In a thrilling season finale, the Kentucky Wildcats secured a spot in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on December 29th in Jacksonville after defeating No. 9 Louisville. Their bowl opponent will be none other than the powerhouse Clemson Tigers, a team with a remarkable track record of success over the past decade.
Clemson, ranked No. 22, has consistently achieved double-digit win totals for the past 12 seasons. However, this year they currently hold an 8-4 record. Head coach Dabo Swinney boasts an impressive resume, with eight Atlantic Coast Conference titles and two national championships under his belt. The Tigers reigned supreme in 2016 and again in 2018.
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops expressed his respect for Swinney and the Clemson program. He acknowledged the challenge they will face and anticipated an exciting game, saying, “Very excited about the bowl game. Such a quality opponent… Their team is very balanced this year. Typical Clemson team. Very physical. It will be a great game.”
Stoops also commended his own team for their strong finish to the season, particularly their victory over a Top 10 team like Louisville. He expressed his pride in their resilience throughout the ups and downs of the season. Stoops said, “Like most teams, there’s some ups and some downs, but I like the way they fought and hung tough and found a way to win and bring the Governor’s Cup back to Lexington.”
Stoops confirmed that he expects almost the entire roster to compete in the bowl game. The only potential exception could be their leading rusher, Ray Davis. However, Stoops anticipates that other players who have entered the transfer portal or declared for the NFL Draft will still participate in the Gator Bowl.
For Stoops, bowl preparation and the game itself hold great importance. He emphasized the significance of receiving an invitation to this prestigious bowl game and competing against a team of Clemson’s caliber. Stoops stated, “To play a team the caliber of Clemson and try to go get a victory, we’ll invest a lot into it.”
Notably, the Gator Bowl presents an opportunity for the Wildcats to finish the season strong, defeating consecutive ranked teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
