Clemson reportedly leads Kentucky in the Gator Bowl.

Clemson is accustomed to playing on big stages, but falling short of double-digit victories for the first time since 2010 has ramifications. The Tigers weren’t in the College Football Playoff mix nor were they a candidate for one of the major bowls, yet they do get the opportunity to finish the season with a fifth consecutive victory when they battle Kentucky in the Gator Bowl on Friday in Jacksonville, Fl.

Clemson (8-4) was sitting at .500 before a 31-23 home win over Notre Dame became the first of four straight November triumphs to save a seemingly lost season.

“To be 4-4, everybody had a decision to make,” Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said. “Our team chose to believe that it was still half-full and kept a great attitude and just kept finding a way. … “They’ve done a great job. They’ve won four in a row, they went from 4-4 to the Gator Bowl and this is a great opportunity to finish our season on a really positive note.” The bowl game will be the 50th in program history — Clemson is 26-23 — and the 10th time that the Tigers have played in the Gator Bowl. Clemson is 4-5 in the Gator Bowl.

Kentucky (7-5) has taken the opposite path to northeast Florida. The Wildcats started 5-0 and then dropped five of six games before posting a solid victory over then-No. 10 Louisville. That Nov. 25 win over their in-state rivals lifted the Wildcats into the Gator Bowl for the third time. They split the first two trips. Overall, Kentucky is 12-10 in bowl games. “There’s been some ups and downs through this season,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. “I like this football team. They’ve stayed with it all year. Things haven’t always been pretty … but I like the way they fought and hung tough.”

Wildcats star running back Ray Davis declared for the NFL draft and later indicated on social media that he will play in the Gator Bowl. Davis has set a school record with 20 total touchdowns (13 rushing, seven receiving) and his 1,066 rushing yards rank 13th on the school’s single-season list. “I’ve been really pleased with him making that decision to come (play) when he doesn’t really have to,” Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen said. “It gives us another playmaker to get the ball in his hands and go win this football game.”

Florida’s Trevor Etienne Announces Transfer to Georgia

Trevor Etienne, a Florida running back, announced his transfer to Georgia on Sunday.

After a 12-1 season, the top-ranked running back in the transfer portal this summer will join the Bulldogs. This season, the Gators finished 5-7 and did not qualify for a bowl game. On Saturday, Georgia will face Florida State in the Orange Bowl.

Etienne led the Gators with eight rushing touchdowns in 2023 and ranked second on the team with 753 rushing yards. He also recorded 21 receptions for 172 yards with one touchdown catch this season. The tailback played two seasons for the Gators before entering the transfer portal.

Etienne’s decision to transfer was difficult for the Gators community to digest. Etienne’s mother even posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, to publicly defend her son’s decision.

Etienne’s brother, Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, played for Clemson from 2017 through ’20. He was a two-time ACC Player of the Year.

Clemson reportedly leads Kentucky in the Gator Bowl.

Clemson is accustomed to playing on big stages, but falling short of double-digit victories for the first time since 2010 has ramifications. The Tigers weren’t in the College Football Playoff mix nor were they a candidate for one of the major bowls, yet they do get the opportunity to finish the season with a fifth consecutive victory when they battle Kentucky in the Gator Bowl on Friday in Jacksonvi