Big Blue Links: Florida reloads after big win while Kentucky shuffles its offensive line
Football season has mashed the “on” button, and it’s hard to keep up with everything. So we’re here to help. Announcing the return of Big Blue Links:
The Herald-Leader’s Cam Drummond tried all the new concession offerings at Kroger Field for UK football season.
Jon Hale of the H-L on why Barion Brown’s electric debut might not signal change in Kentucky’s kick return strategy. Brown took a 100-yard kickoff return to the house in the Cats’ 37-13 season-opening victory over Miami (Ohio).
Can Kentucky beat Florida without Chris Rodriguez? For the second straight week, UK’s star running back was not on the official depth chart Monday, signaling he won’t be available when the Cats visit The Swamp on Saturday. Meanwhile, Kentucky has reshuffled its offensive line after netting just 50 yards on the ground against Miami.
Will Levis has another Robinson. After Wan’Dale Robinson was the UK quarterback’s go-to receiver in 2021, Tayvion Robinson appears more than ready to fill the same role in 2022.
Where is Levis in the SEC passer rankings? The UK quarterback threw for more than 300 yards against the RedHawks, but Georgia’s Stetson Bennett and Mississippi State’s Will Rogers are off to great starts.
For my podcast, I talked with Mark Story about UK’s victory over Miami and its trip to the Sunshine State for the matchup with Billy Napier’s Gators.
I also wrote my three takeaways from the first week of SEC football.
Brett Dawson of the Courier Journal on why Kentucky’s offensive line needs to improve before the visit to The Swamp.
David Whitley of the Gainesville Sun grades the Gators on their 29-26 win over No. 7 Utah last Saturday.
Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel writes that the Gators are recalibrating after the emotional high of beating Utah. Napier says Florida has much to improve on before Mark Stoops’ team comes to town.
Matt Howe of 247Sports on how Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson affects the team’s running game. Richardson rushed for over 100 yards in the win over Utah.
Billy Napier was a Week 1 winner, says Adam Dubbin of Gators Wire.
Eric Crawford of WDRB says Louisville’s lopsided loss to Syracuse signals multiple problems for Scott Satterfield’s Cardinals.
John Adams of the Knoxville News Sentinel argues that Pittsburgh would have been a better SEC addition than Missouri. Tennessee plays the Pitt Panthers on Saturday. Pittsburgh opened with a 38-31 win over West Virginia last week.
David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Tennessee being eager to atone for a ground game that was stuffed by Pittsburgh last year.
Five things we learned from No. 4 Clemson’s 41-10 win over Georgia Tech on Monday night.
Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman says Texas sees no evil, speaks no evil about Alabama. The Longhorns take on the top-ranked Crimson Tide on Saturday.
South Carolina is trying to make sense of its offensive line struggles against Georgia State.
SATURDAY’S SEC GAMES
12 p.m. - Alabama at Texas (Fox)
12 p.m. - South Carolina at Arkansas (ESPN)
12 p.m. - Wake Forest at Vanderbilt (SEC)
12 p.m. - Missouri at Kansas State (ESPN2)
3:30 p.m. - Appalachian State at Texas A&M (ESPN2)
3:30 p.m. - Tennessee at Pittsburgh (ABC)
4 p.m. - Sanford at Georgia (SEC)
7 p.m. - Kentucky at Florida (ESPN)
7 p.m. - Central Arkansas at Ole Miss (ESPN Plus)
7:30 p.m. - San Jose State at Auburn (ESPNU)
7:30 p.m. - Southern at LSU (SEC)
11 p.m. - Mississippi State at Arizona (FS1)
Showdown in the Swamp: Kentucky’s Will Levis vs. Florida’s Anthony Richardson
UK in a College Football Playoff? At 12 teams, the Cats can at least dream.
Three takeaways from Kentucky football’s opening-night win over Miami (Ohio)
Kentucky football scores its first kickoff return touchdown since 2009
Everything Coach Mark Stoops had to say after Kentucky’s season-opening football game
Final statistics from Kentucky football’s 37-13 win over Miami (Ohio)
