Kentucky football’s Gator Bowl win over NC State is unlikely to change much about the way the Wildcats’ 2020 season is perceived.
A year that started with high hopes of contending for the SEC East title was still disappointing thanks to the self-inflicted mistakes in early season losses to Auburn, Ole Miss and Missouri. The embarrassment of the 60-point loss at Alabama was not erased. Firing offensive coordinator Eddie Gran in December was not enough to immediately fix a one-dimensional attack lacking a credible passing game.
But the Wildcats’ 23-21 win did offer something essential after an emotionally taxing season: A moment to celebrate.