Kentucky had a trying 2020 season. But despite a 4-6 record, the Wildcats have a chance to finish the season with a statement in the Gator Bowl against No. 24 North Carolina State. The Wolfpack finished an 8-3 campaign with a 4-game winning streak, including a win over G5 darling Liberty. Here’s a deeper dive into the Wildcats’ Gator Bowl opponent.

1. The passer to know

Bailey Hockman is the name to know. The Florida State transfer is the Wolfpack’s starting QB and has had an up-and-down season. Hockman began the season as the starter, lost the job to Devin Leary in Week 3, and then regained it after an injury sidelined Leary. But in State’s 4-game winning streak to end the season, the lefty passed for 1,041 yards and 7 touchdowns against 3 interceptions. Hockman isn’t a particularly significant running threat, but he did catch a 31-yard TD pass in State’s close loss to Miami.

2. N.C. State’s staff contains a familiar face and an almost familiar face

State running back coach Kurt Roper was Kentucky’s QB coach in 2005, when Andre’ Woodson was developing in Lexington. Meanwhile, State offensive coordinator Tim Beck was considered for Kentucky’s offensive coordinator position on multiple occasions. Like Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops and tight ends coach Vince Marrow, Beck is a Youngstown, Ohio product, and rumors of him as a UK candidate have surfaced multiple times, including a few weeks back before UK hired Liam Coen as the new OC.

3. Linebacker showdown

Assuming everybody plays, this game will be a matchup of 2 of the best under-the-radar linebackers in college football. State’s Payton Wilson led the ACC in tackles with 108 stops, despite missing a game. Wilson had double-digit tackles 7 times in 2020, and he never recorded fewer than 7 in any game he played. He also had 3.5 sacks, 6 hurries and a pair of interceptions. Meanwhile, Kentucky’s Jamin Davis was 6th in the SEC with 89 tackles despite missing 2 games. Davis also had 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions (including a pick-6 against Tennessee), a sack, a pair of passes broken up, a forced fumble and a blocked kick..

4. Bowl history

UK is 0-1 all-time in this bowl. It was billed as the TaxSlayer Bowl on Dec. 31, 2016, when UK lost to Georgia Tech 33-18 in the Wildcats’ 1st bowl appearance in 6 seasons. State has been to the Gator Bowl 4 times, with a 1-3 mark in the game. Their lone Gator Bowl win came in 2003 over No. 11 Notre Dame by a 28-6 margin. The Wolfpack had Philip Rivers at QB in those days. State’s last Gator Bowl appearance came in 2018, when they were thumped by Texas A&M 52-13.

5. UK-N.C. State history

This will be the 3rd matchup ever between the teams. State (then North Carolina A&T) beat UK 15-6 in Raleigh back in 1909. The more recent matchup was a 27-2 Kentucky win on Halloween 1970, a few years before UK moved to their current home of Kroger Field (of course, formerly known as Commonwealth Stadium).