Wildcats and Tigers Meet in Jacksonville
It’s hard to believe but we are nearing the end of the “Most Wonderful Time Of The Year.” Friday features a four-game slate with the kickoff featuring a match-up of teams who haven’t played in a while but have a bowl history. Let’s introduce you to both squads and make a prediction as Kentucky and Clemson meet in our 2023 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Preview. But first, let’s give you some history of the game.
A Word From Our Sponsor
Currently played at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl is the sixth oldest bowl in college football. The first Gator Bowl was held on January 1, 1946, with Wake Forest beating South Carolina 26-14.
Under a six-year hybrid arrangement the SEC meets a team from the Big 10 for three years and the ACC the other three. Counting this year Clemson has the most appearances with 10. They are 4-5 all-time, however, they haven’t played here since 2009. On the other side of the ball, Kentucky is 1-1 all-time, losing to Georgia Tech in 2016 and defeating North Carolina State after the 2020 season. Tax software company TaxSlayer has been the title sponsor since 2012.
Let’s move to the teams as we continue with our 2023 Taxslayer Gator Bowl Preview
Opting In For A Change
A season ago quarterback Will Levis and running back Chris Rodriguez skipped the Music City Bowl. The result was a 21-0 loss to Iowa. With more and more players deciding against playing the Cats are a rarity. Not only is quarterback Devin Leary playing but running back Ray Davis is as well, even though he’s declared for the draft.
Two important cogs of the defense are also playing. Trevin Wallace, who’s also declared for the draft, is playing along with J.J. Weaver, who surprised many by announcing he’s coming back in 2024. However, that doesn’t mean everyone is available for Friday. Two pieces of “The Big Blue Wall” Kenneth Horsey and Jeremy Flax weren’t listed on the depth chart meaning they likely won’t play. Courtland Ford gets the nod at Flax’s tackle position with Dylan Ray at left guard, where he’s started a lot of the year as Horsey’s been injured.
Mark Stoops’ Cats are 7-5 and coming off arguably their best win of the year. They knocked off then-ninth-ranked Louisville for a fifth straight time to retain the Governor’s Cup. Having many of their key pieces Leary, Davis, Dane Key, and Barion Brown certainly enhances their chances of winning. Especially against a Clemson squad missing some top players on defense, which leads to our next topic.
Scouting The Tigers
Eight games into the season Dabo Swinney’s club sat at 4-4 and it looked possible the Tigers might not make a bowl. Following a loss to North Carolina State “Tyler In Spartanburg” infamously got into it with Swinney on his radio show. Since then Clemson’s run off four straight including wins over Notre Dame and North Carolina.
Quarterback Cade Klubnik leads the Tigers offense. On the season he’s thrown for 2,580 yards and 19 touchdowns. They have a pair of strong running backs in Phil Mafah and Will Shipley. So far in 2023 Mafah has rushed for 894 yards and nine touchdowns. Shipley has 798 yards and five scores. In addition, he’s fifth on the team with 29 receptions. When Klubnik throws the ball his favorite target is Tyler Brown who has 51 catches. Right behind him is tight end Jake Briningstool with 41.
As we mentioned earlier the Tigers are missing some key cogs from their seventh-ranked defense. Star linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and top cornerback Nate Wiggins won’t play. Trotter is the team’s leading tackler with 88 including 15 for a loss. In addition, he had 5.5 sacks and 16 quarterback pressures. Wiggins has nine pass breakups and two interceptions. While the Tigers have tons of talented replacements it’s still a pretty big loss.
Bowl And Series History
Kentucky is 12-10 all-time in bowl games while Clemson is 26-23. Friday marks the 14th time they’ve met on the gridiron. Currently, the Wildcats hold an 8-5 lead. The two schools played six times between 1925 and 1971 with UK winning five. The Tigers took two of three in the 1980s. However, the last three meetings all came in bowls, and have been good ones.
The 1993 Peach Bowl is one of the more “infamous” in Kentucky history. Leading 13-7 late in the fourth quarter linebacker Marty Moore intercepted a Patrick Sapp pass deep in UK territory. Unfortunately, instead of falling on the ball he attempted a return and fumbled. Sapp then hit Terry Smith on a 21-yard strike giving the Tigers a 14-13 win.
They split the last two meetings, both in the Music City Bowl. In 2006 MVP Andre Woodson and the Wildcats jumped out to a 28-6 lead. However, the Tigers made a furious rally but UK held on for a 28-20 win.
Behind C.J. Spiller’s 172 total yards and a touchdown, Clemson won 21-13 three years later. The game turned out to be the last for Wildcat head coach Rich Brooks and the first bowl win for Swinney.
It’s that time as we continue with our 2023 TaxSlayer Bowl Preview where we make a prediction.
Who Wins On Friday?
Stoops has led the Wildcats to a school record eighth straight bowl. A win against Clemson goes a long way in changing the narrative that 2023 wasn’t a successful year. For Kentucky to win they must keep Clemson off the field. The Cats are one of the worst in football allowing 44.5 percent success on third-down conversions.
In addition, Clemson is 6-0 when they run more than 42 times. UK is 4-1 when they win they force more than two turnovers in a game. During Kentucky’s four-game bowl winning streak before last year’s loss they found a way to win close games. Look for it to go down to the wire with the Wildcats pulling the upset.
Kentucky 24-21
Thanks for checking out our 2023 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl preview here at Last Word On College Football.
