2021 Gator Bowl

The 2021 Gator Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 2, 2021, with kickoff at noon EST on ESPN.[4] It was the 76th edition of the Gator Bowl, and was one of the 2020–21 bowl games concluding the 2020 FBS football season. Sponsored by financial technology company TaxSlayer, the game was officially known as the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

2021 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
76th Gator Bowl
NC State Wolfpack Kentucky Wildcats
(8–3) (4–6)
ACC SEC
21 23
Head coach: 
Dave Doeren		 Head coach: 
Mark Stoops
APCoachesCFP
242223
1234 Total
NC State 00714 21
Kentucky 310010 23
DateJanuary 2, 2021
Season2020
StadiumTIAA Bank Field
LocationJacksonville, Florida
MVPAsim Rose Jr. (RB, Kentucky) & Zonovan Knight (RB, NC State)[1]
FavoriteKentucky by 3[2]
RefereeReggie Smith (Big Ten)[3]
Attendance10,422
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersAnish Shroff (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst) and Lericia Harris (sideline)

Teams

The bowl matchup was announced on December 20, featuring the Kentucky Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the NC State Wolfpack of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC),[5] consistent with the bowl's conference tie-ins.[6] The teams had met twice previously—a win by NC State in 1909 and a win by Kentucky in 1970.[7][8]

Kentucky Wildcats
Main article: 2020 Kentucky Wildcats football team

Kentucky entered the bowl with a 4–6 record, all in SEC contests. They were one of a limited number of teams to enter a bowl game with a losing record. The Wildcats were ranked 23rd in the AP Poll in late September. They faced five ranked opponents during the season, defeating Tennessee while losing to Auburn, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. Kentucky had appeared in one prior Gator Bowl, losing the December 2016 edition.

NC State Wolfpack
Main article: 2020 NC State Wolfpack football team

NC State entered the bowl with an 8–3 record (7–3 in ACC play), ranked 24th in the AP Poll and 23rd in CFP rankings. They also faced five ranked opponents during the season, defeating Pittsburgh and Liberty while falling to Virginia Tech, North Carolina, and Miami (FL). NC State had a 1–3 record in four prior Gator Bowls.

Game summary
2021 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
1 2 34Total
No. 23 NC State 0 0 71421
Kentucky 3 10 01023

at TIAA Bank Field • Jacksonville, Florida

  • Date: Saturday, January 2, 2021
  • Game time: Noon EST
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 74 °F (23 °C) • Wind: SSW 13 mph
  • Referee: Reggie Smith
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst) and Lericia Harris (sideline)
  • ESPN game summary
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
StatisticsNCSTUK
First downs1919
Plays–yards66–31868–380
Rushes–yards26–5048–281
Passing yards26899
Passing: Comp–Att–Int27–40–312–20–0
Time of possession25:5334:07
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NC StatePassingBailey Hockman27/40, 268 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT
RushingZonovan Knight12 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingThayer Thomas3 receptions, 46 yards
KentuckyPassingTerry Wilson12/20, 99 yards
RushingAsim Rose Jr.12 carries, 148 yards
ReceivingKeaton Upshaw2 receptions, 25 yards

References
  1. @JoshMooreHL (January 2, 2021). "A.J. Rose was named Kentucky's MVP of the Gator Bowl (Zonovan Knight named for N.C. State)" (Tweet). Retrieved January 2, 2021 – via Twitter.
  2. "College football bowl betting lines released". 247Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  3. Austro, Ben (December 23, 2020). "2020-21 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  4. "College Football Bowl Schedule | 2020". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  5. "NC State to Play Kentucky in the 76th Taxslayer Gator Bowl". taxslayergatorbowl.com (Press release). December 20, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  6. "2020 Bowl Schedule". collegefootballpoll.com. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  7. "Kentucky Wildcats vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack football series history games list". winsipedia.com. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  8. Fornelli, Tom (January 1, 2021). "Kentucky vs. NC State prediction, pick, odds, line, spread, live stream, TV channel, Gator Bowl kickoff time". CBS Sports. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
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