When Florida travels to Kentucky this weekend, Wildcats coach Mark Stoops thinks it will be one of the toughest tests his team has faced all season. By one measure, at least, he said Florida presents the most difficult challenge of the year.

Asked about facing the Gators, Stoops singled out dynamic running back Jadan Baugh as a difficult player to prepare for.

"I think probably the best running back we've played all year," he said, "and that's saying a lot. There's a lot of good ones."

It's high praise, particularly when considering UK has already played against the SEC's leading rusher in Kewan Lacy of Ole Miss. The Wildcats have also played Georgia, Texas and Tennessee this season, among others.

Baugh has certainly been one of UF's most consistent players in 2025. He has 683 yards on 132 rushes (5.2 yards per rush) so far, including five rushing touchdowns. To make it even more difficult for opposing defenses, Baugh also has 22 receptions for 132 yards.

Baugh is just one piece of what makes UF difficult to prepare for, Stoops said. The dual threat of quarterback DJ Lagway is also problematic, as are the talented receivers he's passing to.

This is Stoops' full quote when asked about the Gator offense and its explosiveness:

"Play-action, boots, they can create explosive plays and they have some elite athletes on the offensive side of the ball," Stoops said. "But with DJ, he could throw the ball, he could hurt you with his legs, he buys time, and he has the strength to get the ball down the field. They certainly can hurt you at any time, so it's about team defense again. I think probably the best running back we've played all year, and that's saying a lot. There's a lot of good ones. But then the skill at wide receiver puts a lot of stress on you."

Stoops was also asked if he saw a difference in UF's gameplan after firing head coach Billy Napier and naming Billy Gonzales as the interim coach. Stoops was a bit more coy on that front.

"Just slight, just slight," he said. "Nothing drastic, nothing I care to talk about right now that was obvious to us. I know they played very hard, they played very good, had every opportunity to beat Georgia in a hard-fought game."

Florida and Kentucky kick off in Lexington this Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

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