Kentucky is 3-3 at the halfway point of the season with three SEC road games remaining. The winner with the most wins will advance to Week 8.

The Wildcats made another trip to The Swamp where they will look to extend their winning streak to four games in this series. In what feels like a 50/50 game, one or two plays could make the difference.

Which Kentucky players could make game-winning plays? KSR looks at the top candidates.

Victory against Florida’s receivers

Kentucky will be without a star cornerback Maxwell Hairston for the third straight SEC game on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. That has developed into junior cornerback JQ Hardaway will be the new CB1 for Brad White’s defense.

The former Cincinnati transfer is playing good football with 23 tackles and three devastating plays (interception, pass breakup, forced fumble) in 264 defensive snaps. Hardaway’s pass breakdown last week helped set up a key stop in the fourth quarter. Hardaway’s interception against Southern Miss and forced fumble against Ole Miss prevented points from being scored in the red zone.

One of Hardaway’s toughest challenges this season will be facing a Florida offense this week in which its top three receivers have posted 56 receptions for 955 yards and five touchdowns. In a game where the Gators will likely have a hard time passing the ball against the Kentucky front, expect the cornerbacks to be challenged.

Kentucky will need Hardaway and the other cornerbacks to make some plays in coverage.

A new look for the Kentucky running game

Kentucky signed the transfer to Ohio State Chip Trayanum out of the transfer portal to become the offense’s new RB1. The former blue-chip recruit brought 1,156 career rushing yards to Lexington and should finally get his chance to become a true RB1 as a redshirt senior after sitting behind NFL players at Arizona State and Ohio State.

Unfortunately, the injury bug has hit fall camp.

A broken hand injury kept Trayanum out of the squad for six games. The transfer will make his season debut in Gainesville. How will this change Kentucky’s offense?

We know the redshirt freshman congestion Jamarion Wilcox is located in the doghouse that Bush Hamdan had to use Gavin Wimsatt to support the running game. Trayanum’s availability should at least give him RB2 touchdowns Demie Sumo Karngbaye and give the Wildcats some much-needed size in the red zone.

With a Florida run defense that ranks 92nd in success rate allowed, could Trayanum give Kentucky the impetus to win this matchup when Kentucky is on offense? The transfer has the chance to make a real impact in his season debut.

Create takeaway food

Kentucky’s defense ranks 2nd nationally in chaos rate and faces a Florida offense that ranks 121st overall in offensive chaos rate. Billy Napier is 0-8 in his career as the Gators lose the turnover battle. Against a stout Kentucky defense, Florida represents a true freshman quarterback with five interceptions and fumbles in less than 200 offensive snaps.

It definitely feels like a game where Kentucky could gain an advantage in the takeaway department. Considering Florida will likely struggle to play the football consistently, Kentucky’s secondary could get a lot of action. Sales could occur there.

At safety, redshirt junior Jordan Lovett comes into the game with five interceptions in his career but is still looking for his first takeaway of 2024. Lovett missed a big pick chance against Georgia but could find himself near the football if DJ Lagway gets stuck on targets or has some poor zone coverage metrics.

Don’t be surprised if Lovett makes a big play if Florida starts to get dropback-heavy.

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