UK Football

Where Kentucky football is ranked in top 25 polls after upset win at Florida

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Game day: No. 20 Kentucky 26, No. 12 Florida 16

Click below for more of the Herald-Leader’s and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky-Florida football game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.

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Mark Stoops got his wish.

After Kentucky football’s 26-16 win at Florida, the Wildcats coach made a bold prediction about what should happen to his team in the polls.

“Heck, we must jump into the top 10 I guess now, right?” Stoops said with a smirk. “I’m just saying. I see other people jumping 20 spots. Why don’t we?”

Stoops was referring to the team he just beat.

Florida went from unranked in the preseason poll to No. 12 after a week-one upset of Utah at home, leaping past Kentucky in the rankings. Stoops’ prediction might have been made with tongue planted firmly in cheek, but the Wildcats did move from No. 20 into the top 10 of both major polls Sunday at No. 9 in the new Associated Press Top 25 and No. 10 in the USA Today coaches poll.

The Wildcats are now the third-highest ranked team from the Southeastern Conference in the AP poll, slotting behind No. 1 Georgia and No. 2 Alabama. No. 10 Arkansas. No. 15 Tennessee, No. 18 No. 29 Ole Miss and No. 24 Texas A&M were also ranked.

Kentucky returns to action Saturday against FCS Youngstown State at Kroger Field. The Wildcats’ next game against a ranked opponent is on Oct. 1 at Ole Miss.

Kentucky quarterback Will Levis celebrates with fans after his team’s defeat of Florida, 26-16, on Saturday night.
Kentucky quarterback Will Levis celebrates with fans after his team’s defeat of Florida, 26-16, on Saturday night. Silas Walker swalker@herald-leader.com

This story was originally published September 11, 2022 at 2:06 PM.

Jon Hale
Lexington Herald-Leader
Jon Hale is the University of Kentucky football beat writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. He joined the Herald-Leader in 2022 but has covered UK athletics for more than 10 years. Hale was named the 2021 Kentucky Sportswriter of the Year. Support my work with a digital subscription
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Game day: No. 20 Kentucky 26, No. 12 Florida 16

Click below for more of the Herald-Leader’s and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky-Florida football game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.