N.C. State: LB Payton Wilson, 3 1/2 sacks, leads team in tackles
NOTABLE
Kentucky: Mark Stoops is set to become the first coach to lead the Wildcats to five consecutive bowl appearances. The Kentucky defense has allowed opponents only 30 scores in 40 red zone trips this season.
N.C. State: The Wolfpack enter the game on a four-game winning streak. This is the sixth bowl invitation in Dave Doeren’s eight seasons as N.C. State’s coach.
LAST TIME
BOWL HISTORY
Kentucky: Second appearance in this game, 20th bowl appearance overall. Kentucky owns a 10-9 bowl record and beat Virginia Tech 37-30 in the Belk Bowl on Dec. 31, 2019.
N.C. State: LB Payton Wilson, 3 1/2 sacks, leads team in tackles NOTABLE Kentucky: Mark Stoops is set to become the first coach to lead the Wildcats to five consecutive bowl appearances. The Kentucky defense has allowed opponents only 30 scores in 40 red zone trips this season. N.C. State: The Wolfpack enter the game on a four-game winning streak. This is the sixth bowl invitation in Dave Doeren s eight seasons as N.C. State s coach. LAST TIME BOWL HISTORY Kentucky: Second appearance in this game, 20th bowl appearance overall. Kentucky owns a 10-9 bowl record and beat Virginia Tech 37-30 in the Belk Bowl on Dec. 31, 2019.
UK Accepts Bowl Bid wvlkam.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wvlkam.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Kentucky Wildcats have accepted a bid to play in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and will face NC State Jan. 2 in Jacksonville, Florida. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET at TIAA Bank Field, with ESPN and the ESPN App carrying the national television broadcast.
Credit UK Athletics
Coach Mark Stoops is the first head man to lead UK to five consecutive bowl appearances. As a program, UK is tying its school record for consecutive bowl games, with four under Coach Rich Brooks from 2006-09, followed by one with Coach Joker Phillips in 2010.
“We are very excited to accept a bid to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl,” head coach Mark Stoops said. “I want to thank the Gator Bowl for the invitation and I want to thank our administration, Dr. Eli Capilouto and Mitch Barnhart, for their unwavering support this season. It’s been a very trying year for all of us and our team is ready to move forward with a fifth straight bowl game. We look forward to playing a great tea
The University of Kentucky will be shorthanded against Alabama on Saturday afternoon inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Per a report from Kyle Tucker of the Athletic and Kentucky Sports Radio, the Wildcats will be down at least five starters against the Crimson Tide due to a combination of injuries and COVID-19 protocols.
Wildcats running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., punter Max Duffy, leading tackler, linebacker Jamin Davis are just some of the Kentucky players that won’t be available.
Rodriguez is a vital part of Kentucky’s prolific rushing attack. On the year, the redshirt sophomore has 562 yards, which is fifth in the Southeastern Conference, on 88 carries and six touchdowns.