1. I don’t want to get on a soapbox, but …

It’s one of those strange ecosystems within the SEC. A rivalry that wasn’t — that suddenly became one that is.

And it built a program in the process.

Want to know how Mark Stoops has become the safest coach in the SEC, year after year? How he continues to earn contract extensions and significant raises at Kentucky — most recently, in November of 2022 to $8.6 million annually — despite averaging 7 wins (and 3.5 SEC wins) the previous 9 seasons?

Because he has figured out the Florida problem.

Every Kentucky coach beats South Carolina. They beat Vanderbilt and Missouri and even win their share against permanent West Division opponent Mississippi State.

But for the Kentucky administration to believe so deeply in what Stoops has built, there had to be an anchor. There had to be not only tangible progress, but the hope of much more.

The tangible progress: Winning a majority of the annual 50-50 SEC games against South Carolina, Missouri, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State — where Stoops is 26-11 since 2014.

The hope of more: the Florida series.

As Kentucky prepares to open its home SEC schedule on Saturday against Florida, there’s little doubt where the 2 programs stand in the pecking order of the SEC East.

One is a football blue-blood still trying to find the right coach. The other is, in football terminology, a try-hard guy.

And the try-hard guy is crushing it.

“I know what we have ahead of us,” Stoops said last weekend after unbeaten Kentucky opened the SEC schedule with a win at Vanderbilt.

What they have is a full-blown rivalry with Florida, one Stoops and his teams built over the past 9 seasons by blowing leads and getting blown out before finally taking control of the series.

Kentucky has won 3 of the past 5 against the Gators, starting with the 2018 victory that snapped a 31-game losing streak.

More than that, it’s the way Stoops’ teams have handled Florida of late, dating to 2014. But for some truly awful officiating in the 2014 game in Gainesville — a game-winning TD for Florida allowed after the play clock expired — the streak would’ve been broken 4 years earlier. Or in 2015, when Kentucky did everything right until it didn’t — and a blown coverage cost them in 14-9 loss. Or in 2017, when Kentucky led 27-14 with 8 minutes left and watched the Gators rally behind backup QB Luke Del Rio.

Then it happened. All those years without a signature SEC win, all that time and money invested by Kentucky into a coach they knew could win big. The Wildcats won in Gainesville in 2018 and snapped the streak.

Since that moment, Stoops’ teams have won 10 games twice — the same amount of double-digit win seasons that UK had in the previous history of the program.

It doesn’t matter that Stoops is winless vs. Georgia since 2014, or 2-7 against some of the truly terrible Tennessee teams of the past 3 decades, or 2-9 combined against Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Texas A&M over the same time.

He has figured out how to beat Florida, and for that (and those 10-win seasons), he’s the most secure coach in the SEC.

2. New coach, same result

It doesn’t matter who is coaching Florida, they have problems with Kentucky.

Will Muschamp and Jim McElwain didn’t lose to Kentucky, both stealing wins in games they should’ve lost. Dan Mullen lost twice to Kentucky, and drew the ire of Florida fans when, after the first loss at home in 2018, was smiling as he shook hands with Stoops (his friend) after the game.

Billy Napier took over last season, and a week after upsetting Utah at home in the season-opener, lost to Kentucky is a game that was much more lopsided than the 26-16 score.

Anthony Richardson was the Heisman Trophy leader after Week 1 (if there’s such a thing), and admitted after the UK loss that he had “lost confidence” in his ability. A truly remarkable course correction.

If that doesn’t make you understand the impact of Stoops on this rivalry, this should: Florida has fired 3 coaches (Muschamp, McElwain, Mullen) since 2014 and is on its 4th coach.

Stoops has outlasted them all — a direct contrast to the previous history of the series. Before Stoops snapped the streak in 2018, 7 Kentucky coaches had tried to do so (including Stoops) and failed.

You didn’t really think Napier would just waltz into this rivalry and win a game, just because it was Florida and the Gators were playing at home. Or that Florida, fresh off a big win over Tennessee 2 weeks ago and playing this season (again) with a roster built with better high school recruiting, is going into Lexington on Saturday and winning.

For the first time in decades, Kentucky is a favorite against the Gators. When I asked a sharp at FanDuel for the last time Kentucky was favored over Florida, his response was telling.

“I can’t tell you,” he said. “Never?”

3. Building the program, The Epilogue

Kentucky obviously hasn’t extended Stoops over and over because he won 3 of the past 9 games in a series.

They’re completely bought in with all things Stoops because of the anticipation of what could be. If Stoops and his staff can finally turn momentum against a program that annually recruits better than the Wildcats, and has unlimited financial support, why can’t it happen against other SEC teams?

Why can’t Kentucky make the turn against Georgia and win a game or 2 or 3 over 5 or 6 or 10 years? Or make the full turn against Tennessee. Or finally beat Alabama?

Or do enough to make the 12-team Playoff, beginning in 2024. Because that’s what the Kentucky faith in Stoops is all about: getting to the new, expanded Playoff.

That’s why you commit so much money in head coach contracts and assistant coach contracts. In a standalone football facility and stadium expansion and renovation.

Why you expand your recruiting budget and support staff, and how you ride the NIL momentum through high school and transfer portal recruiting to upgrade the roster. You may not recruit high school players as well as Florida, Georgia, Alabama and LSU — but you better believe there are impact players from the portal who can make a difference.

Players like QB Devin Leary (NC State) and RB Ray Davis (Vanderbilt) and LT Marques Cox (Northern Illinois) and DT Keeshawn Silver (North Carolina). Players who will be at the center of Kentucky celebrating another win over Florida.

And another step in building the program.

4. Staying ready

Max Johnson could have left Texas A&M this offseason. Could have graduated and transferred free of NCAA transfer rules for those who have already used their 1 free move.

He could’ve stayed in the SEC and played at Auburn or Florida or even Alabama.

Now he more than likely will be a critical piece to Texas A&M’s SEC title run moving forward.

Starter Conner Weigman injured his ankle in the win against Auburn, and though X-rays were negative, there’s no telling how much time Weigman will miss. All injuries — especially ankle sprains — heal differently.

“I can’t say enough great things about Max and how he came in and played,” Jimbo Fisher said.

He should also praise offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. The Aggies couldn’t figure out pass protections against Auburn’s aggressive defense while Weigman was in the game, but changed what they were doing schematically when Johnson entered the game.

Texas A&M went to more multiple wide receiver sets and spread the field, forcing Auburn to cover sideline to sideline and all but eliminating aggressive blitz packages. Johnson took advantage of it, and his ability to scramble and throw accurately off schedule was significant — and will be moving forward.

Arkansas is No. 2 in the SEC in sacks (14) and has 6 INTs, and has historically played well against the Aggies in this series. But the Hogs have been vulnerable to quarterbacks who can move in the pocket and throw accurately (see: LSU’s Jayden Daniels, BYU’s Kedon Slovis).

5. The Weekly 5

Five picks against the spread:

  • 1. Florida at Kentucky (-2.5)
  • 2. Texas A&M vs. Arkansas (+6.5)
  • 3. Georgia at Auburn (+18.5)
  • 4. LSU (-1.5) at Ole Miss
  • 5. South Carolina at Tennessee (-11.5)

Last week: 2-3.

Season: 12-8.

6. Your tape is your resume

An NFL scout analyzes a draft-eligible SEC player. This week: Auburn CB Nehemiah Pritchett.

“He has played a ton of snaps. By the time he leaves (Auburn), he’ll have played more than 2,000. He has seen everything, and he’s a long, physical guy who can run. He’s just off on a number of things, critical things that are the difference between a Day 2 guy and a Day 3 guy. His route recognition needs to get better, and he needs to play more aggressively. It’s really just consistency and recognition. He can be developed.”

7. Powered Up

This week’s Power Poll, and 1 big thing.

1. Georgia: This is beginning to feel like the Alabama 2010 team: a loaded group that should’ve won a title, but had too many guys who thought they could flip the switch any week and win.

2. LSU: We’re 4 games in, and there’s an alarming issue: run defense. The Tigers are 12th in the SEC in run defense (132.2 ypg.) and last in the SEC in average yards per carry (4.5). Up next: The Ole Miss rush offense on the road.

3. Alabama: In no way has Alabama righted the ship. There are still plenty of problems on offense, and questions about consistency week after week.

4. Texas A&M: The Aggies aren’t as bad as the ugly Miami loss but aren’t as good as we originally thought this offseason. They’re just … there.

5. Kentucky: How can you not be concerned about Kentucky’s shaky pass protection? The Wildcats have only given up 4 sacks, but defenses have been affecting the passing game and the numbers prove it: Leary’s low completion rate (59%) and turnovers (5 INTs).

6. Ole Miss: QB Jaxson Dart in his past 4 SEC games, dating to 2022: 4 TDs, 2 INTs, 12 sacks. And losses to Alabama (twice), Arkansas and Mississippi State.

7. Florida: Billy Napier said Florida needed to break the cycle of 2022 when it played well, then played poorly the following week. Gators then followed win over Tennessee with a clunker against Charlotte. That’s not growth.

8. Tennessee: Vols have played 1 game of significance in 2023 and got exposed. Tennessee leads the SEC in sacks (16), and South Carolina is last in the SEC in sacks allowed (17). You can see where this is headed.

9. Missouri: They’re playing smartly (only 2 turnovers), and the offense under new OC Kirby Moore has been efficient. Don’t stumble Saturday at Vanderbilt, and set up a big home game Oct. 7 against LSU.

10. Mississippi State: Only Vanderbilt has a worse scoring defense — the Bulldogs are giving up a whopping 27.3 ppg. Time to take a stand against a limited Alabama offense.

11. Arkansas: QB KJ Jefferson is having another huge season. Hogs can’t waste it again with struggles on defense, or mistakes on special teams.

12. Auburn: Ron Roberts has done a terrific job with the defense. If the offense can get anything from the QB position — it’s time to play Holden Geriner — bowl eligibility isn’t out of the question.

13. South Carolina: QB Spencer Rattler looks terrific, and has made remarkable, double-digit NFL throws over the first 4 games. But will he stay healthy behind an offensive line that can’t protect?

14. Vanderbilt: Commodores coach Clark Lea has preached about building the lines of scrimmage, but this team isn’t close on either side of the ball.

8. Ask and you shall receive

Matt: The Lane Kiffin act is wearing thin. I don’t know why you guys in the media love him so much. Saban spanked him again. — Chris Greene, Atlanta.

Chris:

Honestly, what do you expect Kiffin to do? Alabama has better talent, was playing at home and was a desperate team. Ole Miss isn’t elite on defense, but will get better (freshman LB Suntarine Perkins is the real deal). Offensively, it’s still a heavy lift against the elite of the league.

His team is undermanned and thrown into that environment. So what do you do? You follow the Sun Tzu philosophy: “All warfare is based on deception. If your enemy is angry, irritate him.”

So Kiffin did his work on social media, and everyone got a laugh and nobody was worse for the wear. Except Ole Miss. That’s the chance you take. If you irritate the enemy enough, his anger leads to a loss of focus. Or it leads to galvanizing a group with an overwhelming advantage.

I’ve never been a big words have meaning guy, especially in sports. Bulletin board material can help focus players, but at the end of the day, it’s: Can you beat the man in front of you? All of that other stuff is eliminated after the first snap of the game.

9. Numbers

134. Georgia gets its first SEC test Saturday at Auburn, in a game that shouldn’t be much of a test.

But look closer. The biggest issue at Georgia is the offensive line, which struggled mightily at home against South Carolina to protect the quarterback and consistently run the ball.

Now think about the 88,000 fans at Jordan-Hare Stadium, one of the loudest venues in the SEC. False starts will happen, and confusion along the line will, too.

But the best way to eliminate a crowd plays right into the strength of the Georgia offense (and weakness of the Auburn defense): Run the ball. The Bulldogs are averaging 159 yards a game, and lead the SEC with 13 rushing TDs.

More important: Auburn is 13th in the SEC in run defense (134 ypg.). Forget about clapping snaps, or linemen holding hands to prevent false starts. Line up and run the ball with RBs Daijun Edwards, Roderick Robinson and Kendall Milton — and then throw off play action.

10. Quote to note

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel on QB Joe Milton III: “In our drop-back pass game, he’s going to have to work the pocket, escape, make plays with his feet, stay and make plays with his arm. That will be critical as we continue to go. We need him to take great care of the football.”