Kentucky and Clemson... A Bowl Season Rivalry Game
If Kentucky had a bowl season rival, it would be Clemson. The Wildcats drew the Tigers as a bowl opponent for a fourth time this season, rekindling an old Nashville rivalry from the Rich Brooks era and one bad memory from Kentucky Football’s dark past.
Going all the way back to Kentucky’s first bowl game in 1947, no other team has played more bowl games against the Wildcats than that orange team in South Carolina. Yet, younger Kentucky fans may not even know Marty Moore or DeMoreo Ford, two names of significance in this bitter rivalry. So, let’s tap into the matchup with a brief history lesson in the rivalry as this year’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl gets closer.
1993: Peach Bowl
Clemson 14, Kentucky 13
New Year’s Eve ’93 gave the Big Blue Nation one of its most painful Kentucky Football memories. Kentucky played Clemson in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, the school’s first bowl game in nearly a decade. The Wildcats were a slight underdog in the desert but led the No. 23-ranked Tigers 13-7, with time ticking away in the fourth quarter.
Then, one of those “only Kentucky” moments. Kentucky linebacker Marty Moore intercepted a Clemson pass at the goal line with under a minute to play, only to fumble the return back over to the Clemson offense on the same play. Had Moore given himself up after the interception, Kentucky would have taken over and kneeled to end the game. But Moore ran with his takeaway, then fumbled at the 21-yard-line, recovered by Clemson. Twenty seconds later, Clemson quarterback Patrick Sapp threw a game-winning, 21-yard touchdown pass, and one of UK’s most unforgettable bloopers was born.
Some respect on Marty Moore’s name: the UK Athletics of Famer was a First Team All-SEC selection, a Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, and still ranks fourth all-time on Kentucky’s career tackles list. His 183 tackles in 1991 remain the most in one season for a Wildcat.
Still, that fumble.
2006: Music City Bowl
Clemson 21, Kentucky 13
In 2006, Rich Brooks coached Kentucky to the school’s first bowl appearance in seven years and the first of five straight from 2006-10. The Wildcats drew eight-win Clemson in the 2006 Music City Bowl, setting up a revenge game for the 1993 thriller.
The Tigers were a 10-point favorite at kickoff, but the Wildcats proved to be the better team in the rematch, winning 28-20 to finish 8-5 on the year. It was the first eight-win season for Kentucky since the 1984 team won nine.
Unlikely Music City Bowl heroes were defensive end Micah Johnson and backup wide receiver DeMoreo Ford, who had first-half touchdowns for the Wildcats. Johnson scored on a one-yard run for the offense before Ford’s 70-yard reception wrote its place in UK’s bowl history.
In the second half, Andre Woodson found Dicky Lyons Jr. and Jacob Tamme for TD passes to seal the win. Woodson was named MVP for throwing for 299 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover.
2009: Music City Bowl
Kentucky 28, Clemson 20
The Music City Bowl loved Kentucky and Clemson so much in 2006 that it invited both teams back for a Music City rematch in 2009. This time around, Clemson had just lost in the ACC Championship and expected to play in a better bowl, while Kentucky was in Nashville for a third time in four seasons, yet still excited to be bowling.
Woodson and other greats from Brooks’ early bowl teams were gone, but Brooks had one more bowl in him before retirement. Unfortunately, Clemson had a young running back named CJ Spiller, who amassed 172 all-purpose yards and a touchdown against Kentucky’s defense, taking MVP honors in Clemson’s 21-13 win.
Morgan Newton threw to Chris Matthews for UK’s only touchdown in the game. Randall Cobb ran 10 times, completed two passes, and caught two passes in the loss.
OTHER KENTUCKY-CLEMSON MEETINGS
Clemson leads the bowl series 2-1, but Kentucky owns the overall at 8-5. Shout-out to the 1920s and 30s.
| Season | Result | Location |
| 1985 | Kentucky 26, Clemson 7 | Lexington, KY |
| 1982 | Clemson 24, Kentucky 6 | Clemson, SC |
| 1981 | Clemson 21, Kentucky 3 | Lexington, KY |
| 1971 | Kentucky 13, Clemson 10 | Clemson, SC |
| 1952 | Kentucky 27, Clemson 14 | Lexington, KY |
| 1938 | Clemson 14, Kentucky 0 | Lexington, KY |
| 1936 | Kentucky 7, Clemson 6 | Lexington, KY |
| 1934 | Kentucky 7, Clemson 0 | Lexington, KY |
| 1929 | Kentucky 44, Clemson 6 | Lexington, KY |
| 1925 | Kentucky 19, Clemson 6 | Lexington, KY |
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