Florida’s comeback against Kentucky had a lot of the same feelings as Florida’s win over Texas in that the Gators looked dead in the water in the first half before staging a huge second-half comeback.
As such, we have plenty of winners and losers from Saturday in Florida’s 21-14 win over the Wildcats.
Winners and losers from Florida’s win over Kenutcky
Winner - Aaron Philo
One can argue that Jon Sumrall has mismanaged the QB situation for the Gators, but we would argue that, outside of perhaps giving Tramell Jones a bit too long of a leash against Oklahoma, Sumrall has done just fine. One argument we've been making is that, while Philo wasn’t necessarily the problem in some of Florida’s losses, he didn’t feel like the solution either.
If one had said prior to the game that Philo would have 119 yards passing against Kentucky, most would assume the Gators had not shot. But in the second half against Kentucky, Philo flipped into a power-running QB almost out of nowhere, and Kentucky had no answers. Philo finished with 102 yards rushing and a TD to help power the comeback.
Loser - Eric Singleton Jr.
Here is a legit question:
Are the rest of Florida’s wide receivers so inadequate that none of them can get a shot? This isn’t to try to be a downer after a big win, but it is safe to say that Singleton might go down as one of the biggest transfer portal busts Florida has had since the portal became a thing.
He had another drop early in the game, his third in the last three games. And when Florida tried to use him on jet sweeps, he also went nowhere.
Singleton finished with two catches for eight yards.
Winner - Kahleil Jackson
One catch for eight yards wasn’t anything special, but his role in pulling off the Philly Special for a two-point conversion was nice. It’s the second notable time Jackson has completed a pass this year, with his other being against Auburn on a successful double pass.
Gators Special for the 2-point conversion 🐊 pic.twitter.com/5vB0Fi2wpC
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) November 15, 2026
Loser - Phil Trautwein
It was a rough night for the offensive line, especially early on in the game. Florida had numerous procedural penalties; the offensive line once again looked lost. We had noted on social media in real time that even if this team just wasn’t talented enough, these types of mistakes shouldn’t happen.
Eventually, the Gators shuffled some stuff around with the line, and as noted, the group played better in the second half, though some of Philo’s runs were because the offensive line got blown up.
And even if Florida’s offensive line coach, Phil Trautwein, thought he might get to celebrate once Florida was in victory formation, the camera caught Jon Sumrall giving Trautwein a butt-chewing.
Sumrall celebrating with his staff on the sidelines after the big win!!! pic.twitter.com/Z60JAt36Na
— Old Row Sports (@OldRowSports) November 15, 2026
Winner - Jayden Woods
It’s been a dissapointing year for Jayden Woods, who was one of the key pillars that Sumrall fought to retain when he first took the job in Gainesville. There have been flashes here and there, but Woods has not been a constant backfield presence this season.
That changed on Saturday, as Woods was credited with seven QB pressures, and his strip-sack fumble to open the second half was arguably the play that changed the game for the Gators.
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