LEXINGTON —Youth has benefited Florida this season. And it has nothing to do with a player who suits up each week.
Instead, it's in the coaching offices, where 30-year-old Austin Armstrong is in his first season as the Gators' defensive coordinator. Among the youngest coaches in the FBS, Armstrong has engineered a turnaround for the unit through the first four games of 2023.
Last season, Florida ranked outside the top 80 nationally in both total defense and scoring defense. The Gators now lead the SEC (and rank No. 5 in the country) in total defense, giving up 244.8 yards per game. Florida allows only 13.5 points per game, tied for second in the SEC with Alabama and trailing only two-time defending national champion Georgia (11.3 ppg).
Kentucky, which has fielded one of the league's most efficient offenses, will test itself against Armstrong and the Gators at noon Saturday.
"They do a lot of things well," UK offensive coordinator Liam Coen said of Florida's defense. "They fly around to the football. They're extremely well-coached. They have a demeanor —you can tell that they have a mentality on the defense. … They're athletic in the back end. They're disruptive up front. They probably move and pressure more than anything we've seen to date."
One of the few areas in which Florida's defense has struggled: creating takeaways. The Gators have forced one turnover, tied for the fewest in the FBS.
Wildcats quarterback Devin Leary has been intercepted in every game, including two last week against Vanderbilt, to up his total to five as he continues to find his form.
"We're not trying to constantly push the ball down the field," Coen said. "It just so happens that we have a little bit more this year. I think the efficiency aspect of things —just pitching and catching, keeping the ball in play, checkdowns, throwing it away —ultimately help take care of the football and give you a better chance on early downs to be a little more efficient.
"I think that's something we're all striving for."
Kentucky vs Florida football pregame notes
- At 4-0 for the third straight season, Kentucky is in rarefied air. The only other time the Wildcats have started 4-0 three consecutive years was 1909 through 1911.
- Mark Stoops is seeking his 50th victory at Kroger Field since becoming UK's coach prior to the 2013 season. He enters Saturday with a 49-25 (.662) home record.
- UK has only six wins (in 40 tries) over ranked Florida teams. But Stoops has accounted for half of those (three), all coming in the past five years: 2018, 2021 and 2022.
- Recognition poured in for Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston after his historic performance in last week's win over Vanderbilt. Hairston became the first Wildcat to return two interceptions for touchdowns in the same game. On Monday, he won the SEC Defensive Player of the Week award. Hairston added two more honors Tuesday: the Bronko Nagurski Trophy National Player of the Week and the Jim Thorpe National Defensive Back of the Week.
- In large part because of Hairston's two pick sixes, Kentucky is tied for first nationally in defensive touchdowns (three) alongside Coastal Carolina. UK's eight forced turnovers this season also is tied for first in the SEC with Arkansas, Auburn and Vanderbilt.
- Florida holds a decisive edge in the all-time series, leading 53-20 overall (and 22-11 in games in Lexington). But UK is on a two-game win streak versus Florida, the first time that's happened since 1976-77. The Wildcats haven't beaten the Gators three times in a row since Bear Bryant patrolled the sidelines for Kentucky. Bryant led UK to four straight victories over Florida from 1948 through 1951.
UK vs Florida football pregame reading
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Mark Stoops:Kentucky coach confident fans can 'pound some beers' for early kickoff vs. Florida
Look back at Game 4:3 keys to Kentucky football's win over Vanderbilt
Kentucky football recruiting:Wildcats add to 2024 class by flipping hard-hitting 4-star twins once committed to Michigan
C.L. Brown column:Don't pivot to basketball just yet — Kentucky football's offensive woes are fixable
'A good wakeup call':Kentucky football OC Liam Coen learned valuable lesson after recent health scare
From the hardwood:Here's where Kentucky basketball transfers will play in 2023-24
Kentucky basketball recruiting:2024 Kentucky basketball target Jayden Quaintance a 'scary' talent and potential No. 1 pick in NBA draft
Kentucky vs Florida odds
Kentucky is a 1 ½-point favorite at home against Florida,according to theDraftKings college football odds.
WANNA BET?Top Kentucky sportsbooks and sports betting apps reviewed
How to watch Kentucky vs Florida football game
Who:No. 23 Florida (3-1, 1-0 SEC) at Kentucky (4-0, 1-0)
When:Noon Saturday
Where:Kroger Field, Lexington
TV:ESPN
Radio:Tom Leach (play-by-play), Jeff Piecoro (analyst) and Dick Gabriel (sideline) will have the UK radio network call on 840 AM in Louisville and both 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington and online atUKAthletics.com. The game also will be carried on satellite radio: Sirius (Channel 138), XM (Channel 190) and the SiriusXM app (Channel 961).
Streaming:Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN via TV-connected devices or by going toWatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app or ESPN+.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
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