2023 Kentucky Wildcats football team

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.

2023 Kentucky Wildcats football
Gator Bowl, L 35–38 vs. Clemson
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record7–6 (3–5 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorLiam Coen (2nd overall season)
Offensive schemeMultiple pro-style
Defensive coordinatorBrad White (5th season)
Base defense3–4 or 4–3
Home stadiumKroger Field
2023 Southeastern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
No. 4 Georgia xy  8 0   13 1  
No. 8 Missouri  6 2   11 2  
No. 17 Tennessee  4 4   9 4  
Kentucky  3 5   7 6  
Florida  3 5   5 7  
South Carolina  3 5   5 7  
Vanderbilt  0 8   2 10  
West Division
No. 5 Alabama xy$^  8 0   12 2  
No. 9 Ole Miss  6 2   11 2  
No. 12 LSU  6 2   10 3  
Texas A&M  4 4   7 6  
Auburn  3 5   6 7  
Mississippi State  1 7   5 7  
Arkansas  1 7   4 8  
Championship: Alabama 27, Georgia 24
  • ^ College Football Playoff participant
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

This was the final year for the SEC's East–West divisional setup, as Texas and Oklahoma joined the conference in 2024.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 212:00 p.m.Ball State*SECNW 44–1458,286
September 93:00 p.m.Eastern Kentucky*
  • Kroger Field
  • Lexington, KY
SECN+, ESPN+W 28–1761,876
September 167:30 p.m.Akron*
  • Kroger Field
  • Lexington, KY
ESPNUW 35–359,456
September 2312:00 p.m.at VanderbiltSECNW 45–2826,279
September 3012:00 p.m.No. 22 Florida
ESPNW 33–1461,699
October 77:00 p.m.at No. 1 GeorgiaNo. 20ESPNL 13–5192,746
October 147:30 p.m.MissouriNo. 24
  • Kroger Field
  • Lexington, KY
SECNL 21–3861,654
October 287:00 p.m.No. 21 Tennessee
  • Kroger Field
  • Lexington, KY (rivalry)
ESPNL 27–3361,665
November 47:30 p.m.at Mississippi StateSECNW 24–352,329
November 1112:00 p.m.No. 8 Alabama
  • Kroger Field
  • Lexington, KY (SEC Nation)
ESPNL 21–4961,936
November 187:30 p.m.at South CarolinaSECNL 14–1777,788
November 2512:00 p.m.at No. 10 Louisville*ABCW 38–3159,225
December 2912:00 p.m.vs. No. 22 Clemson*ESPNL 35–3840,132

[1][2][3]

Coaching staff

Name Position Years at Kentucky
Mark StoopsHead coach11th
Vince MarrowAssociate head coach/tight ends coach11th
Liam CoenOffensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach2nd
Brad WhiteDefensive coordinator/outside linebackers coach5th
Jay BoulwareRunning backs coach1st
Mike StoopsInside linebackers coach2nd
Frank BuffanoSafeties coach4th
Chris CollinsDefensive backs coach3rd
Zach YenserOffensive line coach2nd
Scott WoodwardWide receivers coach3rd
Anwar StewartDefensive line coach4th
Mark HillStrength and conditioning8th
Reference:

Game summaries

Ball State

Game One – Ball State Cardinals (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Ball State 7 0 7014
Kentucky 3 20 14744

at Kroger FieldLexington, KY

  • Date: Saturday, September 2, 2023
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: 58,286
  • TV: 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)
StatisticsBALLUK
First downs1817
Total yards71–29551–354
Rushing yards41–7220–113
Passing yards223241
Passing: Comp–Att–Int22–30–018–31–1
Time of possession38:1621:44
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Ball StatePassingKadin Semonza15/21, 165 yards, TD
RushingMarquez Cooper15 carries, 33 yards
ReceivingTy Robinson5 receptions, 90 yards, TD
KentuckyPassingDevin Leary18/31, 241 yards, TD, INT
RushingRay Davis14 carries, 112 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingDane Key5 receptions, 96 yards, TD

Eastern Kentucky

Akron

at Vanderbilt

No. 22 Florida

Pregame line[4]Over/under
Kentucky −1.543.5
Game Five – No. 22 Florida Gators (3–1) at Kentucky Wildcats (4–0) – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 22 Florida 0 7 7014
Kentucky 16 7 7333

at Kroger FieldLexington, Kentucky

  • Date: September 30
  • Game 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: sunny
  • Game attendance: 61,699
  • Referee: Matt Loeffler
  • TV 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 downs1523
Plays–yards59–31356–398
Rushes–yards29–6936–329
Passing yards24469
Passing: comp–att–int25–30–19–20–0
Time of possession31:1428:46
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Florida PassingGraham Mertz25/30, 244 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
RushingMontrell Johnson Jr.10 carries, 42 yards
ReceivingRicky Pearsall3 receptions, 62 yards, 1 TD
Kentucky PassingDevin Leary9/20, 69 yards, 1 TD
RushingRay Davis26 carries, 280 yards, 3 TD
ReceivingBarion Brown4 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 34Total
No. 20 Kentucky 0 7 6013
No. 1 Georgia 14 20 10751

at Sanford StadiumAthens, 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)
StatisticsUKUGA
First downs1233
Total yards50–18373–608
Rushing yards24–5531–173
Passing yards128435
Passing: Comp–Att–Int10–26–033–42–1
Time of possession22:3237:28
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassingDevin Leary10/26, 128 yards, 2 TD
RushingRay Davis15 carries, 59 yards
ReceivingDane Key3 receptions, 65 yards
GeorgiaPassingCarson Beck28/35, 389 yards, 4 TD, INT
RushingDaijun Edwards9 carries, 54 yards
ReceivingBrock Bowers7 receptions, 132 yards, TD

Missouri

Game Seven – Missouri Tigers (5–1) at No. 24 Kentucky Wildcats (5–1) – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Missouri 0 17 31838
No. 24 Kentucky 14 0 7021

at Kroger FieldLexington, Kentucky

  • Date: Saturday, October 14, 2023
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: –
  • Game attendance: 61,654
  • TV 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

StatisticsMIZZUK
First downs1919
Total yards324299
Rushing yards118179
Passing yards206120
Passing: Comp–Att–Int20–30–114–27–2
Time of possession31:0728:53
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MissouriPassingBrady Cook19–29, 175 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingCody Schrader20 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingTheo Wease6 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD
KentuckyPassingDevin Leary14–27, 120 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingRay Davis20 carries, 128 yards
ReceivingJustice Dingle2 receptions, 32 yards

No. 21 Tennessee

Game Eight – No. 21 Tennessee Volunteers (5–2) at Kentucky Wildcats (4–2) – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 21 Tennessee 10 13 3733
Kentucky 0 17 7327

at Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: October 28, 2023
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 61,665
  • TV announcers (ESPN): TBD
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsTENNUK
First downs2424
Total yards481444
Rushing yards25472
Passing yards227372
Passing: Comp–Att–Int17–20–028–39–0
Time of possession26:5633:04
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
TennesseePassingJoe Milton III17/20, 227 yards, 1 TD
RushingJaylen Wright11 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingDont'e Thornton Jr.3 receptions, 63 yards
KentuckyPassingDevin Leary28/39, 372 yards, 2 TD
RushingRay Davis16 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingDane Key7 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 34Total
Kentucky 7 14 3024
Mississippi State 0 3 003

at Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS

  • Date: Saturday, November 4, 2023
  • Game time: TBD CST
  • Game weather: –
  • Game attendance: 52,329
  • Referee: –
  • TV announcers (SECN): TBD
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsUKMSST
First downs1315
Total yards271218
Rushing yards11073
Passing yards161145
Passing: Comp–Att–Int15–25–017–35–1
Time of possession30:3829:22
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassingDevin Leary13/22, 156 yards, 2 TD
RushingRay Davis21 carries, 80 yards
ReceivingTayvion Robinson5 receptions, 91 yards
Mississippi StatePassingMike Wright11/21, 78 yards, INT
RushingSeth Davis4 carries, 24 yards
ReceivingZavion Thomas6 receptions, 44 yards

No. 8 Alabama

1 234Total
No. 8 Alabama 21 7714 49
Kentucky 7 077 21
  • Date: November 11
  • Location: Lexington, KY
  • Game start: 12:08 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 61,936
  • Game weather: 49, Sunny, Wind NE @ 7 mph
  • Referee: Ken Williamson
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color), and Katie George (sideline)
  • Sources:
StatisticsAlabamaKentucky
First downs2311
Total yards444253
Rushing yards15995
Passing yards285158
Turnovers22
Time of possession32:0627:54
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
AlabamaPassingJalen Milroe15/22, 234 yards, 3 TD’s, 1 INT
RushingJase McClellan9 carries, 43 yards
ReceivingKobe Prentice4 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD
KentuckyPassingDevin Leary17/31, 158 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingRamon Jefferson2 receptions, 73 yards
ReceivingDane Key4 receptions, 46 yards

at South Carolina

Game Eleven – Kentucky Wildcats at South Carolina Gamecocks – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Kentucky 0 7 7014
South Carolina 10 0 0717

at Williams-Brice StadiumColumbia, South Carolina

  • Date: Saturday, November 18, 2023
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: –
  • Game attendance: 77,788
  • Referee: –
  • 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)
StatisticsUKSC
First downs1717
Total yards293257
Rushing yards12250
Passing yards171207
Passing: Comp–Att–Int17–34–119–27–0
Time of possession28:2131:39
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassingDevin Leary17/34, 171 yards, TD, INT
RushingRay Davis12 carries, 61 yards, TD
ReceivingDane Key4 receptions, 51 yards
South CarolinaPassingSpencer Rattler19/27, 207 yards, 2 TD
RushingMario Anderson13 carries, 27 yards
ReceivingXavier Legette6 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 34Total
Kentucky 0 7 141738
No. 10 Louisville 7 3 14731

at L&N StadiumLouisville, Kentucky

  • Date: November 25
  • 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
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
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 34Total
No. 22 Clemson 3 7 02838
Kentucky 7 7 71435

at EverBank StadiumJacksonville, Florida

  • Date: Friday, December 29, 2023
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 51 °F (11 °C) • Wind: 10 mph (16 km/h) W
  • Game attendance: 40,132
  • Referee: John Love
  • TV 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 downs2412
Plays–yards80–36751–398
Rushes–yards39–10323–92
Passing yards264306
Passing: comp–att–int30–41–116–28–2
Time of possession34:5825:02
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Clemson PassingCade Klubnik30/41, 264 yards, 1 INT
RushingPhil Mafah11 carries, 71 yards, 4 TDs
ReceivingJake Briningstool9 receptions, 91 yards
Kentucky PassingDevin Leary16/28, 306 yds, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
RushingRay Davis13 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingBarion Brown3 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
APRVRVRVRVRV2024RVRVRVRVRV
CoachesRVRVRVRVRV2023RVRVRVRV
CFPNot releasedNot released

References

  1. "Kentucky Wildcats Schedule 2023". ESPN. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  2. "2023 Kentucky Wildcats Schedule and Results". College Football @ Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  3. "2023 Football Schedule". University of Kentucky. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  4. Kentucky betting
  5. Kentucky pregame
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