No. 11 Kentucky's dream season comes to an end with home loss

Kentucky Wildcats head coach Will Stein. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

No. 11 Kentucky's dream season comes to an end with home loss to Florida

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Nov 14, 2026 11:34 PM ET

Just two short weeks ago, the Kentucky Wildcats were 7-1, ranked No. 6 in the country, and in sole possession of first place in the SEC.

A lot can change in two weeks, though, and what once had the making of a first-ever appearance in the SEC Championship and possibly the College Football Playoff has gone up in smoke with back-to-back losses.

Kentucky's SEC, CFP hopes came to an end with an ugly loss Saturday

The No. 11-ranked Wildcats hosted the unranked Florida Gators on Saturday, and while a win would've gone a long way toward CFP hopes, Kentucky put together a complete letdown performance.

Kentucky fell 21-14 to Florida, giving it both its third conference and third overall loss of the season. Not only will the loss move Kentucky near the bottom half of the Top 25, but the Wildcats will also fall outside of the top two spots in the SEC.

The back-to-back losses for Kentucky will be viewed as offensive collapses, as it failed to score 14 points in each of the two games. Prior to the losses to Tennessee and Florida, the Wildcats offense had averaged 32.8 points per game.

ROAD WORK pic.twitter.com/H2GTuJ6lkQ
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) November 15, 2026

Will Stein's message after Kentucky loses at home to Florida?

"We're pissed. I'm pissed.

"Our players should be mad.

"We let a team come in here and physically beat us, in all three phases." pic.twitter.com/zOY8ukiBce
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) November 15, 2026

Year 1 under head coach Will Stein should still be considered a success

While many will look at the previous two weeks as a missed opportunity, Kentucky fans should still absolutely consider the first season under head coach Will Stein a success.

Stein took over a program that did not have lofty expectations and put them right in the thick of things until the very end of the season. If anything, it was a season that, while it ended poorly, laid the foundation for a successful future in the coming years.

Kentucky still has two rivalry games (Missouri, Louisville) to try and get its first season with at least nine wins, like in 2021 when it went 10-3. Even if the Wildcats don't get to nine wins, it will still be a season that builds positive momentum for 2027 and beyond.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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