well. He played for and coached at Kentucky, and he said he experienced a game at Army while coaching Tulane that was “brutally cold.” He also made it clear he’s fine with players dressing for the conditions, with one exception.
“I allow our non-ball carriers to wear tights up top and down below. Our ball carriers won’t wear tights up top.
That’s the only change. I let the guys on the sideline… put the big jacket on for no other reason, so that they can keep their muscles warm.
I worry about them getting cold and tight and stiff, not about, ‘Oh, I feel cold.’ Well, yeah, it’s gonna be cooler than what it is here.
But also, we will not come out and do shirts off and like try to act like we’re crazy tough. I’m into being smart tough, not dumb tough either.”
Kentucky got the better of Florida in November last season, rolling to a 38-7 win in Lexington in the first November meeting between the teams there in 35 years. With the SEC’s scheduling model now changed, Florida has to make the trip back, and Kentucky will be hoping the weather gives it another edge.
The game is sold out, and the program is asking fans to wear black for the Black Out. Nike has also released new black Kentucky gear through the UK Team Shop, and the first look at Kentucky’s uniforms is expected on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Saturday is also “Night Ops/Salute to Veterans” night. Kentucky had to postpone the drone show planned for halftime of the LSU game, but with a clear, cold forecast in place, Saturday could offer the right setting for it.
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Mikkel Skinner Just Added Fresh Fuel To Kentuckys Tennessee Frustration
Kentuckys latest loss to Tennessee already stung, but Mikkel Skinner added another layer to the rivalry afterward by claiming the Vols used fake crowd noise during the game. Tennessee won 34-6, moved to 7-2, and left Kentucky with another frustrating chapter in a series that has been tilted heavily in the other direction lately.
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Kansas Just Lost A Starter Before Its Kentucky Showdown
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Kentucky Suddenly Faces A Response Test That Could Define This Season
Kentuckys trip to Tennessee turned into another reminder of how fragile this season can feel when the Wildcats come out of a bye week and never quite find their footing. The 34-6 loss was fueled by turnovers and a string of uncharacteristic mistakes, the kind of self-inflicted damage that left Will Stein pointing back to execution more than effort as Tennessee took advantage and pulled away.
Now the focus shifts to Florida, and Kentucky is staring at a response test that could say plenty about where this team is headed. The loss also sent the Wildcats down in both the AP and Coaches Poll, which only raises the pressure to clean things up quickly and show that one bad Saturday, even a lopsided one, does not have to define the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]