Kentucky
23–21
vs
NC State
Jan. 2, 2021 · TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville
Game Summary
Kentucky defeated NC State 23–21 on Jan. 2, 2021. Kentucky led 13–0 at halftime. NC State outscored Kentucky 21–10 after the break. Kentucky’s listed leaders were passing: Terry Wilson — 99 yards; rushing: Asim Rose — 148 yards.
Box Score
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 3 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 23 |
| NC State | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
Halftime score · Kentucky 13, NC State 0
TV: ESPN
Announcers: Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst), Lericia Harris (sideline)
Referee: Reggie Smith
Attendance: 10,422
Stadium: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville
Uniform combination: Chrome (blue accents) / Blue / Blue
References: 2020 broadcast and officiating record · Official UK Athletics game box score · 2020 Kentucky football schedule
| Team Statistics | Kentucky | NC State |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 19 | 19 |
| Total Offense — Yards | 380 | 318 |
| Rushing Yards | 281 | 50 |
| Passing Yards | 99 | 268 |
| Time of Possession | 34:07 | 25:53 |
Scoring Summary
View the scoring summary in the official game box score
Individual Leaders
| Category | Kentucky | NC State |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | Terry Wilson — 99 yards | Bailey Hockman — 268 yards |
| Rushing | Asim Rose — 148 yards | Zonovan Knight — 52 yards |
| Receiving | Keaton Upshaw — 25 yards | Thayer Thomas — 46 yards |
Full official box score and individual statistics
Bowl Statistical Detail
| Statistic | NCST | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Rush Att./Net Rush | 26/50 | 48/281 |
| Offensive Plays | 66 | 68 |
| Total Offense | 318 | 380 |
| Fumbles/Lost | 2/0 | 1/0 |
| Penalties/Yards | 7/45 | 10/103 |
| Punts/Average | 3/47.0 | 5/40.4 |
| Third-Down Conv. | 5 of 12 | 3 of 13 |
Scoring Plays
| Quarter | Time | Scoring Play |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 06:00 | UK – Matt Ruffolo 25 yd field goal, 16-68 9:00 0 – 3 |
| 2nd | 06:23 | UK – Chris Rodriguez 4 yd run (Matt Ruffolo kick), 6-79 2:39 0 – 10 |
| 2nd | 00:02 | UK – Matt Ruffolo 26 yd field goal, 7-69 1:21 0 – 13 |
| 3rd | 02:56 | ST – Riley, C.J. 9 yd pass from Hockman, B. (Dunn, C. kick), 13-76 6:12 7 – 13 |
| 4th | 05:45 | UK – Matt Ruffolo 20 yd field goal, 7-40 3:09 7 – 16 |
| 4th | 04:46 | ST – Knight, Z. 13 yd run (Dunn, C. kick), 3-37 0:54 14 – 16 |
| 4th | 02:55 | UK – Chris Rodriguez 26 yd run (Matt Ruffolo kick), 1-26 0:07 14 – 23 |
| 4th | 01:10 | ST – Houston, J. 2 yd run (Dunn, C. kick), 7-65 1:41 21 – 23 |
Rushing (Att.-Yd.-TD)
| Team | Selected Individual Statistics |
|---|---|
| NC State | Knight 12-52-1, Houston 5-14-1, Person 6-8, Hockman 3-(-24) |
| Kentucky | Rose 12-148, Rodriguez 17-84-2, Smoke 9-45, Wilson 6-14 |
Passing (COMP-ATT-INT-YARDS-TD)
| Team | Selected Individual Statistics |
|---|---|
| NC State | Hockman 27-40-3-268-1 |
| Kentucky | Wilson 12-20-0-99-0 |
Receiving (REC-YARDS)
| Team | Selected Individual Statistics |
|---|---|
| NC State | Emezie 5-44, Houston 5-26, Thomas 3-46, Riley 3-38, Carter 3-35, Rooks 2-41, Lesane 2-25, Pennix 2-6, Person 1-5, Autenrieth 1-2 |
| Kentucky | Ali 4-18, Epps 3-23, Upshaw 2-25, Dailey 1-17, Oliver 1-8, Rigg 1-8 |
Tackles
| Team | Selected Individual Statistics |
|---|---|
| NC State | Duffy 13, Harris 11, Moore 9, Scott 7 |
| Kentucky | Davis 13, Ajian 7, Echols 7, Valentine 6 |
Bowl statistics compiled from the 2026 Kentucky Football Record Book; existing official game-book statistics are retained.