In game that proved to be among the most exciting of bowl season, including 42 points in the 4th quarter alone, Clemson and Kentucky put on a show.

Along with all those points, the 4th quarter also had 5 turnovers and 5 lead changes. Phil Mafah had an incredible 4th quarter with 3 touchdowns to go with 75 yards on 10 carries as Clemson prevailed in the Gator Bowl over Kentucky, 38-35.

The 2023 Gator Bowl was defined by a wild sequence where there were 3 turnovers within 10 plays for Kentucky alone, but in the end, Barion Brown also stole the show. Clemson also saw more toughness from Cade Klubnik, who at one point limped off after an interception, and dealt with 6 sacks.

After Brown’s 3rd touchdown of the game in the 4th quarter, he had 226 all-purpose yards.

Brown is the 2nd UK player to score 3 TDs in a bowl game after Rod Stewart in the 1976 Peach Bowl.

There were some nervous moments down the stretch, but Big Blue Nation exhaled when Ray Davis walked it in for a go-ahead touchdown.

The Wildcats came into Friday on a high mark after a statement win, 38-31, over Louisville. Kentucky started its season 5-0, then dropped 5 of its last 7 games in the meat grinder of the SEC. But all of it culminated with Kentucky playing in its 8th consecutive bowl game, a school record.

The Tigers had a chance to end their worst season since 2010 with a 5-game winning streak and a victory against Kentucky (7-5) in the Gator Bowl. But big plays from Barrion Brown, and a sluggish performance from the Clemson offense threw a wrench in that plan.

The Tigers upset Notre Dame and knocked off Georgia Tech, North Carolina and rival South Carolina to put a defibrillator to a season that appeared to be a forgettable one for coach Dabo Swinney in 15 years at Clemson.

Here are our takeaways from the game:

Barion Brown takes kickoff to the house

Clemson gambled against one of the best kickoff return men around, and paid the price early in the 2nd half. Barion Brown returned the kick 100 yards for a touchdown to give the Cats an 11-point lead. After that play, Brown had 162 all-purpose yards to Clemson’s 150 as a team.

First half big plays

Both teams enjoyed big plays in the first half, as they each had 4 plays of at least 20 yards. Clemson had a nice pass plays from Jake Briningstool and Olsen Patt-Henry, while Phil Mafah rumbled for 18 yards.

UK, meanwhile, saw Ray Davis go for a 43-yard run, and Dane Key torch the Clemson defense on a 58-yard reception. Those helped UK have short scoring drives of 4 plays each before halftime.

Uneven start for Cade Klubnik

Clemson’s quarterback had an up and down game. He began 4-for-4, then was 2-for-5 on his next sequence of throws. At one point, Klubnik was 8-for-12, but only mustered 33 yards. He was under pressure for much of the game as UK had 5 sacks by early in the 3rd quarter.