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Clemson Football

FINAL: No. 22 Clemson 38, Kentucky 35

December 29, 2023
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GAME DAY: CLEMSON vs KENTUCKY

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Game: Noon, Everbank Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla.
TV: ESPN
Game Week Coverage: Clemson vs. Kentucky Stories

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The Storylines

Clemson will make its record 10th all-time Gator Bowl appearance when the Tigers face the Kentucky Wildcats in the 2023 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Friday, Dec. 29. Kickoff at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. is set for noon ET.

The Gator Bowl will be Clemson's 50th bowl appearance in school history. Clemson will become the 12th program in the nation to play at least 50 all-time bowl games.

Though Clemson's streak of consecutive 10-win seasons concluded this year at a dozen (the third-longest streak in FBS history), Clemson can still extend a historically profound streak of consecutive nine-win seasons with another victory.

Despite the challenges of a 4-4 start, Clemson responded by being one of only 11 teams in the Power Five to go undefeated in the month of November, a stretch that included multiple wins against ranked opponents.

“Football is exactly like life,” Head Coach Dabo Swinney said following Clemson's regular-season finale. "That’s why it is such a great teacher. When you have got 18-to-23-year-old young people that work really hard to get a result, and it does not go your way, especially in today’s world with all the noise and distractions, you can lose your focus. You can splinter. You can point fingers.

“It is really inspiring to see a group of young people stay together, but not only stay together but grow stronger and just keep going. Just keep getting up. Again, it’s not what happens, it is how you respond... The leadership on this team, it's inspiring, man. It's been fun to be a part of it.”

Spend this afternoon’s game with us in this thread! Brandon Stockdale will be holding down the fort along with the rest of the CST Staff.

FINAL: No. 22 Clemson 38, Kentucky 35

7,726 Views | 47 Replies | Last: 11 mo ago by Lawton Swann
Lawton Swann
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11:36a, 12/29/23
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I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I'm glad to have you all back and appreciate you all stopping by during the game. We will keep you updated here and on Twitter with the goings on from Jacksonville!
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1bstockdale
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11:47a, 12/29/23
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Hey there everybody! I hope yall are doing great and had an amazing Christmas with your family and friends! We've got Clemson football one more time in 2023 down in Jacksonville. Kickoff in about 15 minutes.
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1bstockdale
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12:04p, 12/29/23
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Kentucky has won the toss and will defer until the second half. We will see Clemson's offense first.

Game is on ESPN, btw for those at home.
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Lawton Swann
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12:07p, 12/29/23
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Nice opening return by Shipley. Great way to start the game!
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1bstockdale
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12:11p, 12/29/23
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11:16 1Q | Clemson 3, Kentucky 0

Tigers get near midfield thanks to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the first snap. Cade Klubnik went 4-for-4 on the first drive as well. 7 plays, 39 yards that took 3:37 off the clock with the 39-yard Jonathan Weitz FG.
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Lawton Swann
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12:13p, 12/29/23
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1bstockdale
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12:18p, 12/29/23
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The Wildcats are forced to punt. A nice play by Kobe McCloud on second down, who is taking the place of Jeremiah Trotter, who opted out of today's game for the NFL Draft.

9:38 1Q | Clemson 3, Kentucky 0
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1bstockdale
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12:25p, 12/29/23
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Tight coverage on the outside on the last two plays for Cade Klubnik. He tried to hit Tyler Brown on 3rd down but the pass falls incomplete. Clemson punts and UK will get the ball back.

7:14 1Q | Clemson 3, Kentucky 0
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Lawton Swann
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12:25p, 12/29/23
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I thought Klubnik should have run that ball on second down. Left Clemson with a touch 3rd and long there.

UK football.

Clemson 3, Kentucky 0

7:14 left in Q1
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1bstockdale
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12:31p, 12/29/23
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Touchdown Kentucky. Two back-to-back huge runs and Baron Brown takes it in on the jet sweep from 22 yards out.

Wildcats score in 4 plays.

5:00 1Q | Kentucky 7, Clemson 3
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lukewinstel
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12:31p, 12/29/23
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Hey! Checking in from the field here. I know you hate to give up the big run there if you're Clemson… but a positive takeaway is Khalil Barnes' straight line speed. Great hustle to make the tackle, his closing speed as a defender will serve the Tigers well in the future.
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12:32p, 12/29/23
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The defense started well but gave up a pair of big plays on the Kentucky scoring drive. The defense definitely misses Trotter on those types of plays… the Tigers could use a boost on the second level
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END 1Q | Kentucky 7, Clemson 3

Tigers will be near midfield as we head to the second quarter, facing 3rd and short. A low scoring, defensive battle in Jacksonville, which is sort of what we expected.
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Lawton Swann
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12:49p, 12/29/23
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Clemson's offense is still so incredibly frustrating to watch-- but I expected that.
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Clemson's best drive of the contest so far starts with a run and ends with a run. A 18-yard Phil Mafah run on the first play before Mafah scores from 1 yard out. A 28-yard Klubnik to Jake Briningstool completion set up the touchdown. I think this is what you'll see from the Tigers offense the rest of the way: Run to set up the play action game.

The drive was 5 plays, 59 yards taking 3:02 off the clock.

10:17 2Q | Clemson 10, Kentucky 7
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In reply to 1bstockdale • 1:02p, 12/29/23
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1bstockdale said:
Clemson's best drive of the contest so far starts with a run and ends with a run. A 18-yard Phil Mafah run on the first play before Mafah scores from 1 yard out. A 28-yard Klubnik to Jake Briningstool completion set up the touchdown. I think this is what you'll see from the Tigers offense the rest of the way: Run to set up the play action game.

The drive was 5 plays, 59 yards taking 3:02 off the clock.

10:17 2Q | Clemson 10, Kentucky 7
No doubt. The throw from Klubnik to Briningstool was perfect. Great drive.
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1:09p, 12/29/23
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With only four scholarship corners available today, Clemson lacks depth on the back end. Kentucky converts on a drive with a PI and explosive touchdown to take a 14-10 lead.
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In reply to Lawton Swann • 1:09p, 12/29/23
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Klubnik looks composed now and settled into the game. Briningstool has been a nice safety blanket for him so far.
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1bstockdale
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Touchdown Kentucky.

Dane Key with the 5-yard reception -- wide open on the play action pass in the end zone. Key was open on a 58-yard reception on a play earlier to set up the score. Another quick scoring drive for the Cats (4 plays, 75 yards in under 2 and 1/2 minutes)

7:44 2Q | Kentucky 14, Clemson 10
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Lawton Swann
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1:14p, 12/29/23
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How they let Barnes get run over and not throw a flag is unreal. Clearly a missed call on the big play for UK.
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Huge sack for T.J. Parker and Barrett Carter on that drive. Clemson fans are certainly happy Carter will be back in 2024.

Tigers will have 1:25 before the half to get points. Kentucky gets the ball to start the second half. Cats lead 14-10.
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HALF | Kentucky 14, Clemson 10

Wildcats will get the ball to start the second half. A physical, defensive battle with a handful of big plays that have led to scores. Neither team is great right now on 3rd down. We'll have to see what happens in the second half. I expect much of the same. Who can stay on schedule on offense and force a turnover or two? I think that will determine the winner.
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100-yard opening kickoff to the house for Kentucky by Barion Brown. Wow.

14:47 3Q | Kentucky 21, Clemson 10
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Not what you wanted for Clemson out of the halftime break. Tigers are sacked on 3rd down. That's Kentucky's fifth sack of the afternoon. This could be a huge drive right here for the Tigers defense.

12:22 3Q | Kentucky 21, Clemson 10
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Refs missed a facemask here on the 3rd down as they're showing on the replay here on TV.
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Clemson facing 4th and short here with a timeout for an injury to Troy Stellato. Tigers trail by 11, down 21-10 late 3rd quarter.
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END 3Q | Kentucky 21, Clemson 10

Tigers will face third and goal as we head to the final quarter in Jacksonville. They are trying to make it a one possession game.
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Phil Mafah scores from 1 yard out to open the quarter. Two-point conversion is no good.

14:56 4Q | Kentucky 21, Clemson 16
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Xavier Thomas forces the fumble and Justin Mascoll recovers.

Clemson is in business in plus territory.
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2:40p, 12/29/23
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And Cade Klubnik throws an interception. He was hit as he let the ball go and was slow to get up.

So we've had two plays and the game's first two turnovers.
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Lawton Swann
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2:42p, 12/29/23
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Clemson's season in about :30 seconds...



then this...

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Agent zero is back at it again with another game changing play. Wow… we've had some great action from both sides in the second half.
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