Clemson scores 28 points in final quarter to beat Kentucky in 2023 Gator Bowl
Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers finish the season on a five-game winning streak with a 38-35 win over the Kentucky Wildcats in the Gator Bowl.
FINAL: Clemson 38, Kentucky 35
Clemson takes the lead with 17 seconds to go on Phil Mafah’s fourth touchdown run of the day. The Tigers hold on to win the Gator Bowl with 28 points scored in the final quarter. After starting 4-4, Clemson finishes the 2023 season with a 9-4 record.
Kentucky 35, Clemson 30
The wild finish continues in Jacksonville as Wildcats tailback Ray Davis scores on a 1-yard touchdown run on a three-play drive that lasted one minute and 41 seconds — highlighted by a 72-yard pass from UK QB Devin Leary to Jordan Dingle. There’s 2:39 left on the game clock.
Clemson 30, Kentucky 28: Shipley injured
The good news: Jonathan Weitz connects for a 52-yard field goal with 4:20 to go. The bad news: Clemson tailback Will Shipley was carted off with an apparent left leg injury after a 60-yard kick return set up the Tigers’ drive.
Kentucky 28, Clemson 27
Kentucky took three plays and 33 seconds to regain the lead over Clemson at the Gator Bowl. Quarterback Devin Leary completed a 60-yard touchdown pass to Barion Brown with 6:12 to go in the game.
Clemson 27, Kentucky 21
After the third Kentucky turnover of the half, Clemson’s Phil Mafah runs it in from 29 yards for a one-play scoring drive. The two-point try this time is good.
Kentucky 21, Clemson 19
Clemson cuts the lead to two with exactly seven minutes to play in the Gator Bowl. A Jonathan Weitz 28-yard field goal attempt caps a short (7 plays, 26 yards) but promising drive set up by a Clemson interception.
Kentucky 21, Clemson 16
Clemson tailback Phil Mafah punched in a one-yard touchdown run to start the fourth quarter and cap a 14-play, 70 yard drive that lasted six minutes and 35 seconds. The Tigers went for two but didn’t convert.
Kentucky 21, Clemson 10
Disastrous start to the second half for Clemson as team allows a 102-yard kickoff return TD to UK’s Barion Brown. Second straight game with a return touchdown for him and his third of the year. That’s a massive swing.
Kentucky 14, Clemson 10
Easy drive for QB Devin Leary. He hits a receiver for 58 yards and then tosses a wide-open TD on a play action fake (7:44, Q2). Clemson’s depleted secondary is showing up. Same for the defense overall, which has been really good this year under Wes Goodwin but also allowed some big run plays.
Clemson 10, Kentucky 7
And there’s some life. RB Phil Mafah scores from a yard out to give Clemson a 10-7 lead (10:17, Q2) . Earlier in the drive, two really nice downfield passes from QB Cade Klubnik to WR Troy Stellato/TE Jake Briningstool. Nice response after a few really poor drives.
Kentucky 7, Clemson 3
Woof. Bad sequence there for Clemson. After QB Cade Klubnik misses WR Troy Stellato downfield, Kentucky gets a 43-yard rush from RB Ray Davis and then a 22-yard WR reverse touchdown (5:00, Q1). That was easy. Wildcats take an early lead.
Clemson 3, Kentucky 0
Tigers kicker Jonathan Weitz opens the scoring with a 39-yard field goal in the first quarter (11:16, Q1). Clemson opted for the points instead of going for a 4th and 2 at UK’s 29 on the opening drive.
Pregame antics
Before the game, Clemson and Kentucky players and coaches had a brief skirmish at midfield. Tempers flared, most likely because one side felt like the other was encroaching on its warm-up area. Clemson defensive line coach Nick Eason had be held back by referees.
Final injury report
Clemson’s got a clean bill of health. The team, in its pregame availability report, says that everyone listed on last week’s depth chart is available to play.
Score prediction
Clemson has a 66% chance to beat Kentucky, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.
Final betting line
Clemson will close as a 3.5-point favorite, per the VegasInsider.com consensus line. That’s down about three points from the initial betting line, Clemson -7. The over/under for the game is 44.5 points.
Clemson vs. Kentucky game, TV info
Who: No. 22 Clemson (8-4, 4-4 ACC) vs. Kentucky (7-5, 3-5 SEC)
When: noon Friday
Where: EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida
TV: ESPN
Broadcast crew: Wes Durham, Tim Hasselbeck, Taylor Tannebaum
Stream: Via ESPN or the ESPN app
Radio: 105.5 FM in the Clemson area (see all Clemson radio affiliates here)
Satellite radio: SiriusXM 106 or 193
Series history: Kentucky leads 8-5; Clemson won last meeting
This story was originally published December 29, 2023 at 10:43 AM.
