# 2020 Kentucky Wildcats football team

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.

## Preseason
### SEC Media Days

In the preseason media poll, Kentucky was predicted to finish in fourth place in the East Division.
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 |

## Schedule

Kentucky had games scheduled against Eastern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, and Louisville, which were all canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 | Jordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL | SECN | L 13–29 | 17,490 |
| October 3 | 4:00 p.m. | Ole Miss | | Kroger FieldLexington, KY | SECN | L 41–42 $^{OT}$ | 12,000 |
| October 10 | 7:30 p.m. | Mississippi State | | Kroger FieldLexington, KY | SECN | W 24–2 | 12,000 |
| October 17 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 18 Tennessee | | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (rivalry) | SECN | W 34–7 | 22,519 |
| October 24 | 4:00 p.m. | at Missouri | | Faurot FieldColumbia, MO | SECN | L 10–20 | 11,738 |
| October 31 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 5 Georgia | | Kroger FieldLexington, KY | SECN | L 3–14 | 12,000 |
| November 14 | 12:00 p.m. | Vanderbilt | | Kroger FieldLexington, KY (rivalry) | SECN | W 38–35 | 12,000 |
| November 21 | 4:00 p.m. | at No. 1 Alabama | | Bryant–Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL | SECN | L 3–63 | 19,424 |
| November 28 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 6 Florida | | Ben Hill Griffin StadiumGainesville, FL (rivalry) | ESPN | L 10–34 | 14,453 |
| December 5 | 7:30 p.m. | South Carolina | | Kroger FieldLexington, KY | SECN | W 41–18 | 12,000 |
| January 2, 2021 | 12:00 p.m. | vs. No. 23 NC State* | | TIAA Bank FieldJacksonville, FL (Gator Bowl) | ESPN | W 23–21 | 10,422 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings (after November 24) released prior to gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | 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 | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | Not released |

## Game summaries
### At 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, 2020
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 75 °F (24 °C) • Wind: 5 mph W
* Game attendance: 17,490
* Referee: Steve Marlowe
* TV 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
| 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 |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Kavosiey Smoke | 7 carries, 62 yds, 1 TD |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Josh Ali | 9 receptions, 98 yds |
| Auburn | Passing | Bo Nix | 16/27, 233 yds, 3 TD |
| Auburn | Rushing | Bo Nix | 5 carries, 34 yds |
| Auburn | Receiving | Seth Williams | 6 receptions, 112 yds, 2 TD |

### Ole Miss

| 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, 2020
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 64 °F (18 °C)
* Game attendance: 12,000
* Referee: David Smith
* TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (color), Taylor McGregor (sideline)
* Pregame line: Kentucky −7 • O/U: 63
| 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 |
| Ole Miss | Rushing | Matt Corral | 13 carries, 51 yards |
| Ole Miss | Receiving | Jonathan Mingo | 8 receptions, 128 yards, 2 TD |
| Kentucky | Passing | Terry Wilson | 14/18, 151 yards |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 17 carries, 133 yards, 2 TD |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Josh Ali | 7 receptions, 88 yards |

### Mississippi State

| 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, 2020
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 67 °F (19 °C) • Wind: 5 SE mph
* Game attendance: 12,000
* Referee: Ken Williamson
* TV: SECN
| 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 |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Kylin Hill | 7 rushes, 17 yards |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Kylin Hill | 15 receptions, 79 yards |
| Kentucky | Passing | Terry Wilson | 8–20, 73 yards, TD |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Terry Wilson | 13 rushes, 50 yards |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Josh Ali | 2 receptions, 22 yards |

### At 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, 2020
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny, Temperature: 85 °F (29 °C)
* Game attendance: 22,519
* Referee: Marc Curles
* TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color), Cole Cubelic (sidelines)
| 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 |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 13 carries, 73 yards, TD |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Josh Ali | 4 receptions, 38 yards |
| Tennessee | Passing | Jarrett Guarantano | 14/21, 88 yards, 2 INT |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Eric Gray | 24 carries, 129 yards |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Brandon Johnson | 4 receptions, 37 yards |

### At 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, 2020
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 48 °F (9 °C) • Wind: NW 12-17mph
* Game attendance: 11,738
* Referee: Lee Hedrick
* TV: SECN
| 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 |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 9 carries, 48 yards |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Josh Ali | 4 receptions, 47 yards, TD |
| Missouri | Passing | Connor Bazelak | 21/30, 201 yards |
| Missouri | Rushing | Larry Rountree III | 37 carries, 126 yards, 2 TD |
| Missouri | Receiving | Jalen Knox | 5 receptions, 60 yards |

### Georgia

| 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, 2020
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Mostly Sunny • Temperature: 54 °F (12 °C) • Wind: 5 SE mph
* Game attendance: 12,000
* Referee: Matt Loeffler
* TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst) and Cole Cubelic (sideline)
| 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 |
| Georgia | Rushing | Zamir White | 26 carries, 136 yds, 1 TD |
| Georgia | Receiving | James Cook | 4 receptions, 62 yds, |
| Kentucky | Passing | Joey Gatewood | 15-25, 91 yds |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Chris Rodriguez | 20 carries, 108 yds |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Josh Ali | 5 receptions, 35 yds |

### Vanderbilt

| 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, 2020
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 57 °F (14 °C) • Wind: 7 SE mph
* Game attendance: 12,000
* Referee: Alex Moore
* TV: SECN
| 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 |
| Vanderbilt | Rushing | Keyon Henry-Brooks | 29 rushes, 121 yards |
| Vanderbilt | Receiving | Amir Abdur-Rahman | 7 receptions, 89 yards |
| Kentucky | Passing | Terry Wilson | 13/15, 110 yards, 2 TD |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 13 rushes, 149 yards, 2 TD |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Keaton Upshaw | 2 receptions, 41 yards, TD |

### At Alabama

| Pregame line | Over/under |
| +30 | 58 |
| 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, 2020
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Partly Cloudy • Temperature: 73 °F (23 °C) • Wind: ESE 3mph
* Game attendance: 19,424
* Referee: Ken Williamson
* TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color), Cole Cubelic (sideline)
| 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 |
| Kentucky | Rushing | A. J. Rose | 10 carries, 68 yards |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Josh Ali | 4 receptions, 52 yards |
| Alabama | Passing | Mac Jones | 16–24, 230 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT |
| Alabama | Rushing | Jase McClellan | 10 carries, 99 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Receiving | DeVonta Smith | 9 receptions, 144 yards, 2 TD's |

### At Florida

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Gators | 7 | 7 | 17 | 3 | 34 |
at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL
* Date: November 28, 2020
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Partly Cloudy • Temperature: 75 °F (24 °C) • Wind: NE 8mph
* Game attendance: 14,453
* Referee: David Smith
* TV announcers (ESPN): Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, and Marty Smith
| 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 |
| Kentucky | Rushing | A. J. Rose | 15 carries, 58 yards |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Josh Ali | 6 receptions, 32 yards |
| Florida | Passing | Kyle Trask | 21/27, 256 yards, 3 TD |
| Florida | Rushing | Dameon Pierce | 8 carries, 67 yards |
| Florida | Receiving | Kyle Pitts | 5 receptions, 99 yards, 3 TD |

### South Carolina

| 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, 2020
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 35 °F (2 °C) • Wind: 4 NW mph
* Game attendance: 12,000
* Referee: Marc Curles
* TV: SECN
* • Box Score
| 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 |
| South Carolina | Rushing | Kevin Harris | 21 carries, 210 yards, 1 TD |
| South Carolina | Receiving | Dakereon Joyner | 4 receptions, 43 yards, 1 TD |
| Kentucky | Passing | Terry Wilson | 17–26, 201 yards |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 14 carries, 139 yards, 3 TD |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Justin Rigg | 3 receptions, 72 yards |

### Vs. NC State (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, 2021
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 74 °F (23 °C) • Wind: SSW 13 mph
* Game attendance: 10,422
* Referee: Reggie Smith
* TV announcers (ESPN): Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst) and Lericia Harris (sideline)
* ESPN game summary
| 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 |
| NC State | Rushing | Zonovan Knight | 12 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD |
| NC State | Receiving | Thayer Thomas | 3 receptions, 46 yards |
| Kentucky | Passing | Terry Wilson | 12/20, 99 yards |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Asim Rose Jr. | 12 carries, 148 yards |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Keaton Upshaw | 2 receptions, 25 yards |

## Players drafted into the NFL

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 1 | 19 | Jamin Davis | LB | Washington Football Team |
| 2 | 44 | Kelvin Joseph | CB | Dallas Cowboys |
| 6 | 192 | Quinton Bohanna | DT | Dallas Cowboys |
| 6 | 200 | Brandin Echols | CB | New York Jets |
| 6 | 206 | Landon Young | OT | New Orleans Saints |
| 7 | 232 | Phil Hoskins | DT | Carolina Panthers |