The 2023 Gator Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 29, 2023, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The 79th annual Gator Bowl featured Clemson from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Kentucky from the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The game began at approximately 12:00 p.m. EST and was aired on ESPN.[5][6] The Gator Bowl was one of the 2023–24 bowl games concluding the 2023 FBS football season. The game was sponsored by financial technology company TaxSlayer and was officially known as the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

2023 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
79th Gator Bowl
1234 Total
Clemson 37028 38
Kentucky 77714 35
DateDecember 29, 2023
Season2023
StadiumEverBank Stadium
LocationJacksonville, Florida
MVPPhil Mafah (RB, Clemson)
Barion Brown (WR, Kentucky)[1]
FavoriteClemson by 6.5[2]
RefereeJohn Love (Pac-12)[3]
Attendance40,132
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersWes Durham, Tim Hasselbeck, Taylor Tannebaum[4]
Gator Bowl
 < 2022  2025

Teams

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Consistent with conference tie-ins, the bowl featured the Clemson Tigers of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Kentucky Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

This was the 14th meeting between Clemson and Kentucky; entering the game, the Wildcats led the Tigers in the all-time series, 8–5. This was also the fourth time the teams met in a bowl game; Clemson won two of their three prior bowl meetings, including their most recent postseason meeting, the 2009 Music City Bowl.[7]

On two occasions, Clemson and Kentucky competed in the same conference, playing together as members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1896–1904 and 1912–1920) and the Southern Conference (1922–1932).

Clemson Tigers

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The Tigers entered the game with an 8–4 record (4–4 in the ACC), tied for sixth place in their conference and ranked 22nd in the College Football Playoff rankings.

This was Clemson's 10th Gator Bowl, setting a new mark for most appearances in the game. The Tigers were 4–5 in prior Gator Bowl appearances; they had most recently appeared in (and lost) the January 2009 edition.

Kentucky Wildcats

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The Wildcats entered the game with a 7–5 record (3–5 in the SEC), tied for fourth place in their conference's East Division.

This was Kentucky's third Gator Bowl; the Wildcats previously lost the December 2016 edition and won the January 2021 edition.

Game summary

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2023 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 22 Clemson 3 7 02838
Kentucky 7 7 71435

at EverBank StadiumJacksonville, Florida

  • Date: Friday, December 29, 2023
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 51 °F (11 °C) • Wind: 10 mph (16 km/h) W
  • Game attendance: 40,132
  • Referee: John Love
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Wes Durham (play-by-play), Tim Hasselbeck (color), Taylor Tannebaum (sideline)
  • Box score
Game information
First quarter
  • (11:16) Clemson – Johnathan Weitz 39 yard field goal, (Drive: 7 plays, 39 yards, 3:37; Clemson 3–0)
  • (5:00) Kentucky – Barion Brown 22 yard rush, Alex Raynor kick, (Drive: 4 plays, 73 yards, 2:14; Kentucky 7–3)

Second quarter

  • (10:17) Clemson – Phil Mafah 1 yard rush, Weitz kick, (Drive: 5 plays, 59 yards, 3:02; Clemson 10–7)
  • (7:44) Kentucky – Dane Key 5 yard pass from Devin Leary, Raynor kick, (Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 2:33; Kentucky 14–10)

Third quarter

  • (14:47) Kentucky – Brown 100 yard kick off return, Raynor kick, (Drive: 0 plays, 100 yards, 0:13; Kentucky 21–10)

Fourth quarter

  • (14:56) Clemson – Mafah 1 yard rush, Troy Stellato pass from Cade Klubnik failed, (Drive: 14 plays, 70 yards, 6:35; Kentucky 21–16)
  • (7:00) Clemson – Weitz 28 yard field goal, (Drive: 7 plays, 26 yards, 3:08; Kentucky 21–19)
  • (6:45) Clemson – Mafah 1 yard rush, Tyler Brown pass from Klubnik, (Drive: 1 plays, 29 yards, 0:07; Clemson 27–21)
  • (6:12) Kentucky – Brown 60 yard pass from Leary, Raynor kick, (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 0:33; Kentucky 28–27)
  • (4:20) Clemson – Weitz 52 yard field goal, (Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 1:42; Clemson 30–28)
  • (2:39) Kentucky – Ray Davis 1 yard rush, Raynor kick, (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:41; Kentucky 35–30)
  • (0:17) Clemson – Mafah 3 yard rush, Josh Sapp pass from Klubnik, (Drive: 12 plays, 68 yards, 2:17; Clemson 38–35)

Statistics

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Statistics CLE KEN
First downs 24 12
Plays–yards 80–367 51–398
Rushes–yards 39–103 23–92
Passing yards 264 306
Passing: compattint 30–41–1 16–28–2
Time of possession 34:58 25:02
Team Category Player Statistics
Clemson Passing Cade Klubnik 30/41, 264 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Phil Mafah 11 carries, 71 yards, 4 TDs
Receiving Jake Briningstool 9 receptions, 91 yards
Kentucky Passing Devin Leary 16/28, 306 yds, 2TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing Ray Davis 13 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Barion Brown 3 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD

References

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  1. ^ "Phil Mafah named TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Co-MVP" (Press release). December 29, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  2. ^ Parks, James (December 11, 2023). "College football bowl schedule, game odds, point spreads for 2023-24". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  3. ^ Austro, Ben (December 3, 2023). "2023-24 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  4. ^ Crumpton, Tony (December 5, 2023). "TV announcers for TaxSlayer Gator Bowl". tigernet.com. TigerNet. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  5. ^ Straka, Dean (May 31, 2023). "2023-24 college football bowl schedule, games, dates, locations, kickoff times, TV channels". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  6. ^ Lewis, Barry (June 3, 2023). "2023-24 College Football Bowl Schedule, Dates, Times Announced". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  7. ^ "Winsipedia – Clemson Tigers vs. Kentucky Wildcats". Winsipedia.com. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
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