Blue Preview: UK football will go big-brand hunting against Clemson in the Gator Bowl

Gator Bowl: Kentucky vs. Clemson

When: Noon, Friday (Dec. 29).

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).

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 ran for 194 yards and four touchdowns so far 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.

With Mark Stoops staying at Kentucky, he has some things he needs to get fixed

At age 59, ex-Cat Maurice Douglass fulfills promise to his mom by graduating from UK

If Mark Stoops is leaving, he left Kentucky fans with one whale of a going-away gift

Moving forward, the one thing Mark Stoops has to get fixed with Kentucky football

Vote for your favorite UK football uniform combo. Chrome? Anthracite? Or more traditional?

At the end of an odd rivalry night, the UK coach goes to bat for the U of L coach

For Kentucky basketball fans, a familiar worry comes back again

For Rick Pitino and Billy Gillispie, the hoops season is off to an eventful start

How UK’s Jeff Sheppard and Stacey Reed got together. From the Herald-Leader archives.