American college football season
The 2023 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Wildcats were led by Mark Stoops in his 11th year as their head coach. The Kentucky football team played their home games at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky .
This was the final year for the SEC's East–West divisional setup, as Texas and Oklahoma joined the conference in 2024.
Schedule
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance September 2 12:00 p.m. Ball State * SECN W 44–1458,286
September 9 3:00 p.m. Eastern Kentucky * Kroger Field Lexington, KY SECN+, ESPN+ W 28–1761,876
September 16 7:30 p.m. Akron * Kroger Field Lexington, KY ESPNU W 35–359,456
September 23 12:00 p.m. at Vanderbilt SECN W 45–2826,279
September 30 12:00 p.m. No. 22 Florida ESPN W 33–1461,699
October 7 7:00 p.m. at No. 1 Georgia No. 20 ESPN L 13–5192,746
October 14 7:30 p.m. Missouri No. 24 Kroger Field Lexington, KY SECN L 21–3861,654
October 28 7:00 p.m. No. 21 Tennessee Kroger Field Lexington, KY (rivalry ) ESPN L 27–3361,665
November 4 7:30 p.m. at Mississippi State SECN W 24–352,329
November 11 12:00 p.m. No. 8 Alabama Kroger Field Lexington, KY (SEC Nation ) ESPN L 21–4961,936
November 18 7:30 p.m. at South Carolina SECN L 14–1777,788
November 25 12:00 p.m. at No. 10 Louisville * ABC W 38–3159,225
12:00 p.m. vs. No. 22 Clemson * ESPN L 35–3840,132
[1] [2] [3]
Coaching staff
Game summaries
Ball State
Game One – Ball State Cardinals (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Ball State
7
0
7 0 14
Kentucky
3
20
14 7 44
at Kroger Field • Lexington, KY
Date : Saturday, September 2, 2023Game time : 12:00 p.m. EST Game weather : -Game attendance : 58,286TV : SEC Network
Game information
First quarter
(13:17) UK – Alex Raynor 41-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 51 yards, 1:43; Kentucky 3–0 )
(1:35) BALL – Layne Hatcher 2-yard run (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 13 plays, 73 yards, 7:05; Ball State 7–3 )
Second quarter
(11:31) UK – Ray Davis 2-yard run (Alex Raynor kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 4:58; Kentucky 10–7 )
(6:58) UK – Jalen Geiger 0-yard fumble return (Alex Raynor kick) (Kentucky 17–7 )
(1:08) UK – Alex Raynor 46-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 0:10; Kentucky 20–7 )
(0:00) UK – Alex Raynor 46-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 26 yards, 0:31; Kentucky 23–7 )
Third quarter
(6:43) UK – Dane Key 5-yard pass from Devin Leary (Alex Raynor kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 89 yards, 2:37; Kentucky 30–7 )
(0:42) BALL – Ty Robinson 5-yard pass from Kadin Semonza (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 6:01; Kentucky 30–14 )
(0:28) UK – Barion Brown 99-yard kickoff return (Alex Raynor kick) (Kentucky 37–14 )
Fourth quarter
(0:06) UK – Ray Davis 30 yard run (Alex Raynor kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 66 yards, 3:16; Kentucky 44–14 )
Statistics
BALL
UK
First downs
18
17
Total yards
71–295
51–354
Rushing yards
41–72
20–113
Passing yards
223
241
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
22–30–0
18–31–1
Time of possession
38:16
21:44
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ball State
Passing
Kadin Semonza
15/21, 165 yards, TD
Rushing
Marquez Cooper
15 carries, 33 yards
Receiving
Ty Robinson
5 receptions, 90 yards, TD
Kentucky
Passing
Devin Leary
18/31, 241 yards, TD, INT
Rushing
Ray Davis
14 carries, 112 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Dane Key
5 receptions, 96 yards, TD
Eastern Kentucky
Akron
at Vanderbilt
No. 22 Florida
Pregame line[4]
Over/under
Kentucky −1.5
43.5
Game Five – No. 22 Florida Gators (3–1) at Kentucky Wildcats (4–0) – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 22 Florida
0
7
7 0 14
Kentucky
16
7
7 3 33
at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky
Date : September 30Game time : 12:07 p.m. EDT Game weather : Temperature: 78 °F (26 °C) • Wind: E at 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h) • Weather: sunnyGame attendance : 61,699Referee : Matt LoefflerTV announcers (ESPN ) : Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst), and Katie George (sideline reporter)[5]
Game information
First quarter
Kentucky – Alex Raynor 24-yard field goal, 7:13
Kentucky – Ray Davis 9-yard pass from Devin Leary (Alex Raynor kick), 5:37
Kentucky – Ray Davis 75-yard run, 0:23
Second quarter
Kentucky – Ray Davis 3-yard run (Alex Raynor kick), 8:54
Florida – Hayden Hansen 4-yard pass from Graham Mertz (Trey Smack kick), 0:34
Third quarter
Kentucky – Ray Davis 2-yard run (Alex Raynor kick), 10:54
Florida – Ricky Pearsall 33-yard pass from Graham Mertz (Trey Smack kick), 7:17
Fourth quarter
Kentucky – Alex Raynor 50-yard field goal, 7:44
Statistics
Florida
Kentucky
First downs
15
23
Plays–yards
59–313
56–398
Rushes–yards
29–69
36–329
Passing yards
244
69
Passing: comp–att–int
25–30–1
9–20–0
Time of possession
31:14
28:46
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Florida
Passing
Graham Mertz
25/30, 244 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Montrell Johnson Jr.
10 carries, 42 yards
Receiving
Ricky Pearsall
3 receptions, 62 yards, 1 TD
Kentucky
Passing
Devin Leary
9/20, 69 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
Ray Davis
26 carries, 280 yards, 3 TD
Receiving
Barion Brown
4 receptions, 37 yards
at No. 1 Georgia
Game Six – No. 20 Kentucky Wildcats (5-0) at No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (5-0) – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 20 Kentucky
0
7
6 0 13
No. 1 Georgia
14
20
10 7 51
at Sanford Stadium • Athens, Georgia
Game information
First quarter
(11:26) UGA – Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint 40-yard pass from Carson Beck (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:34; Georgia 7-0 )
(4:25) UGA – RaRa Thomas 15-yard pass from Carson Beck (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 82 yards, 3:41; Georgia 14-0 )
Second quarter
(11:03) UGA – Oscar Delp 5-yard pass from Carson Beck (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 13 plays, 95 yards, 5:58; Georgia 21-0 )
(6:44) UK – Josh Kattus 4-yard pass from Devin Leary (Alex Raynor kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:19; Georgia 21-7 )
(5:15) UGA – Peyton Woodring 36-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 53 yards, 1:29; Georgia 24-7 )
(1:01) UGA – Kendall Milton 5-yard run (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 55 yards, 2:39; Georgia 31-7 )
(0:00) UGA – Peyton Woodring 42-yard field goal (Drive: 3 plays, 38 yards, 0:22; Georgia 34-7 )
Third quarter
(10:34) UK – Ray Davis 26-yard pass from Devin Leary (run failed) (Drive: 2 plays, 28 yards, 0:52; Georgia 34-13 )
(3:27) UGA – Peyton Woodring 32-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 56 yards, 7:07; Georgia 37-13 )
(0:39) UGA – Brock Bowers 21-yard pass from Carson Beck (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 42 yards, 1:19; Georgia 44-13 )
Fourth quarter
(2:38) UGA – Andrew Paul 7-yard pass from Brock Vandagriff (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 12 plays, 92 yards, 6:38; Georgia 51-13 )
Statistics
UK
UGA
First downs
12
33
Total yards
50–183
73–608
Rushing yards
24–55
31–173
Passing yards
128
435
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
10–26–0
33–42–1
Time of possession
22:32
37:28
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Kentucky
Passing
Devin Leary
10/26, 128 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Ray Davis
15 carries, 59 yards
Receiving
Dane Key
3 receptions, 65 yards
Georgia
Passing
Carson Beck
28/35, 389 yards, 4 TD, INT
Rushing
Daijun Edwards
9 carries, 54 yards
Receiving
Brock Bowers
7 receptions, 132 yards, TD
Missouri
Game Seven – Missouri Tigers (5–1) at No. 24 Kentucky Wildcats (5–1) – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Missouri
0
17
3 18 38
No. 24 Kentucky
14
0
7 0 21
at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky
Date : Saturday, October 14, 2023Game time : 6:30 p.m. CSTGame weather : –Game attendance : 61,654TV announcers (SECN ) : Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sideline)Pregame line : UK −3.5 Over/Under : 50.5
Game information
First quarter
Kentucky Wildcats
TD 8:32
Ray Davis 7 Yd pass from Devin Leary (Alex Raynor Kick)
9 plays, 65 yards, 4:46
0–7 UK
Kentucky Wildcats
TD 2:09
Devin Leary 13 Yd Run (Alex Raynor Kick)
9 plays, 63 yards, 4:58
0–14 UK
Second quarter
Missouri Tigers
TD 11:38
Marquis Johnson 39 Yd pass from Luke Bauer (Harrison Mevis Kick)
6 plays, 64 yards, 3:12
7–14 UK
Missouri Tigers
FG 4:44
Harrison Mevis 25 Yd Field Goal
13 plays, 56 yards, 4:55
10–14 UK
Missouri Tigers
TD 0:15
Theo Wease Jr. 18 Yd pass from Brady Cook (Harrison Mevis Kick)
8 plays, 61 yards, 1:25
17–14 MIZ
Third quarter
Missouri Tigers
FG 11:54
Harrison Mevis 31 Yd Field Goal
6 plays, 17 yards, 2:53
20–14 MIZ
Kentucky Wildcats
TD 3:39
Anthony Brown-Stephens 4 Yd pass from Devin Leary (Alex Raynor Kick)
7 plays, 71 yards, 3:31
20–21 UK
Fourth quarter
Missouri Tigers
TD 14:14
Brady Cook 1 Yd Run (Cody Schrader Run for Two-Point Conversion)
9 plays, 70 yards, 4:16
28–21 MIZ
Missouri Tigers
TD 11:07
Cody Schrader 19 Yd Run (Harrison Mevis Kick)
3 plays, 34 yards, 0:57
35–21 MIZ
Missouri Tigers
FG 3:17
Harrison Mevis 29 Yd Field Goal
4 plays, 4 yards, 0:58
38–21 MIZ
Statistics
MIZZ
UK
First downs
19
19
Total yards
324
299
Rushing yards
118
179
Passing yards
206
120
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
20–30–1
14–27–2
Time of possession
31:07
28:53
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Missouri
Passing
Brady Cook
19–29, 175 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Cody Schrader
20 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Theo Wease
6 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD
Kentucky
Passing
Devin Leary
14–27, 120 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Ray Davis
20 carries, 128 yards
Receiving
Justice Dingle
2 receptions, 32 yards
No. 21 Tennessee
Game Eight – No. 21 Tennessee Volunteers (5–2) at Kentucky Wildcats (4–2) – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 21 Tennessee
10
13
3 7 33
Kentucky
0
17
7 3 27
at Kroger Field , Lexington, Kentucky
Date : October 28, 2023Game time : 7:00 p.m. ESTGame attendance : 61,665TV announcers (ESPN) : TBD
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics
TENN
UK
First downs
24
24
Total yards
481
444
Rushing yards
254
72
Passing yards
227
372
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
17–20–0
28–39–0
Time of possession
26:56
33:04
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Tennessee
Passing
Joe Milton III
17/20, 227 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
Jaylen Wright
11 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Dont'e Thornton Jr.
3 receptions, 63 yards
Kentucky
Passing
Devin Leary
28/39, 372 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Ray Davis
16 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Dane Key
7 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD
at Mississippi State
Game Nine – Kentucky Wildcats (5–3) at Mississippi State Bulldogs (4–4) – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Kentucky
7
14
3 0 24
Mississippi State
0
3
0 0 3
at Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS
Date : Saturday, November 4, 2023Game time : TBD CSTGame weather : –Game attendance : 52,329Referee : –TV announcers (SECN) : TBD
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics
UK
MSST
First downs
13
15
Total yards
271
218
Rushing yards
110
73
Passing yards
161
145
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
15–25–0
17–35–1
Time of possession
30:38
29:22
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Kentucky
Passing
Devin Leary
13/22, 156 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Ray Davis
21 carries, 80 yards
Receiving
Tayvion Robinson
5 receptions, 91 yards
Mississippi State
Passing
Mike Wright
11/21, 78 yards, INT
Rushing
Seth Davis
4 carries, 24 yards
Receiving
Zavion Thomas
6 receptions, 44 yards
No. 8 Alabama
1
2 3 4 Total
• No. 8 Alabama
21
7 7 14
49
Kentucky
7
0 7 7
21
Date: November 11Location: Lexington, KY Game start: 12:08 p.m. Game attendance: 61,936Game weather: 49, Sunny, Wind NE @ 7 mphReferee: Ken WilliamsonTV announcers (ESPN): Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color), and Katie George (sideline)
Statistics
Alabama
Kentucky
First downs
23
11
Total yards
444
253
Rushing yards
159
95
Passing yards
285
158
Turnovers
2
2
Time of possession
32:06
27:54
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Alabama
Passing
Jalen Milroe
15/22, 234 yards, 3 TD’s, 1 INT
Rushing
Jase McClellan
9 carries, 43 yards
Receiving
Kobe Prentice
4 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD
Kentucky
Passing
Devin Leary
17/31, 158 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Ramon Jefferson
2 receptions, 73 yards
Receiving
Dane Key
4 receptions, 46 yards
at South Carolina
Game Eleven – Kentucky Wildcats at South Carolina Gamecocks – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Kentucky
0
7
7 0 14
South Carolina
10
0
0 7 17
at Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina
Date : Saturday, November 18, 2023Game time : 7:30 p.m. EST Game weather : –Game attendance : 77,788Referee : –TV announcers (SECN) : TBD
Game information
First quarter
(7:27) SC – Xavier Legette 13-yard pass from Spencer Rattler, Mitch Jeter kick (Drive: 11 plays, 69 yards, 5:11; South Carolina 7–0 )
(0:13) SC – Mitch Jeter 23-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 51 yards, 6:32; South Carolina 10–0 )
Second quarter
(10:52) UK – Barion Brown 7-yard pass from Devin Leary, Alex Raynor kick (Drive: 7 plays, 55 yards, 3:51; South Carolina 10–7 )
Third quarter
(8:42) UK – Ray Davis 31-yard run, Alex Raynor kick (Drive: 9 plays, 92 yards, 5:20; Kentucky 14–10 )
Fourth quarter
(7:44) SC – Xavier Legette 17-yard pass from Spencer Rattler, Mitch Jeter kick (Drive: 9 plays, 74 yards, 5:32; South Carolina 17–14 )
Statistics
UK
SC
First downs
17
17
Total yards
293
257
Rushing yards
122
50
Passing yards
171
207
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
17–34–1
19–27–0
Time of possession
28:21
31:39
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Kentucky
Passing
Devin Leary
17/34, 171 yards, TD, INT
Rushing
Ray Davis
12 carries, 61 yards, TD
Receiving
Dane Key
4 receptions, 51 yards
South Carolina
Passing
Spencer Rattler
19/27, 207 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Mario Anderson
13 carries, 27 yards
Receiving
Xavier Legette
6 receptions, 94 yards, 2 TD
at No. 10 Louisville
Kentucky Wildcats (6–5) at No. 10 Louisville Cardinals (10–1) – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Kentucky
0
7
14 17 38
No. 10 Louisville
7
3
14 7 31
at L&N Stadium • Louisville, Kentucky
Date : Game time : 12:00 p.m. EST TV : ABC
Statistics
UK
LOU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Kentucky
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Louisville
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
vs. No. 22 Clemson (Gator Bowl)
No. 22 Clemson Tigers vs. Kentucky Wildcats (2023 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl)
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 22 Clemson
3
7
0 28 38
Kentucky
7
7
7 14 35
at EverBank Stadium • Jacksonville, Florida
Date : Friday, December 29, 2023Game time : 12:00 p.m. EST Game weather : Sunny • Temperature : 51 °F (11 °C) • Wind : 10 mph (16 km/h) WGame attendance : 40,132Referee : John LoveTV announcers (ESPN ) : Wes Durham (play-by-play), Tim Hasselbeck (color), Taylor Tannebaum (sideline)Box score
Game information
First quarter
(11:16) Clemson – Johnathan Weitz 39 yard field goal, (Drive: 7 plays, 39 yards, 3:37; Clemson 3–0 )
(5:00) Kentucky – Barion Brown 22 yard rush, Alex Raynor kick, (Drive: 4 plays, 73 yards, 2:14; Kentucky 7–3 )
Second quarter
(10:17) Clemson – Phil Mafah 1 yard rush, Weitz kick, (Drive: 5 plays, 59 yards, 3:02; Clemson 10–7 )
(7:44) Kentucky – Dane Key 5 yard pass from Devin Leary , Raynor kick, (Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 2:33; Kentucky 14–10 )
Third quarter
(14:47) Kentucky – Brown 100 yard kick off return, Raynor kick, (Drive: 0 plays, 100 yards, 0:13; Kentucky 21–10 )
Fourth quarter
(14:56) Clemson – Mafah 1 yard rush, Troy Stellato pass from Cade Klubnik failed, (Drive: 14 plays, 70 yards, 6:35; Kentucky 21–16 )
(7:00) Clemson – Weitz 28 yard field goal, (Drive: 7 plays, 26 yards, 3:08; Kentucky 21–19 )
(6:45) Clemson – Mafah 1 yard rush, Tyler Brown pass from Klubnik, (Drive: 1 plays, 29 yards, 0:07; Clemson 27–21 )
(6:12) Kentucky – Brown 60 yard pass from Leary, Raynor kick, (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 0:33; Kentucky 28–27 )
(4:20) Clemson – Weitz 52 yard field goal, (Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 1:42; Clemson 30–28 )
(2:39) Kentucky – Ray Davis 1 yard rush, Raynor kick, (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:41; Kentucky 35–30 )
(0:17) Clemson – Mafah 3 yard rush, Josh Sapp pass from Klubnik, (Drive: 12 plays, 68 yards, 2:17; Clemson 38–35 )
Statistics
CLE
KEN
First downs
24
12
Plays–yards
80–367
51–398
Rushes–yards
39–103
23–92
Passing yards
264
306
Passing: comp–att–int
30–41–1
16–28–2
Time of possession
34:58
25:02
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Clemson
Passing
Cade Klubnik
30/41, 264 yards, 1 INT
Rushing
Phil Mafah
11 carries, 71 yards, 4 TDs
Receiving
Jake Briningstool
9 receptions, 91 yards
Kentucky
Passing
Devin Leary
16/28, 306 yds, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing
Ray Davis
13 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Barion Brown
3 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD
Rankings
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final AP RV RV RV RV RV 20 24 RV RV — — — — RV RV RV Coaches RV RV RV RV RV 20 23 RV RV RV RV — — — — — CFP Not released — — — — — — Not released
References
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
This page was last edited on 1 March 2024, at 00:46