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2020 University of Kentucky football season
The 2020 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Wildcats played their home games at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky , and competed in the East Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by eighth-year head coach Mark Stoops .
In the preseason media poll, Kentucky was predicted to finish in fourth place in the East Division.[ 1]
Media poll (East Division)
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Florida
624 (53)
2
Georgia
613 (43)
3
Tennessee
434
4
Kentucky
405
5
South Carolina
287
6
Missouri
224
7
Vanderbilt
101
Kentucky had games scheduled against Eastern Illinois , Eastern Michigan , Kent State , and Louisville , which were all canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic .[ 2] [ 3] This will be the first season since 1993 that the Wildcats do not play Louisville. As of 10/16/2020, the SEC swapped two teams and the dates of when they will play the Wildcats. This is because of an outbreak of COVID-19 among other competing SEC football teams. Missouri will be an away game on October 24, instead of an away game on the 31st and Georgia, at home, on October 31 instead of the 24th.
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance September 26, 2020 12:00 p.m. at No. 8 Auburn No. 23 SECN L 13–2917,490
October 3 4:00 p.m. Ole Miss Kroger Field Lexington, KY SECN L 41–42 OT 12,000
October 10 7:30 p.m. Mississippi State Kroger Field Lexington, KY SECN W 24–212,000
October 17 12:00 p.m. at No. 18 Tennessee SECN W 34–722,519
October 24 4:00 p.m. at Missouri SECN L 10–2011,738
October 31 12:00 p.m. No. 5 Georgia SECN L 3–1412,000
November 14 12:00 p.m. Vanderbilt Kroger Field Lexington, KY (rivalry ) SECN W 38–3512,000
November 21 4:00 p.m. at No. 1 Alabama SECN L 3–6319,424
November 28 12:00 p.m. at No. 6 Florida ESPN L 10–3414,453
December 5 7:30 p.m. South Carolina Kroger Field Lexington, KY SECN W 41–1812,000
January 2, 2021 12:00 p.m. vs. No. 23 NC State * ESPN W 23–2110,422
[ 4]
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking RV = Received votes Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final AP RV RV* 23 23 RV Coaches RV RV* 20 RV RV CFP Not released Not released
No. 23 Kentucky vs. No. 8 Auburn
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 23 Wildcats
7
0
6 0 13
No. 8 Tigers
8
0
7 14 29
at Jordan-Hare Stadium , Auburn, AL
Date : September 26, 2020Game time : 12:00 p.m. EST Game weather : Cloudy • Temperature : 75 °F (24 °C) • Wind : 5 mph WGame attendance : 17,490Referee : Steve MarloweTV announcers (SECN ) : Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sideline reporter)Pregame line : Auburn –6.5 • Odds to win : Auburn 84.9% • Game summary : ESPN [ 5]
Game information
First quarter
(6:44) UK – Kavosiey Smoke 35 yd rush, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 11 plays, 93 yds, 6:23; Kentucky 7–0 )
(4:30) AUB – D. J. Williams 1 yd rush, John Samuel Shenker pass (Drive: 7 plays, 70 yds, 2:07; Auburn 8–7 )
Second quarter
No scoring
Third quarter
(5:42) AUB – Seth Williams 11 yd pass from Bo Nix, Anders Carlson kick (Drive: 9 plays, 76 yds, 4:19; Auburn 15–7 )
(1:00) UK – Akeem Hayes 8 yd pass from Terry Wilson, Terry Wilson pass failed (Drive: 11 plays, 73 yds, 4:34; Auburn 15–13 )
Fourth quarter
(10:21) AUB – Seth Williams 4 yd pass from Bo Nix, Anders Carlson kick (Drive: 5 plays, 23 yds, 2:13; Auburn 22–13 )
(8:17) AUB – Eli Stove 21 yd pass from Bo Nix, Anders Carlson kick (Drive: 2 plays, 27 yds, 0:50; Auburn 29–13 )
Statistics
UK
AUB
First downs
21
16
Plays–yards
78–384
57–324
Rushes–yards
40–145
30–91
Passing yards
239
233
Passing: comp –att –int
24–38–1
16–27–0
Time of possession
36:29
23:31
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Kentucky
Passing
Terry Wilson
24/37, 239 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Kavosiey Smoke
7 carries, 62 yds, 1 TD
Receiving
Josh Ali
9 receptions, 98 yds
Auburn
Passing
Bo Nix
16/27, 233 yds, 3 TD
Rushing
Bo Nix
5 carries, 34 yds
Receiving
Seth Williams
6 receptions, 112 yds, 2 TD
Ole Miss vs. Kentucky
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Rebels
7
7
7 21 42
Wildcats
14
7
7 13 41
at Kroger Field , Lexington, KY
Date : October 3, 2020Game time : 4:00 p.m. EST Game weather : Sunny • Temperature : 64 °F (18 °C)Game attendance : 12,000Referee : David SmithTV announcers (SECN) : Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (color), Taylor McGregor (sideline)Pregame line : Kentucky −7 • O/U : 63 [ 6]
Game information
First Quarter
(12:38) MISS – Jerrion Ealy 1 yard rush, Luke Logan kickOle Miss 7–0 ; 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:22
(7:36) UK – Terry Wilson 4 yard rush, Matt Ruffolo kickTied 7–7 ; 4 plays, 29 yards, 1:54
(1:33) UK – A. J. Rose 2 yard rush, Matt Ruffolo kickKentucky 14–7 ; 8 plays, 80 yards, 4:25
Second Quarter
(13:19) MISS – Kenny Yeboah 14 yard pass from Matt Corral, Luke Logan kickTied 14–14 ; 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:14
(0:29) UK – Terry Wilson 22 yard rush, Matt Ruffolo kickKentucky 21–14 ; 9 plays, 83 yards, 3:25
Third Quarter
(10:41) UK – Chris Rodriguez Jr. 22 yard rush, Matt Ruffolo kickKentucky 28–14 ; 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:19
(9:17) MISS – Jonathan Mingo 24 yard pass from Matt Corral, Luke Logan kickKentucky 28–21 ; 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:24
Fourth Quarter
(13:37) MISS – Jonathan Mingo 16 yard pass from Matt Corral, Luke Logan kickTied 28–28 ; 5 plays, 54 yards, 1:30
(8:23) MISS – Snoop Conner 1 yard rush, Luke Logan kickOle Miss 35–28 ; 3 plays, 53 yards, 0:47
(2:04) UK – Chris Rodriguez Jr. 1 yard rush, Matt Ruffolo kickTied 35–35 ; 12 plays, 75 yards, 6:19
Overtime
UK – Terry Wilson 10 yard rush, PAT missedKentucky 41–35 ; 3 plays, 25 yards
MISS – Elijah Moore 3 yard pass from Matt Corral, Luke Logan kickOle Miss 42–41 ; 4 plays, 25 yards
Statistics
MISS
UK
First downs
26
26
Total yards
459
559
Passing yards
320
151
Rushing yards
139
408
Penalties
5–33
8–81
Turnovers
0
1
Time of possession
23:55
36:05
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ole Miss
Passing
Matt Corral
24/29, 320 yards, 4 TD
Rushing
Matt Corral
13 carries, 51 yards
Receiving
Jonathan Mingo
8 receptions, 128 yards, 2 TD
Kentucky
Passing
Terry Wilson
14/18, 151 yards
Rushing
Chris Rodriguez Jr.
17 carries, 133 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Josh Ali
7 receptions, 88 yards
Mississippi State vs. Kentucky
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Bulldogs
0
0
2 0 2
Wildcats
0
14
0 10 24
at Kroger Field , Lexington, KY
Date : October 10, 2020Game time : 7:30 p.m. EST Game weather : Cloudy • Temperature : 67 °F (19 °C) • Wind : 5 SE mphGame attendance : 12,000Referee : Ken WilliamsonTV : SECN[ 7]
Statistics
MSST
UK
First downs
18
10
Total yards
295
157
Rushing yards
20
84
Passing yards
275
73
Turnovers
6
1
Time of possession
34:49
25:11
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Mississippi State
Passing
K. J. Costello
36–55, 232 yards, 4 INT
Rushing
Kylin Hill
7 rushes, 17 yards
Receiving
Kylin Hill
15 receptions, 79 yards
Kentucky
Passing
Terry Wilson
8–20, 73 yards, TD
Rushing
Terry Wilson
13 rushes, 50 yards
Receiving
Josh Ali
2 receptions, 22 yards
Kentucky vs. No. 21 Tennessee
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Wildcats
0
17
10 7 34
No. 21 Volunteers
0
7
0 0 7
at Neyland Stadium , Knoxville, TN
Date : October 17, 2020Game time : 12:00 p.m. EST Game weather : Sunny, Temperature : 85 °F (29 °C)Game attendance : 22,519Referee : Marc CurlesTV announcers (SECN) : Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color), Cole Cubelic (sidelines)[ 8]
Statistics
UK
UTK
First downs
18
18
Total yards
294
287
Rushing yards
187
175
Passing yards
107
112
Turnovers
1
4
Time of possession
33:59
26:01
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Kentucky
Passing
Terry Wilson
12/15, 101 yards, TD
Rushing
Chris Rodriguez Jr.
13 carries, 73 yards, TD
Receiving
Josh Ali
4 receptions, 38 yards
Tennessee
Passing
Jarrett Guarantano
14/21, 88 yards, 2 INT
Rushing
Eric Gray
24 carries, 129 yards
Receiving
Brandon Johnson
4 receptions, 37 yards
Kentucky vs. Missouri
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Wildcats
0
3
0 7 10
Tigers
7
3
7 3 20
at Faurot Field , Columbia, MO
Date : October 24, 2020Game time : 4:00 p.m. EST Game weather : Cloudy • Temperature : 48 °F (9 °C) • Wind : NW 12-17mphGame attendance : 11,738Referee : Lee HedrickTV : SECN[ 9]
Statistics
UK
MIZ
First downs
8
26
Total yards
145
421
Rushing yards
95
220
Passing yards
50
201
Turnovers
1
0
Time of possession
16:50
43:10
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Kentucky
Passing
Terry Wilson
4/11, 38 yards, TD
Rushing
Chris Rodriguez Jr.
9 carries, 48 yards
Receiving
Josh Ali
4 receptions, 47 yards, TD
Missouri
Passing
Connor Bazelak
21/30, 201 yards
Rushing
Larry Rountree III
37 carries, 126 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Jalen Knox
5 receptions, 60 yards
No. 5 Georgia vs. Kentucky
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 5 Bulldogs
7
0
7 0 14
Wildcats
0
3
0 0 3
at Kroger Field , Lexington, KY
Date : October 31, 2020Game time : 12:00 p.m. EST Game weather : Mostly Sunny • Temperature : 54 °F (12 °C) • Wind : 5 SE mphGame attendance : 12,000Referee : Matt LoefflerTV : SECN[ 10]
Game information
First quarter
(6:07) UGA - Stetson Bennett 2-yard Run (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Drive: 12 plays, 86 yards, 5:06; Georgia 7-0 )
Second Quarter
(2:44) UK - Matt Ruffolo 34-yard Field Goal (Drive: 19 plays, 77 yards, 10:28; Georgia 7-3 )
Third Quarter
(11:38) Zamir White 22-yard Run (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:22; Georgia 14-3 )
3 14
Statistics
UGA
UK
First downs
20
15
Plays–yards
58-346
65-229
Rushes–yards
43-215
39-138
Passing yards
131
91
Passing: comp –att –int
9-14-2
15-25-0
Time of possession
25:00
35:00
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Georgia
Passing
Stetson Bennett
9/13, 131 yds, 2 INT
Rushing
Zamir White
26 carries, 136 yds, 1 TD
Receiving
James Cook
4 receptions, 62 yds,
Kentucky
Passing
Joey Gatewood
15-25, 91 yds
Rushing
Chris Rodriguez
20 carries, 108 yds
Receiving
Josh Ali
5 receptions, 35 yds
Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Commodores
0
14
7 14 35
Wildcats
14
10
7 7 38
at Kroger Field , Lexington, KY
Date : November 14, 2020Game time : 12:00 p.m. EST Game weather : Cloudy • Temperature : 57 °F (14 °C) • Wind : 7 SE mphGame attendance : 12,000Referee : Alex MooreTV : SECN[ 11]
Statistics
VAN
UK
First downs
29
23
Total yards
407
458
Rushing yards
180
308
Passing yards
227
150
Turnovers
0
0
Time of possession
32:26
27:34
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Vanderbilt
Passing
Ken Seals
21/32, 225 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Keyon Henry-Brooks
29 rushes, 121 yards
Receiving
Amir Abdur-Rahman
7 receptions, 89 yards
Kentucky
Passing
Terry Wilson
13/15, 110 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Chris Rodriguez Jr.
13 rushes, 149 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Keaton Upshaw
2 receptions, 41 yards, TD
Pregame line
Over/under
+30
58
Kentucky vs. No. 1 Alabama
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Wildcats
3
0
0 0 3
No. 1 Crimson Tide
7
21
21 14 63
at Bryant–Denny Stadium , Tuscaloosa, AL
Date : November 21, 2020Game time : 4:00 p.m. EST Game weather : Partly Cloudy • Temperature : 73 °F (23 °C) • Wind : ESE 3mphGame attendance : 19,424Referee : Ken WilliamsonTV announcers (SECN) : Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color), Cole Cubelic (sideline)[ 12]
Statistics
Kentucky
Alabama
First downs
12
29
Total yards
179
509
Rushing yards
59
226
Passing yards
120
283
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
28:55
31:05
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Kentucky
Passing
Terry Wilson
10–19, 120 yards, 1 INT
Rushing
A. J. Rose
10 carries, 68 yards
Receiving
Josh Ali
4 receptions, 52 yards
Alabama
Passing
Mac Jones
16–24, 230 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT
Rushing
Jase McClellan
10 carries, 99 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
DeVonta Smith
9 receptions, 144 yards, 2 TD's
Game information
First quarter
Florida – Kyle Pitts 56-yard pass from Kyle Trask (Evan McPherson kick), 6:03
Second quarter
Kentucky – Keaton Upshaw 4-yard pass from Terry Wilson (Matt Ruffolo kick), 11:18
Kentucky – Matt Ruffolo 22-yard field goal, 2:13
Florida – Kadarius Toney 50-yard punt return (Evan McPherson kick), 0:42
Third quarter
Florida – Kyle Pitts 2-yard pass from Kyle Trask (Evan McPherson kick), 12:35
Florida – Evan McPherson 34-yard field goal, 5:58
Florida – Kyle Pitts 7-yard pass from Kyle Trask (Evan McPherson kick), 3:36
Fourth quarter
Florida – Evan McPherson 40-yard field goal, 8:18
Statistics
UTK
FLA
First downs
15
21
Total yards
221
418
Rushing yards
159
104
Passing yards
62
314
Turnovers
3
2
Time of possession
33:19
26:41
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Kentucky
Passing
Terry Wilson
10/18, 62 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing
A. J. Rose
15 carries, 58 yards
Receiving
Josh Ali
6 receptions, 32 yards
Florida
Passing
Kyle Trask
21/27, 256 yards, 3 TD
Rushing
Dameon Pierce
8 carries, 67 yards
Receiving
Kyle Pitts
5 receptions, 99 yards, 3 TD
South Carolina vs. Kentucky
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Gamecocks
3
0
7 8 18
Wildcats
10
17
7 7 41
at Kroger Field , Lexington, KY
Date : December 5, 2020Game time : 7:30 p.m. EST Game weather : Clear • Temperature : 35 °F (2 °C) • Wind : 4 NW mphGame attendance : 12,000Referee : Marc CurlesTV : SECN[ 14] • Box Score
Game information
First Quarter
(5:41) UK – Matt Ruffolo 22-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 5:20; Kentucky 3–0 )
(4:19) UK – Chris Rodriguez Jr. 1-yard run, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 2 plays, 26 yards, 0:28; Kentucky 10–0 )
(1:45) SC – Parker White 47-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 10 yards, 2:25; Kentucky 10–3 )
Second Quarter
(10:30) UK – Asim Rose Jr. 8-yard run, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 5 plays, 81 yards, 2:01; Kentucky 17–3 )
(1:14) UK – Chris Rodriguez Jr. 2-yard run, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 7 plays, 39 yards, 3:26; Kentucky 24–3 )
(0:00) UK – Matt Ruffolo 41-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 10 yards, 0:42; Kentucky 27–3 )
Third Quarter
(7:28) UK – Terry Wilson 1-yard run, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 7:32; Kentucky 34–3 )
(5:21) SC – Kevin Harris 15-yard run, Parker White kick (Drive: 7 plays, 86 yards, 2:03; Kentucky 34–10 )
Fourth Quarter
(5:12) SC – Dakereon Joyner 30-yard pass from Luke Doty, Luke Doty pass to Nick Muse for two-point conversion (Drive: 9 plays, 90 yards, 3:27; Kentucky 34–18 )
(4:56) UK – Chris Rodriguez Jr. 79-yard run, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 1 play, 79 yards, 0:12; Kentucky 41–18 )
Statistics
SC
UK
First downs
21
24
Total yards
404
492
Rushes/yards
44/297
45/291
Passing yards
107
201
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
12-27-1
17-26-0
Time of possession
25:49
34:11
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
South Carolina
Passing
Luke Doty
11–25, 85 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Kevin Harris
21 carries, 210 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Dakereon Joyner
4 receptions, 43 yards, 1 TD
Kentucky
Passing
Terry Wilson
17–26, 201 yards
Rushing
Chris Rodriguez Jr.
14 carries, 139 yards, 3 TD
Receiving
Justin Rigg
3 receptions, 72 yards
Vs. NC State (Gator Bowl)[ edit ]
Kentucky vs. Florida (2021 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl)
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 23 NC State
0
0
7 14 21
Kentucky
3
10
0 10 23
at TIAA Bank Field • Jacksonville, Florida
Date : Saturday, January 2, 2021Game time : 12:00 p.m. EST Game weather : Cloudy • Temperature : 74 °F (23 °C) • Wind : SSW 13 mphGame attendance : 10,422Referee : Reggie SmithTV announcers (ESPN ) : Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst) and Lericia Harris (sideline)ESPN game summary [ 15]
Game information
First quarter
(6:00) UK – Matt Ruffolo 25 yard field goal (Drive: 16 plays, 68 plays, 9:00; Kentucky 3–0 )
Second quarter
(6:23) UK – Chris Rodriguez 4 yard rush, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 6 plays, 79 yards, 2:39; Kentucky 10–0 )
(0:02) UK – Matt Ruffolo 26 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 69 yards, 1:21; Kentucky 13–0 )
Third quarter
(2:56) NCST – C.J. Riley 9 yard pass from Bailey Hockman, Christopher Dunn kick (Drive: 13 plays, 76 yards, 6:12; Kentucky 13–7 )
Fourth quarter
(5:45) UK – Matt Ruffolo 20 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 40 yards, 3:09; Kentucky 16–7 )
(4:46) NCST – Zonovan Knight 13 yard rush, Christopher Dunn kick (Drive: 3 plays, 37 yards, 0:54; Kentucky 16–14 )
(2:55) UK – Chris Rodriguez 26 yard rush, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 1 play, 26 yards, 0:07; Kentucky 23–14 )
(1:10) NCST – Jordan Houston 2 yard rush, Christopher Dunn kick (Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 1:41; Kentucky 23–21 )
Statistics
NCST
UK
First downs
19
19
Plays–yards
66–318
68–380
Rushes–yards
26–50
48–281
Passing yards
268
99
Passing: comp –att –int
27–40–3
12–20–0
Time of possession
25:53
34:07
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
NC State
Passing
Bailey Hockman
27/40, 268 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT
Rushing
Zonovan Knight
12 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Thayer Thomas
3 receptions, 46 yards
Kentucky
Passing
Terry Wilson
12/20, 99 yards
Rushing
Asim Rose Jr.
12 carries, 148 yards
Receiving
Keaton Upshaw
2 receptions, 25 yards
Players drafted into the NFL [ edit ]
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