Florida vs. Kentucky: Live Updates

The Florida Gators (3-3, 1-2 SEC) welcome the Kentucky Wildcats (3-3, 1-3 SEC) to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for a matchup under the lights. UF freshman quarterback DJ Lagway will make his first start against an SEC opponent. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:55 p.m. Follow along below for updates throughout the action.

INJURY UPDATE: Florida sophomore safety Bryce Thornton was removed from UF's final injury report before the matchup against Kentucky, but was not dressed out in pregame. Thornton will be out against the Wildcats.

GAME NOTE: The Gators are on a three-game losing streak against the Wildcats. The last time Florida lost four straight games to UK was from 1948-51. Florida holds a home record of 29-6 against Kentucky.

GAME NOTE: UF will take the field without its starting quarterback and running back for the first time this season. It's a huge moment for Lagway and Florida's supporting cast in the backfield including redshirt junior Ja'Kobi Jackson, sophomore Treyaun Webb and freshman Jadan Baugh.

NOTE: Kentucky won the opening coin toss and selected to defer the second half. Florida will open the game on offense.

Q1: 15:00 - Florida wideout Elijhah Badger returned the opening kick for a gain of 22 yards to UF's 27-yard line.

Q1: 13:35 - On 3rd-and-5, Lagway unloaded a 40-yard deep pass to sophomore wideout Eugene Wilson III. 1st-and-10 for the Gators at UK's 15-yard line.

Q1: 12:18 - Baugh with a solid carry up the middle for a gain of eight yards sets up 1st-and-goal for Florida deep in Kentucky territory.

Q1: 11:14 - Lagway scrambled to his right on 3rd-and-goal but was unable to find anyone open and seemingly ran into his own offensive lineman on the play for a loss of six yards.

Q1: 10:27 - SCORE: The Florida Gators have now scored in 455 straight games after junior kicker Trey Smack's kick was good to cap off a 10-play 63-yard drive. A huge stop for Kentucky's defense to hold UF to three points inside its 10-yard line. Florida 3, Kentucky 0.

GAME NOTE: Tonight marks the first time in Florida football history that a true freshman has started at both quarterback and running back. Lagway got the start as signal caller, and Baugh got the nod for the starting running back role.

Q1: 10:27- Smack's kickoff goes through the end zone. Kentucky's offense will take the field for the first time at its own 25-yard line.

Q1: 9:51 - Kentucky moved the ball to midfield following a 15-yard rush up the middle by UK senior running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye through the heart of Florida's defense.

Q1: 8:41 - A timely stop for Florida as Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff attempted to complete a pass over the middle but it was incomplete intended for Jordan Dingle on 3rd-and-8.

Q1: 8:35 - UK's punt was fair caught by Florida senior wideout Chimere Dike at UF's 9-yard line.

Q1: 7:56 - Redshirt junior running back Ja'Kobi Jackson is getting involved early for Florida's offense. He picked up a gain of 11 yards on 2nd-and-5 for a first down to UF's 25-yard line.

Q1: 6:03 - Not much going for Florida offensively on its last drive. The Gators picked up just one first down before senior punter Jeremy Crawshaw sent a 42-yard punt to Kentucky's 25-yard line. It's 1st-and-10 for the Wildcats.

Q1: 3:34 - A false start backed the Wildcats up five yards on third down setting up 3rd-and-6. Kentucky appeared to be lined up to run the ball on 3rd-and-short, but the penalty forced them into a pass play that was broken up by Florida edge rusher George Gumbs Jr.

Q1: 3:25 - Dike called a fair catch on Kentucky's punt and the ball bounced out of bounds at UF's 20-yard line.

Q1: 3:12 - Baugh with some hard running to the right side for a gain of eight yards to UF's 29-yard line and the Gators were awarded an extra 15 yards on the play following an illegal hands to the face penalty called on Kentucky.

Q1: 00:30 - Lagway shows off his mobility on back-to-back plays for gains of eight yards and 31 yards on the ground.

END OF Q1: Florida 3, Kentucky 0. It will be 3rd-and-2 for the Gators at Kentucky's 14-yard line to begin the second quarter. An impressive defensive performance for Florida who has really come around on the defensive side of the ball over the last three weeks.

Q2: 15:00 - The Gators were stuffed on a rush attempt by Baugh on 3rd-and-short and will now have to settle for their second field goal attempt deep inside UK territory.

Q2: 14:13 - SCORE: Trey Smack is now 2-for-2 on field goal attempts as his 39-yard field goal attempt went straight through the uprights. Florida 6, Kentucky 0.

Q2: 14:13 - Smack's kick was brought out of the end zone by Kentucky junior wideout Barion Brown for a 16-yard return but he took a huge hit from UF wideout Ja'Quavion Fraziars at UK's 16-yard line.

Q2: 12:05 - SCORE: Vandagriff completed a 45-yard deep ball to Barion Brown in stride to cap off a four-play 84-yard scoring drive for the Wildcats. The extra-point attempt by UK kicker Alex Raynor was no good as the game remains tied. Florida 6, Kentucky 6.

Q2: 11:59 - Baugh returned Kentucky's kickoff to UF's 19-yard line. Lagway and company are set to take back over.

Q2: 11:41 - Florida's offense goes three-and-out. Lagway attempted to scramble to his right and threw a pass intended for Wilson III on the left sideline but it fell incomplete. Crawshaw delivered a 54-yard punt and Kentucky was called for holding. It's 1st-and-10 for the Wildcats at their own 16-yard line.

Q2: 9:31 - Kentucky attempted a quarterback sneak on 3rd-and-1 but was stopped short of the line to gain. The Wildcats will punt it away from deep inside their territory.

Q2 9:25 - Dike called a fair catch on a 40-yard punt by UK punter Aidan Laros. Florida will begin its drive at its 35-yard line.

NOTE: It's been far from perfect for Lagway against Kentucky. The true freshman signal caller is just 2-for-8 passing for 44 yards.

Q2: 8:36 - Right on cue, Lagway delivers a 50-yard dart up the middle to Elijhah Badger who caught the pass at Kentucky's 20-yard line and was brought down at the seven-yard line. 

Q2: 8:15 - SCORE: Just one play after Lagway's deep pass to Badger, Jadan Baugh ran the ball up the middle for a seven-yard touchdown rush marking his first touchdown as a Florida Gator. Florida 13, Kentucky 6.

Q2: 6:32 - On 3rd-and-5, Ben Hill Griffin got just about as loud as it has gotten all season and later erupted after an interception by UF defensive back Trikweze Bridges on a tipped pass at UF's 46-yard line. Florida takes back possession at midfield.

NOTE: Bridges' interception marks Florida's fourth of 2024, surpassing the team's 2023 total of three interceptions.

Q2: 6:10 - Just as Florida was seemingly building momentum, Lagway turned it right back over to the Wildcats on a pass attempt on 2nd-and-3 at midfield by UK defensive back Kristian Story who took the return all the way back to UF's 11-yard line.

Q2: 4:24 - Kentucky drove the ball down to Florida's two-yard line but was stuffed attempting to run the ball in on 4th-and-1, turning the ball right back over to the Gators as the first half is winding down.

Q2: 3:00 - Back-to-back big gainers for the Gators moved UF to UK's 13-yard line. Baugh provided a solid burst to the left side for a gain of 27 yards on the ground and Lagway unloaded another deep ball to Badger. This time for a gain of 50 yards. It's 1st-and-10 for the Gators inside Kentucky's red zone.

Q2: 2:10 - SCORE: On 2nd-and-7 at UK's 10-yard line, Lagway handed it off to Baugh he bounced outside to the left and easily trotted into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game. Smack's extra point was good. Florida's 98-yard scoring drive took just 2:14. Florida 20, Kentucky 6.

Q2: 2:10 - Smack's kick off goes through Kentucky's end zone. The Wildcats will start their rive at their own 25-yard line.

NOTE: Kentucky entered tonight's game allowing just 89.33 rushing yards per game. The Gators have 155 yards on the ground and it isn't even halftime. UF is averaging 6.7 yards per play on the ground.

Q2: 1:46 - Vandagriff's pass intended to Barion Brown was intercepted by junior defensive back Devin Moore at UF's 47-yard line and was returned for a gain of 52 yards down to UK's one-yard line.

Q2: 1:44 - SCORE: Just one play after Moore's interception, the Gators wasted no time messing around. Lagway handed the ball off to Baugh who took it straight up the middle for a 1-yard score. Baugh is now up to three touchdowns in the game. Florida 27, Kentucky 6.

Q2: 1:30 SCORE: It went from a low-scoring affair to a shoot-out at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Trey Smack's ensuing kickoff after Baugh's third touchdown was taken back 99 yards by Barion Brown who made several Gators special teamers miss down the right sideline. Brown remains the active NCAA leader for kickoff return touchdowns with five. Florida 27, Kentucky 13.

Q2: 00:19 - Kentucky calls its second timeout of the half as the Gators have possession at their own 31-yard line on 3rd-and-4.

Q2: 0:15 - Lagway scrambled to his right to look for an open running lane but was brought down behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of two yards by UK junior defensive back Jantzen Dunn. Crawshaw is set to punt it away to the Wildcats.

HALFTIME: Florida 27, Kentucky 13 - Florida was forced to replay fourth down after being penalized for illegal formation. Crawshaw punted it down to UK's 15-yard line with two seconds remaining in the second quarter before the Wildcats took a knee to end the half.

NOTE: DJ Lagway is just 4-for-11 in the passing game but the passes he's been able to complete have been incredibly beneficial for the Gators. His four completions have amounted to 152 yards through the air.

NOTE: Jadan Baugh was sensational for Florida in the first half. He became the first true freshman running back at UF to record three rushing touchdowns since Trey Burton did it in 2010. Baugh has also carried the ball 14 times for 88 yards.

Q3: 15:00 - Trey Smack's kickoff kickoff to open the third quarter went through Kentucky's end zone. The Wildcats will open the second half at their own 25-yard line.

Q3: 12:56 - Florida forced Kentucky into a 3rd-and-2 at midfield and Sumo-Karngbaye was taken down at the line of scrimmage by sophomore inside linebacker Grayson Howard. Its' decision time for UK head coach Mark Stoops.

Q3: 12:11 - The Wildcats elected to go for it on 4th-and-short and Vandagriff found tight end Josh Kattus for a 21-yard gain to the left side to UF's 35-yard line. 

Q3: 10:44 - Vandagriff with another solid pass, this time up the middle for a gain of 19 yards to Fred Farrier II who was taken down at Florida's 14-yard line by sophomore safety Jordan Castell.

INJURY UPDATE: UF senior cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. went down and seems to be in a significant amount of pain. Kentucky has the ball on 1st-and-goal at UF's 3-yard line.

Q3: 8:34 - SCORE: Kentucky's backup quarterback Gavin Wimsatt entered the game on 2nd-and-goal and punched in a quarterback keep from one yard out. The score caps off a 12-play 75-yard scoring drive for the Wildcats to open the second half. The extra-point attempt was good. Florida 27, Kentucky 20.

INJURY UPDATE: Jason Marshall Jr. is heading to the Florida locker room with UF trainers on what appears to be a right shoulder injury. It could potentially be a huge loss for Florida's secondary as Marshall Jr. has provided solid play for the Gators seemingly all season.

Q3: 7:38 - Lagway hits Dike in stride on 2nd-and-8 to the right side for a pickup of 23 yards to Florida's 48-yard line.

Q3: 5:41 - Another deep ball from Lagway found Dike wide-open down the right sideline for a huge gain of 44 yards. Dike took it all the way down to UK's three-yard line. It's 1st-and-goal for the Gators.

Q3: 3:34 - SCORE: Baugh took a handoff from Lagway and ran it right up the middle on 3rd-and-goal at UK's one-yard line for a touchdown. Baugh is now up to four touchdowns in the contest. Florida 33, Kentucky 20.

NOTE: The previous call of a touchdown is under further review. Baugh extended as far as he could to reach the ball past the goal line but the referees are taking another look.

NOTE: After further review, the ruling of a touchdown stands. Smack's extra-point attempt was good. Florida leads Kentucky 34-20.

Q3: 3:27 - Smack's kickoff goes through Kentucky's end zone. The Wildcats will begin their drive at their 25-yard line.

Q3: 2:29 - On 3rd-and-9, Vandagriff found junior wide receiver Dane Key across the middle for a pickup of 10 yards and a first down. The Wildcats keep their drive alive at their 36-yard line.

END OF Q3: Kentucky is now 2-for-2 on third down this drive. Vandagriff scrambled up the middle for a nine-yard gain to his 47-yard line. It will be 2nd-and-4 for the Wildcats at midfield to start the fourth quarter. Florida 34, Kentucky 20.

Q4: 12:54 - Timeout Kentucky. Vandagriff found Dane Key on a crossing route up the middle for a 13-yard gain and a first down. The Wildcats are nine yards away from Florida's red zone where they are 1-for-2 in the game. 

Q4: 10:35: - Florida comes away with two huge stops on third and fourth down at its 22-yard line and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium was sent into a frenzy following Trikweze Bridges open-field tackle on 4th-and-5. Lagway and UF's offense will take back over up two scores.

Q4: 8:05 - Florida with a quick three-and-out after Lagway was swarmed for a sack and a loss of five yards on 3rd-and-2. Crawshaw delivered a 47-yard punt to UK's 28-yard line that was returned by Ja'Mori Maclin for a gain of seven yards. It's 1st-and-10 for the Wildcats.

NOTE: The Gators' defense is holding Kentucky to 3-for-10 on third down and 1-for-3 on fourth down.

NOTE: The announced attendance for the game was 89,906.

Q4: 7:10 - The Wildcats pick up a first down on 2nd-and-10 on an 11-yard pass from Vandagriff to Sumo-Karngbaye to the left side to UF's 40-yard line.

Q4: 5:50 - UF's defense came to play today. The Gators have now held Kentucky to 4-for-12 on third down and 1-for-4 on fourth down. Florida forced a turnover on downs with a solid pass breakup by Aaron Gates on 4th-and-11 at midfield.

NOTE: Florida defensive back Trikweze Bridges has tied his career-high in tackles with 10. Bridges previously had 10 tackles on the road against Mississippi State.

Q4: 4:53 - Lagway threw a high-lobbing deep ball down the left sideline that hit Elijhah Badger in stride for a 40-yard gain through the air. It's 1st-and-10 for the Gators at UK's 17-yard line.

Q4: 3:31 - SCORE: Baugh exploded up the middle on 1st-and-10 for a 16-yard gain down to Kentucky's one-yard line and broke through the end zone on the very next play for his fifth rushing touchdown of the game. Smack's extra-point attempt was good. Florida 41, Kentucky 20.

Q4: 3:23 SCORE: In his first appearance in a game as a Florida Gator, UF defensive back Cormani McClain intercepted Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley and took it back for a 20-yard pick-six on UK's first play of the drive. The Gators are beginning to pile it on the Wildcats as they lead 48-20.

NOTE: McClain's interception was the first 20-plus-yard interception returned for a touchdown in 25 games for Florida. The last Gator who did so was Jaydon Hill against Missouri in 2022.

Q4: 3:20 - Florida was penalized for 15 yards on an unsportsmanlike conduct called on McClain's touchdown. Half of Florida's sideline mobbed McClain after the score. Kentucky will start its drive with excellent field position at its 48-yard line.

Q4: 3:00 - Timeout Kentucky. It will be 3rd-and-10 for the Wildcats at Florida's 37-yard line after the break.

Q4: 2:53 - Kentucky took a deep shot to the right side of Florida's end zone but the pass was broken up by Cormani McClain on 3rd-and-10. Florida recorded yet another stop on fourth down on the very next play. 

NOTE: DJ Lagway's day is done as he's been replaced by Florida's backup redshirt freshman quarterback Aidan Warner. Lagway went 7-for-14 with 259 yards and one interception. 

Q4: 1:57 - Two-minute timeout. The Gators will likely look to run out the clock for the remainder of the game to seal the victory. It will be 3rd-and-8 for the Gators at their 39-yard line after the break.

NOTE: Jadan Baugh's five-touchdown performance ties Florida's all-time program record for rushing touchdowns in a game.

NOTE: The Gators' 48 points in the game marks the most points scored by a Florida team in the Billy Napier era against an FBS opponent.

FINAL: Florida 48, Kentucky 20. - The Gators improve to (4-3, 2-2 SEC). The Wildcats fall to (3-4, 1-4 SEC).

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