# 2019 Citrus Bowl

The 2019 Citrus Bowl was a college football bowl game that was played on January 1, 2019. It was the 73rd edition of what is now the Citrus Bowl, and was one of the 2018–19 bowl games concluding the 2018 FBS football season. Sponsored by VRBO, a vacation rental marketplace owned by HomeAway, the game was officially known as the VRBO Citrus Bowl.

## Teams

The game was played between the Penn State Nittany Lions of the Big Ten Conference and the Kentucky Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference. The teams had previously met five times, with Penn State holding a 3–2 edge; their most recent meeting was the 1999 Outback Bowl, won by Penn State.

### Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State received and accepted a bid to the Citrus Bowl on December 2. The Nittany Lions entered the bowl with a 9–3 record (6–3 in conference).

### Kentucky Wildcats

Kentucky received and accepted a bid to the Citrus Bowl on December 2. The Wildcats entered the bowl with a 9–3 record (5–3 in conference).

## Game summary
### Scoring summary

Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | UK | PSU |
| 1 | 12:23 | 5 | 24 | 1:52 | UK | 28-yard field goal by Miles Butler | 3 | 0 |
| 1 | 0:45 | | | | UK | Punt returned 58 yards for touchdown by Lynn Bowden, Miles Butler kick good | 10 | 0 |
| 2 | 13:56 | 5 | 75 | 1:49 | PSU | Nick Bowers 1-yard touchdown reception from Trace McSorley, Jake Pinegar kick good | 10 | 7 |
| 3 | 12:38 | 6 | 65 | 2:22 | UK | Benny Snell 2-yard touchdown run, Miles Butler kick good | 17 | 7 |
| 3 | 3:48 | 11 | 65 | 6:05 | UK | 28-yard field goal by Miles Butler | 20 | 7 |
| 3 | 1:35 | 2 | 66 | 0:57 | UK | Benny Snell 12-yard touchdown run, Miles Butler kick good | 27 | 7 |
| 4 | 13:37 | 10 | 75 | 2:58 | PSU | Trace McSorley 1-yard touchdown run, Jake Pinegar kick good | 27 | 14 |
| 4 | 9:00 | 6 | 60 | 2:24 | PSU | Pat Freiermuth 18-yard touchdown reception from Trace McSorley, Jake Pinegar kick good | 27 | 21 |
| 4 | 4:12 | 12 | 61 | 3:34 | PSU | 32-yard field goal by Jake Pinegar | 27 | 24 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 27 | 24 |

### Statistics

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 14 Wildcats | 10 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 27 |
| No. 12 Nittany Lions | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 24 |
| Statistics | UK | PSU |
| First downs | 16 | 22 |
| Plays–yards | 57–297 | 75–410 |
| Rushes–yards | 42–176 | 40–164 |
| Passing yards | 121 | 246 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 9–15–0 | 17–33–1 |
| Time of possession | 30:42 | 29:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Kentucky | Passing | Terry Wilson | 9/15, 121 yds |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Benny Snell | 26 car, 144 yds, 2 TD |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Lynn Bowden | 5 rec, 84 yds |
| Penn State | Passing | Trace McSorley | 17/33, 246 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Penn State | Rushing | Trace McSorley | 19 car, 75 yds |
| Penn State | Receiving | DeAndre Thompkins | 4 rec, 74 yds |