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
In the preseason media poll, Kentucky was predicted to finish in fourth place in the East Division.[1]
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.[2][3] 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 | | SECN | L 13–29 | 17,490 |
October 3 | 4:00 p.m. | Ole Miss | | - Kroger Field
- Lexington, KY
| SECN | L 41–42 OT | 12,000 |
October 10 | 7:30 p.m. | Mississippi State | | - Kroger Field
- Lexington, KY
| SECN | W 24–2 | 12,000 |
October 17 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 18 Tennessee | | | SECN | W 34–7 | 22,519 |
October 24 | 4:00 p.m. | at Missouri | | | SECN | L 10–20 | 11,738 |
October 31 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 5 Georgia | | | SECN | L 3–14 | 12,000 |
November 14 | 12:00 p.m. | Vanderbilt | | - Kroger Field
- Lexington, KY (rivalry)
| SECN | W 38–35 | 12,000 |
November 21 | 4:00 p.m. | at No. 1 Alabama | | | SECN | L 3–63 | 19,424 |
November 28 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 6 Florida | | | ESPN | L 10–34 | 14,453 |
December 5 | 7:30 p.m. | South Carolina | | - Kroger Field
- Lexington, KY
| SECN | W 41–18 | 12,000 |
January 2, 2021 | 12:00 p.m. | vs. No. 23 NC State* | | | ESPN | W 23–21 | 10,422 |
|
[4]
Rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
RV = Received votes | 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 |
---|
Game summaries
At Auburn
No. 23 Kentucky vs. No. 8 Auburn
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[5]
Game information
|
- First quarter
- (6:44) UK – Kavosiey Smoke 35 yd rush, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 11 plays, 93 yds, 6:23; Kentucky 7–0)
- (4:30) AUB – D. J. Williams 1 yd rush, John Samuel Shenker pass (Drive: 7 plays, 70 yds, 2:07; Auburn 8–7)
- Second quarter
No scoring
- Third quarter
- (5:42) AUB – Seth Williams 11 yd pass from Bo Nix, Anders Carlson kick (Drive: 9 plays, 76 yds, 4:19; Auburn 15–7)
- (1:00) UK – Akeem Hayes 8 yd pass from Terry Wilson, Terry Wilson pass failed (Drive: 11 plays, 73 yds, 4:34; Auburn 15–13)
- Fourth quarter
- (10:21) AUB – Seth Williams 4 yd pass from Bo Nix, Anders Carlson kick (Drive: 5 plays, 23 yds, 2:13; Auburn 22–13)
- (8:17) AUB – Eli Stove 21 yd pass from Bo Nix, Anders Carlson kick (Drive: 2 plays, 27 yds, 0:50; Auburn 29–13)
|
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
|
Rushing |
Kavosiey Smoke |
7 carries, 62 yds, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Josh Ali |
9 receptions, 98 yds
|
Auburn
|
Passing |
Bo Nix |
16/27, 233 yds, 3 TD
|
Rushing |
Bo Nix |
5 carries, 34 yds
|
Receiving |
Seth Williams |
6 receptions, 112 yds, 2 TD
|
Ole Miss
Ole Miss vs. Kentucky
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 [6]
Game information
|
- First Quarter
- (12:38) MISS – Jerrion Ealy 1 yard rush, Luke Logan kick
Ole Miss 7–0; 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:22
- (7:36) UK – Terry Wilson 4 yard rush, Matt Ruffolo kick
Tied 7–7; 4 plays, 29 yards, 1:54
- (1:33) UK – A. J. Rose 2 yard rush, Matt Ruffolo kick
Kentucky 14–7; 8 plays, 80 yards, 4:25
- Second Quarter
- (13:19) MISS – Kenny Yeboah 14 yard pass from Matt Corral, Luke Logan kick
Tied 14–14; 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:14
- (0:29) UK – Terry Wilson 22 yard rush, Matt Ruffolo kick
Kentucky 21–14; 9 plays, 83 yards, 3:25
- Third Quarter
- (10:41) UK – Chris Rodriguez Jr. 22 yard rush, Matt Ruffolo kick
Kentucky 28–14; 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:19
- (9:17) MISS – Jonathan Mingo 24 yard pass from Matt Corral, Luke Logan kick
Kentucky 28–21; 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:24
- Fourth Quarter
- (13:37) MISS – Jonathan Mingo 16 yard pass from Matt Corral, Luke Logan kick
Tied 28–28; 5 plays, 54 yards, 1:30
- (8:23) MISS – Snoop Conner 1 yard rush, Luke Logan kick
Ole Miss 35–28; 3 plays, 53 yards, 0:47
- (2:04) UK – Chris Rodriguez Jr. 1 yard rush, Matt Ruffolo kick
Tied 35–35; 12 plays, 75 yards, 6:19
- Overtime
- UK – Terry Wilson 10 yard rush, PAT missed
Kentucky 41–35; 3 plays, 25 yards
- MISS – Elijah Moore 3 yard pass from Matt Corral, Luke Logan kick
Ole Miss 42–41; 4 plays, 25 yards
|
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
|
Rushing |
Matt Corral |
13 carries, 51 yards
|
Receiving |
Jonathan Mingo |
8 receptions, 128 yards, 2 TD
|
Kentucky |
Passing |
Terry Wilson |
14/18, 151 yards
|
Rushing |
Chris Rodriguez Jr. |
17 carries, 133 yards, 2 TD
|
Receiving |
Josh Ali |
7 receptions, 88 yards
|
Mississippi State
Mississippi State vs. Kentucky
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
- [7]
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
|
Rushing |
Kylin Hill |
7 rushes, 17 yards
|
Receiving |
Kylin Hill |
15 receptions, 79 yards
|
Kentucky |
Passing |
Terry Wilson |
8–20, 73 yards, TD
|
Rushing |
Terry Wilson |
13 rushes, 50 yards
|
Receiving |
Josh Ali |
2 receptions, 22 yards
|
At Tennessee
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
|
Rushing |
Chris Rodriguez Jr. |
13 carries, 73 yards, TD
|
Receiving |
Josh Ali |
4 receptions, 38 yards
|
Tennessee |
Passing |
Jarrett Guarantano |
14/21, 88 yards, 2 INT
|
Rushing |
Eric Gray |
24 carries, 129 yards
|
Receiving |
Brandon Johnson |
4 receptions, 37 yards
|
At Missouri
Kentucky vs. Missouri
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
- [9]
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
|
Rushing |
Chris Rodriguez Jr. |
9 carries, 48 yards
|
Receiving |
Josh Ali |
4 receptions, 47 yards, TD
|
Missouri |
Passing |
Connor Bazelak |
21/30, 201 yards
|
Rushing |
Larry Rountree III |
37 carries, 126 yards, 2 TD
|
Receiving |
Jalen Knox |
5 receptions, 60 yards
|
Georgia
Game information
|
- First quarter
- (6:07) UGA - Stetson Bennett 2-yard Run (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Drive: 12 plays, 86 yards, 5:06; Georgia 7-0)
- Second Quarter
- (2:44) UK - Matt Ruffolo 34-yard Field Goal (Drive: 19 plays, 77 yards, 10:28; Georgia 7-3)
- Third Quarter
- (11:38) Zamir White 22-yard Run (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:22; Georgia 14-3)
|
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
|
Rushing |
Zamir White |
26 carries, 136 yds, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
James Cook |
4 receptions, 62 yds,
|
Kentucky
|
Passing |
Joey Gatewood |
15-25, 91 yds
|
Rushing |
Chris Rodriguez |
20 carries, 108 yds
|
Receiving |
Josh Ali |
5 receptions, 35 yds
|
Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky
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
- [11]
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
|
Rushing |
Keyon Henry-Brooks |
29 rushes, 121 yards
|
Receiving |
Amir Abdur-Rahman |
7 receptions, 89 yards
|
Kentucky |
Passing |
Terry Wilson |
13/15, 110 yards, 2 TD
|
Rushing |
Chris Rodriguez Jr. |
13 rushes, 149 yards, 2 TD
|
Receiving |
Keaton Upshaw |
2 receptions, 41 yards, TD
|
At Alabama
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
+30 |
58
|
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
|
Rushing |
A. J. Rose |
10 carries, 68 yards
|
Receiving |
Josh Ali |
4 receptions, 52 yards
|
Alabama |
Passing |
Mac Jones |
16–24, 230 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
Jase McClellan |
10 carries, 99 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
DeVonta Smith |
9 receptions, 144 yards, 2 TD's
|
At Florida
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Florida – Kyle Pitts 56-yard pass from Kyle Trask (Evan McPherson kick), 6:03
- Second quarter
- Kentucky – Keaton Upshaw 4-yard pass from Terry Wilson (Matt Ruffolo kick), 11:18
- Kentucky – Matt Ruffolo 22-yard field goal, 2:13
- Florida – Kadarius Toney 50-yard punt return (Evan McPherson kick), 0:42
- Third quarter
- Florida – Kyle Pitts 2-yard pass from Kyle Trask (Evan McPherson kick), 12:35
- Florida – Evan McPherson 34-yard field goal, 5:58
- Florida – Kyle Pitts 7-yard pass from Kyle Trask (Evan McPherson kick), 3:36
- Fourth quarter
- Florida – Evan McPherson 40-yard field goal, 8:18
|
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
|
Rushing |
A. J. Rose |
15 carries, 58 yards
|
Receiving |
Josh Ali |
6 receptions, 32 yards
|
Florida |
Passing |
Kyle Trask |
21/27, 256 yards, 3 TD
|
Rushing |
Dameon Pierce |
8 carries, 67 yards
|
Receiving |
Kyle Pitts |
5 receptions, 99 yards, 3 TD
|
South Carolina
South Carolina vs. Kentucky
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
- [14] • Box Score
Game information
|
- First Quarter
- (5:41) UK – Matt Ruffolo 22-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 5:20; Kentucky 3–0)
- (4:19) UK – Chris Rodriguez Jr. 1-yard run, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 2 plays, 26 yards, 0:28; Kentucky 10–0)
- (1:45) SC – Parker White 47-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 10 yards, 2:25; Kentucky 10–3)
- Second Quarter
- (10:30) UK – Asim Rose Jr. 8-yard run, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 5 plays, 81 yards, 2:01; Kentucky 17–3)
- (1:14) UK – Chris Rodriguez Jr. 2-yard run, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 7 plays, 39 yards, 3:26; Kentucky 24–3)
- (0:00) UK – Matt Ruffolo 41-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 10 yards, 0:42; Kentucky 27–3)
- Third Quarter
- (7:28) UK – Terry Wilson 1-yard run, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 7:32; Kentucky 34–3)
- (5:21) SC – Kevin Harris 15-yard run, Parker White kick (Drive: 7 plays, 86 yards, 2:03; Kentucky 34–10)
- Fourth Quarter
- (5:12) SC – Dakereon Joyner 30-yard pass from Luke Doty, Luke Doty pass to Nick Muse for two-point conversion (Drive: 9 plays, 90 yards, 3:27; Kentucky 34–18)
- (4:56) UK – Chris Rodriguez Jr. 79-yard run, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 1 play, 79 yards, 0:12; Kentucky 41–18)
|
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
|
Rushing |
Kevin Harris |
21 carries, 210 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Dakereon Joyner |
4 receptions, 43 yards, 1 TD
|
Kentucky |
Passing |
Terry Wilson |
17–26, 201 yards
|
Rushing |
Chris Rodriguez Jr. |
14 carries, 139 yards, 3 TD
|
Receiving |
Justin Rigg |
3 receptions, 72 yards
|
Vs. NC State (Gator Bowl)
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
|
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
|
Rushing |
Zonovan Knight |
12 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Thayer Thomas |
3 receptions, 46 yards
|
Kentucky
|
Passing |
Terry Wilson |
12/20, 99 yards
|
Rushing |
Asim Rose Jr. |
12 carries, 148 yards
|
Receiving |
Keaton Upshaw |
2 receptions, 25 yards
|
Players drafted into the NFL
References
|
---|
Venues | |
---|
Bowls & rivalries | |
---|
Culture & lore | |
---|
People | |
---|
Seasons | |
---|
National championship seasons in bold |