Kentucky Wildcats defense falls out of top 10 after disastrous showing against Florida

This week, there was a lot of talk about how good the Kentucky defense has been this year, and it has been really good. It was in the top five in points allowed per game and in the top ten in multiple other categories. That was until they went into the Swamp. They received what Kentucky Coach Mark Stoops called a "butt-whooping."

After this disastrous performance, the vaunted Kentucky defense has dropped out of the top 10 in all statistical categories. They went into the game and allowed the nation's 4th best yards per game with only 251.5. They let Florida run all over them and get 476 yards. They are now 12th in this category at 283.6.

They were also in the top 10 in points allowed per game, with only 14.5 points allowed per contest. This game against Florida dropped them from 9th to 27th, and they now average 19.3 points a game. Not all 48 points were on the defense, as a pick-six accounted for one of the touchdowns.

They were also in the top 10 in rushing yards allowed per game before the Gators at 89.3 yards given up on the ground. This stat is now at 104.7, and they are ranked 22nd. They weren't in the top 10 in passing yards allowed in a game before this game but hovering on the outside at 13th in the nation. This stat plummeted, as you can expect, as Florida quarterback DJ Lagway dialed up some huge explosive plays. Kentucky is also 22nd in this category at 178.9 passing yards allowed per game.

Kentucky is still in the better half of the country in defense, but the one thing keeping them in games didn't travel with them to Florida. It truly was a frustrating game, as Stoops called it. I would go one step further and say it was embarrassing.