In a thrilling announcement, it has been confirmed that the Kentucky Football team will be heading to the 79th TaxSlayer Gator Bowl to face off against Clemson on Friday, Dec. 29 in Jacksonville, Fla. This exciting matchup will take place at noon ET at the Bill Gay Grounds at EverBank Stadium and will be televised by ESPN.
Coach Mark Stoops expressed his enthusiasm for the invitation, stating, “On behalf of our team and all of us at the University of Kentucky, we are excited to accept the invitation to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. The Big Blue Nation always represents at our bowl destination, and we are excited to spend time in Jacksonville. We look forward to a great week, and our team can’t wait to play one more time this season.”
This will mark Kentucky’s third appearance at the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, with their most recent victory occurring in 2021 when they defeated No. 24 NC State with a score of 23-21.
Kentucky’s Director of Athletics, Mitch Barnhart, expressed his honor at receiving the invitation, stating, “The University of Kentucky is honored to receive an invitation to represent the Southeastern Conference in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. We are thrilled to go to Jacksonville, where we have had great bowl experiences and have an excellent relationship with (bowl director) Greg McGarity and the staff. From a football perspective, we’re proud to be going to the postseason for an eighth straight year and have the opportunity to compete against an outstanding opponent in Clemson.”
Ticket allocation for the game has been decided, with all football season ticket holders and K Fund donors who placed a TaxSlayer Gator Bowl request during the priority request period receiving tickets. Remaining tickets in Kentucky’s official allotment will go on sale to the public on Monday, Dec. 4 at 9 a.m. ET.
Kentucky, with a 7-5 record, enters the game following their fifth straight Governor’s Cup win, a thrilling 38-31 victory over then-top-10-ranked Louisville. This win also marked the sixth consecutive year that the Wildcats concluded their regular season with a victory, an unprecedented accomplishment in the school’s history.
Clemson, who holds an 8-4 overall record and a 4-4 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference, will provide a formidable challenge for the Wildcats. In head-to-head matchups, Kentucky has a historical record of 8-5 against Clemson. Their most recent meeting was in the 2009 Music City Bowl, where Clemson emerged victorious with a score of 21-13.
This appearance at the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl extends Kentucky’s school-record streak of eight consecutive bowl appearances, all under the leadership of coach Mark Stoops. Kentucky now joins the ranks of only eight teams in the nation, and one of three in the SEC, including Alabama and Georgia, to have earned at least eight consecutive bowl appearances.
With both teams eager for the win, the stage is set for an intense and action-packed matchup between Kentucky and Clemson at the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Fans are encouraged to secure their tickets directly from UK Athletics to guarantee seats alongside fellow Wildcats supporters and to fulfill the bowl ticket obligations.
