Florida Proves It Is Nowhere Close to Being Ready for Alabama

When fans examined Florida’s SEC schedule before the season, one game stood out: a Sept. 20 trip to Alabama.

The Gators’ second league game would be a litmus test of the revamped offense under Kurt Roper, of Jeff Driskel’s fitness as a first-tier SEC quarterback.

Well, we got those answers, only a week early.

John Raoux/Associated Press

Saturday’s 36-30 triple-overtime win over Kentucky showed that the new Gators are much like the old Gators, and they aren’t ready for prime time.

One of the SEC’s worst teams pushed Florida hard at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Kentucky hasn’t won an SEC game since 2012, but the Wildcats were a 4th-and-9 in overtime away from pulling off a stunning upset before Driskel found receiver Demarcus Robinson in the left corner of the end zone for a game-tying score that sent the game to a second overtime.

Tailback Matt Jones finally finished off the Wildcats with a one-yard touchdown run in the third overtime.

Kentucky’s defense was one of the SEC’s worst a year ago, allowing 31.2 points and 427.2 yards per game. But Florida managed only 20 points in regulation, didn’t score a touchdown until late in the third quarter and went 5-of-17 on third-down conversions.

Robinson was a revelation, catching 15 passes for 216 yards and two scores. Driskel threw for 295 yards and three scores with an interception, but an offense that rolled up 65 points against Eastern Michigan didn’t look efficient.

Florida coach Will Muschamp didn’t seem pleased afterward, criticizing the big plays his defense gave up to SEC Network’s Maria Taylor.

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Our kids fought through a lot of adversity in the game. We put up over 600 yards of offense, we’ve got to convert in the red zone, got to convert on third down early in the game to create some separation and we didn’t.

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And now, these Gators must go to Tuscaloosa for a meeting with No. 3 Alabama and Kirby Smart’s defense. If they have trouble scoring on Kentucky, it’s not difficult to imagine what the Crimson Tide will do to them.

Following a 4-8 season, Muschamp faces intense pressure this fall to win big and keep his job. If efforts like Saturday are what Florida has in store, it’s difficult to project the Gators even reaching a bowl game.