The last time Kentucky beat Florida in football was 1986.
No current UF players were even born yet — heck, Tim Tebow wasn’t even born until a year later.
Since then, the Gators have won 29-straight meetings with the Wildcats, the longest active winning streak over a major opponent in an annual series.
One of those victories was a 73-7 beatdown in The Swamp in 1994.
Pair that and UK’s crushing 44-35 defeat to Southern Miss in its opener last weekend and you might think Saturday’s showdown between the two will result in a blowout.
Wrong.
Throw the streak out the window.
Dump Kentucky’s bad loss out while you’re at it.
This will be a dogfight, and the Gators can’t afford to overlook the ‘Cats.
Kentucky has come dangerously close to spoiling the streak over the last couple contests.
A year ago, Florida barely slipped past them in a 14-9 win where the defense surrendered just three field goals.
In 2014, UF squeaked out an unforgettable 36-30 triple-overtime win in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
And this year could be the year Kentucky finally ends the drought.
For one, UK has a quarterback and playmakers capable of explosive plays.
Stanley “Boom” Williams and Jojo Kemp are a formidable running-back duo that Florida will be tasked with containing.
And the streak doesn’t seem to even be on Kentucky’s mind, as head coach Mark Stoops said on a teleconference Wednesday: “The past 30 years has nothing to do with us and this team.”
The good news for Gator fans is that UF is approaching this game the same way.
Players have reiterated that it’s just another game and they’re approaching it like any other.
When asked if he was worried his team might take Kentucky lightly, UF coach Jim McElwain chuckled.
“Us let down?” he said.
“Great teams, the opponents don’t matter.”
Only time will tell if Florida is a great team.
But Saturday is its first real shot at proving that, and it starts with not overlooking the Wildcats.
Patrick Pinak is the online sports editor. You can contact him at ppinak@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @Pinakk12.
FILE - In this Sept. 5, 2015, file photo, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops watches his team from the sideline during an NCAA college football game against Louisiana-Lafayette in Lexington, Ky. Stoops made an early splash in recruiting and went from two victories in year one in Lexington to five in year two. Then another second-half swoon last year made it three straight bowl-less seasons for the Wildcats. Four in a row is not acceptable in the SEC, even for a program with relatively modest expectations. (AP Photo/David Stephenson, File)
