Blue Preview: UK football will go big-brand hunting against Clemson in the Gator Bowl
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Gator Bowl preview: Kentucky vs. No. 22 Clemson
The University of Kentucky football team concludes its 2023 season Friday against ACC rival Clemson in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. Click below to view all the stories previewing the game that have been published on Kentucky.com.
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Gator Bowl: Kentucky vs. Clemson
When: Noon, Friday.
Where: Bill Gay Grounds at Everbank Stadium (seating capacity: 67,838) in Jacksonville, Florida.
TV: ESPN.
Announcers: Play-by-play, Wes Durham; analysis, Tim Hasselbeck; sideline, Taylor Tannebaum.
Radio: UK broadcast, WLAP-AM 630 and WBUL-FM 98.1; ESPN national broadcast, WLXG-AM 1300 and WLXG-FM 92.5.
Satellite radio: UK stream, XM Channel 190, Sirius Channel 119, Internet Channel 961; ESPN national broadcast stream, XM Channel 84, Sirius Channel 84, Internet Channel 84.
Records: Kentucky 7-5 (3-5 SEC); Clemson 8-4 (4-4 ACC).
Betting line: Clemson is favored by five points.
Series history: Kentucky leads 8-5, but Clemson leads 2-1 in bowl matchups.
Most recent meeting: C.J. Spiller ran for a touchdown and had 172 all-purpose yards as Clemson defeated Kentucky 21-13 on Dec. 27, 2009, in the Music City Bowl in Nashville. It was the first bowl win for Dabo Swinney as Clemson’s coach and the final game for Rich Brooks as UK’s coach before retiring.
The story line
Kentucky will seek to win its eighth straight game versus Atlantic Coast Conference competition and build on the momentum of the Wildcats’ regular season-ending upset of then-No. 9 Louisville by earning a bowl victory. A win over Dabo Swinney and Clemson would give UK a postseason win over one of 21st century college football’s biggest national brands. It would also even the all-time bowl record between the Cats and Tigers at 2-2.
The number to watch
The third-down conversion percentage surrendered by the UK defense. Uncharacteristically for a Brad White defense, Kentucky is one of the worst teams in the FBS this season at third-down defense. Out of 130 FBS teams, UK ranks 109th in third-down defensive conversion percentage surrendered, allowing foes to convert on a robust 44.4% of their third-down attempts. Against a Clemson offense converting on 41.4% of its third-down chances, the game could come down to whether the Wildcats “D” can get off the field.
The big threat
Cade Klubnik. The Clemson quarterback is completing 63% of his passes and has thrown for 2,580 yards with 19 touchdowns versus eight interceptions. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound sophomore from Austin, Texas, can be a threat to extend plays with his legs and has run for 194 yards and four touchdowns in 2023.
On the spot
Devin Leary. In the upset win over Louisville, the Kentucky quarterback played one of his best games (12-for-22 passing for 206 yards and three touchdowns with one interception) of what has been an uneven season. For what will be his final college contest, Leary, a North Carolina State transfer, drew a familiar foe. In three prior starts versus Clemson while with the Wolfpack, Leary went 1-2 and completed a combined 61.7% of his throws for 649 yards with six TDs versus one pick.
The mood
Is hopeful. After a season that had not lived up to the Big Blue Nation’s expectations, the fifth straight victory over Louisville in the Governor’s Cup rivalry put some wind back in the sails of UK football fans. Subsequently, a chance to play a brand-name program of the caliber of Clemson in a Florida bowl game ginned up some more excitement among Kentucky backers. A Wildcats victory over Dabo Swinney’s Tigers would do much to flip the prevailing fan verdict on the 2023 Wildcats football season in a more positive direction.
This story was originally published December 25, 2023 at 9:06 AM.
