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Clemson football live score updates vs. Kentucky in Gator Bowl matchup

Scott Keepfer and Nick Gray, Greenville News
·8 min read

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Clemson football’s mission in Friday’s Gator Bowl game against Kentucky is two-fold: Close the season with a five-game winning streak and post at least nine victories for a 13th consecutive year.

The Tigers (8-4) and Wildcats (7-5) will tangle for the first time since Clemson claimed a 21-13 victory in the 2009 Music City Bowl following coach Dabo Swinney’s first full season as the Tigers’ head coach.

This season Clemson rebounded from a 4-4 start by winning four in a row, including victories against ranked opponents in Notre Dame and North Carolina.

Clemson football score updates vs. Kentucky Wildcats

Postgame links

INSTANT RECAP: Late Phil Mafah touchdown caps wild fourth quarter, Clemson beats Kentucky in Gator Bowl

WILL SHIPLEY INJURY: Clemson football RB Will Shipley injured, carted off during Gator Bowl

DOINK! Look: Jonathan Weitz's 52-yard field goal gives Clemson football lead over Kentucky in Gator Bowl

FINAL: Clemson 38, Kentucky 35

Shelton Lewis intercepts Devin Leary on the next play from scrimmage. The Tigers will win and go to 9-4. What a comeback win in the most entertaining bowl game of the season so far.

Clemson's OL and pass protection allowed 8 sacks and 12 tackles for a loss, but the defense grabbed four fourth-quarter turnovers.

Clemson 38, Kentucky 35, 17 seconds left fourth quarter: What a drive by Cade Klubnik, Tigers offense

Clemson goes ahead with 17 seconds left on Phil Mafah's fourth touchdown of the game. 12 plays, 68 yards.

Cade Klubnik was penalized for intentional grounding near midfield, but again was able to turn 3rd and long into a conversion after a 16-yard pass to Troy Stellato and a Phil Mafah 4th down conversion run.

After that sequence, Klubnik completed passes of 11 and 15 yards to Antonio Williams and Jake Briningstool to set up 1st and goal. Mafah finished the drive with a 4-yard TD run. Two point conversion good.

Clemson's defense needs a stop with 17 seconds left. Kentucky has all three timeouts.

Kentucky 35, Clemson 30, 2:39 left fourth quarter: Clemson's defense continues to allow big plays

Kentucky tight end Jordan Dingle gets loose over the middle for a 72-yard catch and run. Two plays later, Ray Davis scores from a yard out.

Kentucky leads, and Clemson's defense suddenly can't get a stop.

Clemson 30, Kentucky 28, 4:20 left fourth quarter: Jonathan Weitz nails 52-yard field goal

After a big Will Shipley kickoff return, Clemson has to settle for a 52-yard field goal. Jonathan Weitz's kick hits the crossbar and pops over. Just good. In case you need his absolute range, that's it. Tigers lead and need a stop.

Kentucky 28, Clemson 27, 6:12 left fourth quarter: Another busted coverage by the Clemson defense

Barion Brown is wide open on a slot post, and he coasts into the end zone for a 60-yard go ahead TD. PAT good.

Khalil Barnes and RJ Mickens both parted the middle of the field on that play. Not sure what happened there. Kentucky leads by 1.

Clemson 27, Kentucky 21, 6:47 left fourth quarter: Another UK turnover turns into Phil Mafah TD

Barion Brown fumbles, and Barrett Carter recovers. Khalil Barnes forced the fumble.

One play later, Phil Mafah gets loose and scores on a 29-yard touchdown run. Two-point conversion is good, with Klubnik to Tyler Brown. Tigers lead by 6.

Mafah has three touchdowns on eight carries and 61 rushing yards.

Kentucky 21, Clemson 19, 7:00 left fourth quarter: Another UK turnover turns into points

Barrett Carter intercepts a Devin Leary tipped pass in Kentucky territory to set the Tigers offense up.

Clemson drives inside the Kentucky 10-yard line, but settle for a Jonathan Weitz 29-yard field goal.

Couple curious decisions by Klubnik on goal-to-go sequence forced the Tigers to kick the FG. Still time for another stop and another chance for Clemson's offense.

Two teams trade turnovers

Kentucky's Devin Leary is sacked by Xavier Thomas and fumbles, with Justin Mascoll recovering deep in Kentucky territory.

On the next play, Cade Klubnik is drilled as he throws, and the ball flutters into the arms of Kentucky's Jordan Lovett in the end zone for an interception. A big missed opportunity for Clemson.

Kentucky 21, Clemson 16, 14:56 left fourth quarter: Tigers get much-needed TD on long drive

Clemson goes on 14-play, 70-yard drive capped by a Phil Mafah 1-yard touchdown run to begin the fourth quarter.

Two-point try is no good on a Klubnik incompletion.

The big sequence on the drive was Clemson turning a 3rd and 23 into a first down after a Troy Stellato 18-yard catch and a 4th down conversion on a Will Shipley catch and run in Kentucky territory.

Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne in attendance at the Gator Bowl

Not that it should surprise, but former Clemson stars Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne are in attendance in Jacksonville for the Gator Bowl.

The two Jaguars stars play their NFL home games at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville. The Jags face the Carolina Panthers in that stadium on Sunday.

Lawrence (2018-20) and Etienne (2017-20) played in the CFP in every season at Clemson. The Tigers have some steps to go before returning back to that form.

Kentucky 21, Clemson 10, 14:47 left third quarter: Barion Brown kickoff return TD to open second half

Kentucky's Barion Brown has his third kickoff return touchdown of the year, this one to open the second half.

Brown will continue to return those if teams do not kick it away from him or out of the end zone. Why a Kentucky opponent would continue to kick to him is a good question.

Halftime: Kentucky 14, Clemson 10

The Wildcats have most of the big plays in the game. The Tigers probably are fortunate to be down 4.

Clemson's offense is starting to get some things going in the air, but only had 18 carries for 55 yards on the ground.

Kentucky 14, Clemson 10, 7:44 left second quarter: Kentucky strikes quickly for TD

A Shelton Lewis third-down pass interference penalty extends Kentucky's drive, and the Wildcats take advantage.

Dane Key gets ahead of Khalil Barnes for a 58-yard catch and run. On the next play, Devin Leary finds Key for a 5-yard touchdown reception. Kentucky re-takes the lead.

Clemson 10, Kentucky 7, 10:17 left second quarter: Phil Mafah TD run puts Tigers in the lead

Clemson gets some good field position and takes advantage. Cade Klubnik finally connects down the field with completions to Troy Stellato and Jake Briningstool to set up 1st and goal. Phil Mafah slams into the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown run. PAT good.

Klubnik looked comfortable on that drive after back-to-back 3-and-outs. 5 plays, 59 yards.

Also a nod to Mafah, who had an 18-yard run on the first play of the drive.

First Clemson offensive touchdown since a Will Shipley TD in the third quarter of the UNC game on Nov. 18.

Kentucky 7, Clemson 3, 5:00 left first quarter: Barion Brown end-around TD run as Wildcats hit big plays

Kentucky is very boom-or-bust, and it hits a couple big plays for the game's first touchdown.

Ray Davis runs for 43 yards on 3rd and 1, and Barion Brown scores on the next play on a 22-yard end-around touchdown run.

PAT good. Clemson's linebackers were not good on that drive, and TJ Parker did not set the edge on Brown's touchdown run.

Clemson 3, Kentucky 0, 11:16 left first quarter: Opening drive produces a field goal

Clemson quickly moved into Kentucky territory after a good Will Shipley kickoff return and a Kentucky personal foul on the first play from scrimmage.

A pair of clunky plays produces 3rd and long, and Cade Klubnik completes to Jake Briningstool but three yards short of the first down marker.

Jonathan Weitz's 39-yard field goal is good.

Klubnik was 4-4 for 14 yards on the drive. Antonio Williams got his first offensive snaps in a while and had a catch on a WR screen that lost yardage.

Pregame: Clemson searching for win No. 9 against a game SEC opponent

Closing in on kickoff time in Jacksonville. Clemson will be playing for win No. 9 this season and a five-game winning streak to end the season. If momentum matters from year to year, a win on Friday should help.

Kentucky has QB Devin Leary, RB Ray Davis and a mostly full depth chart playing on Friday. Davis, third in the SEC in rushing yards, will be the key for the Clemson defense. The Vanderbilt transfer can also make an impact catching the football.

Clemson game time, TV channel, betting odds today vs. Kentucky

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This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football score, live updates vs Kentucky in 2023 Gator Bowl