It’s a classic matchup of two of the best programs in the SEC as Saturday sees our first battle between Florida and Kentucky for this season. Not only is this a thrilling showdown between two ranked teams that have real aspirations this year, but these teams are both in prime position in the SEC standings and this game could help determine who takes the regular season crown.
The recent play out of Kentucky (17-7) has been drastically better than what we saw earlier this season. Yes, the Wildcats were blown out at Vanderbilt recently, but that’s their only loss in their last nine ballgames. Kentucky started slow and lost a real head scratcher against Missouri at home but now are tied for second place with an 8-3 mark in the SEC and are fresh off completing a season sweep over Tennessee.
Frankly it’s a similar story for Florida (18-6), who opened the season with some struggles and missed opportunities but have really found their stride in recent weeks. The Gators sit atop the league standings with a 9-2 mark and are riding a 4-game winning streak where they’ve looked sensational on both sides of the ball. They’ve knocked off Alabama, Texas A&M, and Georgia each by at least 19 points and with those latter two games coming on the road.
Kentucky vs. Florida: When and Where
Date:Â Saturday, February 14, 2026, 3:00 pm ET
Location: Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida
Kentucky vs. Florida: Where to Watch or Stream
Watch:Â ABC
Streaming: FuboTV
Kentucky vs. Florida: Betting Odds
Spread: Florida Gators -11.5, Kentucky Wildcats +11.5
Moneyline:Â Florida Gators -658, Kentucky Wildcats +550
Total:Â 152.5
Kentucky vs. Florida: Series History
All-time series:Â Kentucky leads 111-42
Last meeting:Â Kentucky 106, Florida 100 (January 4, 2025)
Projected Starting Lineups
Kentucky Wildcats
Otega Oweh (17.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
Denzel Aberdeen (12.3 ppg, 3.2 apg)
Collin Chandler (9.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
Malachi Moreno (8.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
Andrija Jelavic (5.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
Florida Gators
Thomas Haugh (17.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
Alex Condon (13.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 3.6 apg)
Rueben Chinyelu (11.8 ppg, 11.8 rpg)
Boogie Fland (11.4 ppg, 3.8 apg)
Xaivian Lee (11.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.5 apg)
What exactly will happen when two of the hottest teams in the SEC face off in Gainesville? The first thing to note is that the Wildcats will wish they had a healthier roster to deal with Florida’s mighty frontcourt. The Gators have been bullying people with Condon and Haugh, while Chinyelu has become one of the nation’s top rebounders. If Kentucky is going to win this on the road, they need to limit second chance opportunities. Additionally, these two teams have had their struggles shooting and whoever can catch fire from beyond the arc has the upper hand. This could be the type of game that gets someone like Lee finally going for the Gators.
Despite their injuries and occasional struggles, does Kentucky have the talent and ability to win a big one on the road to get back on top of the SEC race? Could we see yet another breakout performance from a Florida team that’s been bullying people recently?