Kentucky's pursuit of a College Football Playoff berth suffered a setback Saturday as Florida rallied for a 21-14 victory in Lexington. The No. 11 Wildcats also slipped in the Southeastern Conference standings, dropping to fifth after entering the day tied for second.
Aaron Philo led Florida with 221 all-purpose yards in his return as the starting quarterback. He passed for 119 yards and rushed for 102, putting the Gators ahead with a 2-yard touchdown run with 9:08 remaining. Philo had been benched against Georgia on Oct. 31 before getting another opportunity to lead the offense.
Florida coach Jon Sumrall said the decision to restore Philo followed a review of the quarterback's previous performances and the team's need to improve after the Oklahoma game. Sumrall praised Philo's response to not being selected the previous weekend, saying his confidence, toughness and willingness to absorb contact helped lift the rest of the team.
Jadan Baugh added his 15th touchdown of the season, the most in the SEC. Florida improved to 6-4 overall and 4-4 in conference play, securing bowl eligibility with the victory. Kentucky fell to 7-3 overall and 5-3 in the SEC after losing for the second consecutive game.
The Wildcats opened with an 86-yard touchdown drive but struggled to sustain their offense afterward. They crossed midfield three times, only to be stopped by a Florida defense coached by former Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White. Sumrall said he was especially pleased that the defense delivered that performance during White's return to Lexington.
Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey finished with 181 passing yards and a touchdown, while the Wildcats managed only 61 yards on the ground. Coach Will Stein identified penalties and turnovers as problems and said his team had failed to establish its running game or match Florida's physical play at the point of attack.
Florida punted five times before halftime, but Kentucky could turn those opportunities into only a 7-2 lead at the break. On two possessions, the Wildcats were stopped on third-and-3 at Florida's 45-yard line. Another drive included an intentional grounding penalty against Minchey that cost Kentucky 17 yards.
Stein said Kentucky's performance fell below its standard and stressed the need to run effectively and finish with touchdowns. The defeat left the Wildcats facing setbacks in both the conference race and their playoff ambitions after receiving the No. 11 ranking the previous week.
