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Reverse the Curse: Will Kentucky ever beat Florida?

Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / Getty

In 1986, Ronald Reagan was president, "That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne Warwick, Elton John, and Gladys Knight was dominating the Billboard charts, a young Tom Cruise was burning up the screen in the iconic "Top Gun," and the Cleveland Browns were a competent football franchise.

In the SEC football world, Kentucky survived a late drive by Florida to knock off the Gators for the first time in seven seasons. Hopefully, the Wildcat faithful celebrated that win with an extraordinary amount of swag, because, little did they know, it would be 30 years and counting before they'd get to repeat the party.

With a 45-7 thrashing in the 2016 matchup between the programs, Florida extended its winning streak over Kentucky to 30 consecutive contests - the longest current mark at the FBS level, and a curse that ranks fifth-longest all time.

Here are some fast facts on the horrific curse that has stricken the Wildcats:

  • Of the 30 losses, 20 have come by double digits, with the most lopsided result a 73-7 win by the Gators in 1994.
  • Kentucky has won just three total bowl games in the last 30 years, while Florida has won three national championships in that same time.
  • Gators legend Tim Tebow, who won the 2008 Heisman Trophy, wasn't even alive the last time Kentucky downed Florida.

Close calls

1993

Perhaps the most dramatic finish during the streak came in 1993 in Lexington, after the Wildcats kicked a field goal to take a 20-17 lead with just 1:23 remaining in the game. Redshirt-freshman quarterback Danny Wuerffel, who took over for starter Terry Dean earlier in the game, led the Gators down the field to Kentucky's 28-yard line with just eight seconds remaining. Wuerffel found walk-on receiver Chris Doering open in the end zone for the winning score, sending radio broadcaster Mick Hubert into a fit of euphoria, screaming "Doering's got a touchdown" over and over.

2003

Ten years after Doering's incredible catch, Kentucky looked like a lock to end the streak at 17 years as the Wildcats held a 21-3 lead entering the final quarter of play. It didn't take long for things to fall apart. Chris Leak tossed two touchdown passes to Carlos Perez to cut the lead to 21-16 with just 4:46 to play. Then, Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen threw a pick to Johnny Lamar while attempting to avoid a sack, and the Gators defender raced 35 yards to give the offense excellent field position. Ran Carthon punched it in from there to give Florida the improbable lead. After a missed 49-yard field goal with about a minute left, the Gators ran the clock out for the win and kept the streak alive.

2014

While the two years previously mentioned were heartbreaking, 2014 was a whole different kind of cruel to Kentucky. The Wildcats took a 27-20 lead at The Swamp in the first overtime and forced the Gators' offense into a four-down situation. Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel appeared to let the play clock run down to zero on the pivotal play, but no flags were thrown and Demarcus Robinson caught a game-tying touchdown. After field goals were exchanged in the second overtime, Florida took advantage of a missed Wildcat kick in the third extra frame and won the game on a Matt Jones 1-yard touchdown plunge.

Reversing the curse

Florida travels to Kentucky on Sept. 23 in the latest edition of the rivalry, looking to extend the streak to 31 years. Wildcats fans have reason to be optimistic for the contest, however, as Mark Stoops has the program coming off its best season in eight years. Kentucky returns most of its key pieces, while the Gators were ravaged by the NFL draft, losing eight starters from its dominant defense to the professional ranks.

No longer enjoying the benefit of fielding one of the best defenses in the country, Florida will need production from its offense, a unit which has ranked outside the top 100 in each of the past two seasons. Kentucky will still enter the contest as the underdog, but don't be shocked if the improving Wildcats reverse the curse and snap the incredible streak that's plagued their program for three decades.

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