Kentucky vs. Florida storylines, players to watch in Week 11 SEC matchup

LEXINGTON — Kentucky football will try to return to the win column this week.UK had a six-game win streak entering its only open date of the 2026 season, which fell during Halloween weekend. The Wildcats then had a nightmare of a performance when they got back at it. Kentucky couldn't topple Tennessee, losing by 28 points at Neyland Stadium on Nov. 7.UK and coach Will Stein now are 7-2 overall, with a 5-2 record in SEC play. Their opponent this week is Florida, which has dropped four of its past five outings. The Gators are 5-4 (3-4).Here are three things to watch heading into the clash between the Wildcats and Gators at Kroger Field:A beloved former Kentucky player and coach returns home: Jon SumrallKentucky's quest to make the College Football Playoff is a key storyline, for sure. But in terms of the game itself, Florida coach Jon Sumrall facing his alma mater gets top billing.Sumrall led the Cats in tackles in 2004, but an injury brought his playing career to a close. He later became an assistant on Mark Stoops' Kentucky staff. After becoming a head coach, Sumrall has experienced nothing but success. In four seasons guiding his own programs — first at Troy (2022-23) and then Tulane (2024-25) — he's reached the conference title game each year. He has a 3-1 record in those contests.Easy to understand why so many UK fans hoped Sumrall might be the school's next coach. It wasn't to be.In his maiden campaign at Florida, Sumrall started 4-0. But the Gators have hit a rough patch recently, going 1-4 since the start of October with each setback by at least 16 points.Will his players rally around him to notch a victory in Lexington this week?How does UK respond to its first loss in nearly two months?Since its 45-17 loss to Alabama on Sept. 12, everything Stein (and his program) touched seemingly turned to gold.Toppling a Texas A&M team that had been in the playoff last season? Overtime wins in back-to-back weeks — on the final play, no less? Winning a slugfest at Oklahoma? Vanquishing a Vanderbilt club that had won three of the past four meetings in the series?The Cats were living charmed lives.The Volunteers, as they so often do, brought their neighbors to the north back to earth. UK failed to score a touchdown for the first time this fall. And Tennessee rubbed it in at the end — the hosts tacked on another TD with 1:06 remaining despite the fact they already led by 21 points.After that reality check, how will Kentucky respond?Watch both sidelines — there are numerous connections between the Wildcats and Gators in 2026Sumrall is far from the only link between the 2026 versions of the Wildcats and Gators.Brad White, UK's defensive coordinator the final seven seasons (2019-25) of the Stoops era, is now in the same role at Florida. Another ex-Cats assistant now on the Gators' staff: Chris Collins. He is Florida's safeties coach after tutoring Kentucky's DBs for five years (2021-25). Cam Dooley, a promising player in the Wildcats' secondary the past two seasons, followed Collins and White to Gainesville, Florida.But the transactions didn't just flow one direction.Kentucky landed a pair of former Florida DBs in the transfer portal: Jordan Castell and Aaron Gates.Castell's four interceptions are tied for most among SEC players, while Gates has a team-high seven pass breakups.Kentucky football players to watchKenny Minchey, quarterback: After six consecutive games without an interception, Minchey's streak finally ended in the first quarter against Tennessee. For the season, Minchey has a completion percentage of 69.9% (186 for 266), throwing for 1,979 yards and 14 touchdowns.Kenny Darby, wide receiver: The freshman sensation has 45 catches this fall, tied with Willie Rodriguez for the team lead. But Darby's 576 yards receiving are the most of any Wildcat.Jordan Castell, defensive back: As noted above, the Florida transfer has four INTs in 2026, equaling teammate Ty Bryant and Tennessee's Dejuan Lane for most in the conference. Castell won't lack for motivation this week. Florida football players to watchJadan Baugh, running back: The junior leads the league in rushing TDs (14) and ranks among the top five of the conference in every other rushing category that matters.London Montgomery, running back: The Pennsylvania product doesn't figure much in the ground game, but he's here because of his special teams prowess. He's No. 1 in the SEC in kickoff return yardage (409) and yards per return (22.7).Myles Graham, linebacker: A local star from Gainesville, Graham's 70 tackles this season pace the Gators — 18 clear of his closest teammate.Kentucky vs. Florida football predictionKentucky 31, Florida 20: The Wildcats are playing for far, far more than the Gators at this point. Given the lopsided fashion in which it lost to Tennessee, Kentucky likely will have to win out in the regular season to clinch a spot in the College Football Playoff. That starts with Florida. UK won't let the opportunity pass it by..oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}Courier Journal Sports (@courierjournal_sports) • Instagram photos and videosHow to watch Kentucky vs. Florida football gameWho: Florida (5-4, 4-3 SEC) at No. 13 Kentucky (7-2, 5-2)When: 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14Where: Kroger Field; LexingtonTV: ESPNRadio: 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 at UKAthletics.com.Streaming: Qualified subscribers can watch the game at espn.com/watch..oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky vs. Florida storylines, players to watch in Week 11 SEC matchup