Florida put on a show in front of a sold-out homecoming crowd in week eight, defeating the Wildcats 48-20 on Saturday night and snapping a three-game skid to Kentucky. The Gators improved to 4-3 (2-2 SEC) on the 2024 season behind an all-around team effort. Florida’s 48 points scored vs Kentucky is the most the Wildcats have allowed this season. The Gators’ defense allowed just 14 points and recorded three interceptions, which matched their 2023 season total.
A pair of true freshmen in DJ Lagway and Jadan Baugh earned the start vs Kentucky, which is the first time in program history Florida has started a true freshman duo at quarterback and running back. Lagway only completed seven passes in the contest, but tossed for 257 yards, an average of 37 yards per completion. Five of Lagway’s 7 completions went for 40+ yards. Lagway also created explosives with his legs, rushing for 46 yards including two runs of 13+ yards.
Jadan Baugh ran for five touchdowns vs Kentucky, tying the school record held by Tim Tebow (2007) and Trey Burton (2010). Baugh ran for 106 yards on the 10th best rushing defense in college football, displaying elite acceleration and cutting ability for a 227 pound back. Florida rushed for 197 yards against a Kentucky defense that was allowing less than 90 rushing yards per game entering the contest.
“Their work ethic is second to none, and they’ve been able to observe veteran players that do it exactly the way you would want a guy to do it,” Napier said on Lagway and Baugh. “They’re obviously talented, and we have a lot of other young players that are capable of the same things. They stepped up in a major way.”
Kentucky wasn’t respecting Florida’s deep passing game, which was evident by their defensive alignment throughout the game. The Gators had a plan to establish the run and take vertical shots that threatened the third level; they did exactly that. Florida attempted just five passes between 0-14 air yards while attempting 10 passes of 15+ yards air yards.
Senior receiver Eilijhah Badger hauled in three receptions for a game high 148 yards, recording three 40+ yard catches. Chimere Dike and Eugene Wilson also recorded one 40+ yard catch.
“Badger had an unbelievable day, some elite catches,” Napier said postgame. “Finished one off there on third down. But just his ability to make the contested catch, the vertical threat, and then obviously DJ laid those in the basket.”
Florida’s defense continued their recent success, creating pressures, turnovers, and flying to the ball in space. Not only did the Gators force three turnovers, but Kentucky turned it over four times on downs. Florida’s defense continued to provide excellent field position for their offense and even scored six points of their own thanks to former five-star cornerback Cormani McClain, who recorded a pick six late in the 4th quarter in his first game action as a Gator.
“I could talk about the technical part, but it comes down to a selfless group that was solution-oriented, didn’t point a finger,” Napier said on the defensive improvement. “We just played better fundamental football. We played harder, and I think the players took ownership of that. Again, it goes back to what I said in here after game one. They were embarrassed. Were we were embarrassed. So we had a decision to make, and I think obviously just really proud of the players.”
The Gators’ offense and defense fed off of each other all game long, making Florida football fun again for the first time in quite a while.
Florida will enter their second bye week before taking on Georgia in Jacksonville on November 2nd.