Kentucky’s played in 20 football bowl games. Who’s it beaten, and where?

The University of Kentucky football team after finishing 9-3 in the regular season will play in its 21st postseason bowl game.

The Wildcats are 11-9 all-time in bowl games following their 27-23 win over North Carolina State in the Gator Bowl last year.

Here’s a look at each of UK’s previous bowl-game appearances, in reverse chronological order.

Bowls under Mark Stoops

Gator Bowl (Jan. 2, 2021; Jacksonville, Fla.): The Wildcats won their third straight postseason game after holding off N.C. State, 23-21, in their second Gator Bowl appearance under Stoops. Played in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the first time Kentucky played in a bowl with a sub-.500 record; they finished the year 5-6 overall.

Belk Bowl (Dec. 31, 2019; Charlotte, N.C.): Lynn Bowden, a wide receiver-turned-quarterback who barely threw the ball in eight games as the Wildcats’ starter, threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Josh Ali with 15 seconds left to give UK consecutive bowl wins for the first time since 2007-08. The final score was 37-30 after Jordan Wright returned a fumble for a touchdown to end the game.

Citrus Bowl (Jan. 1, 2019; Orlando, Fla.): Kentucky defeated Penn State, 27-24, to complete a 10-3 campaign, its best season since 1977. Defensive standout Josh Allen three months later was selected with the No. 7 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Music City Bowl (Dec. 29, 2017; Nashville, Tenn.): Star UK running back Benny Snell was ejected early in the second quarter of what finished as a 24-23 decision in favor of Northwestern.

Gator Bowl (Dec. 31, 2016; Jacksonville, Fla.): Georgia Tech jumped out to a 10-0 first-quarter lead and won 33-18 to spoil UK’s first bowl trip under Mark Stoops.

2000s

BBVA Compass Bowl (Jan. 8, 2011; Birmingham, Ala.): Pittsburgh defeated UK, 27-10, in the only bowl game that UK reached under head coach Joker Phillips. The Wildcats ended the year 6-7, their only bowl season before 2020 that ended with a sub-.500 record.

Music City Bowl (Dec. 27, 2009; Nashville, Tenn.): Clemson defeated UK, 21-13, in Rich Brooks’ final game as head coach of the Wildcats. They finished 7-6.

Liberty Bowl (Jan. 2, 2009; Memphis, Tenn.): UK came out ahead, 25-19, over East Carolina despite missing Randall Cobb, its all-around star who injured his knee in the regular-season finale. The Wildcats recovered from a 16-3 halftime deficit to finish their year 7-6.

Music City Bowl (Dec. 31, 2007; Nashville, Tenn.): Thirty-six Florida State players were suspended before the game due to an academic scandal, helping UK come out ahead 35-28 and lifting it to another 8-5 season.

Music City Bowl (Dec. 29, 2006; Nashville, Tenn.): The Music City Bowl had its first sellout in history as 68,024 fans packed LP Field. They saw UK win a 28-20 battle against Clemson and finish its season 8-5.

1990s

Music City Bowl (Dec. 29, 1999; Nashville, Tenn.): UK lost All-America tight end James Whalen to a dislocated elbow in the first quarter and eventually the game, 20-13, to Syracuse. UK was 6-6 overall.

Outback Bowl (Jan. 1, 1999; Tampa, Fla.): The Wildcats’ most-recent New Year’s Day Bowl didn’t go as well as their first two in the ‘50s; UK led 14-3 after one quarter of play but ultimately fell 26-14 to Penn State, and finished 7-5.

Peach Bowl (Dec. 31, 1993; Atlanta, Ga.): Marty Moore’s interception in the waning minutes might have won it for UK had it not been knocked loose and recovered by Clemson, which subsequently scored and came out ahead in a 14-13 decision. UK’s year ended at 6-6.

Pre-1990

Hall of Fame Bowl (Dec. 29, 1984; Birmingham, Ala.): UK’s return trip to Birmingham went much better thanks to the leg of true freshman Joey Worley, whose 52-yard field goal with 8:55 left made the difference in a 20-19 win over Wisconsin. UK finished 9-3.

Hall of Fame Bowl (Dec. 22, 1983; Birmingham, Ala.): West Virginia scored 17 second-half points to hand a 20-16 defeat to UK, ending its season at 6-5-1.

Peach Bowl: (Dec. 31, 1976; Atlanta, Ga.): Kentucky beat North Carolina, 21-0, in its first bowl trip in 24 years to finish 9-3. UK held UNC to 108 yards of total offense and Rod Stewart scored all three touchdowns for the Cats in the second half.

Cotton Bowl (Jan. 1, 1952; Dallas, Texas): Ed Hamilton scored on a 3-yard run to put the cherry on a 20-7 UK win over Texas Christian University. Babe Parilli threw two first-half touchdown passes in his final game with the Wildcats, who finished 8-4.

Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1, 1951; New Orleans, La.): UK snapped Oklahoma’s 31-game winning streak with a 13-7 victory and ended its season at 11-1. Wilbur Jamerson scored both touchdowns, a 14-yard pass from Babe Parilli and a 1-yard run, in the Wildcats’ sole appearance in the SEC’s premier bowl game.

Orange Bowl (Jan. 2, 1950; Miami, Fla.): Santa Clara defeated UK, 21-13, thanks to two third-quarter touchdowns and the Wildcats finished 9-3. The Broncos, now an NCAA Division II program, won the 1937 and 1938 Sugar Bowls as well.

Great Lakes Bowl (Dec. 6, 1947; Cleveland, Ohio): Kentucky defeated Villanova, 24-14, in its bowl debut to finish 8-3. Paul “Bear” Bryant was in his second year as head coach. Bill Boller scored two touchdowns — a 15-yard run and a 49-yard interception return.

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