Kentucky 20, Iowa 17, final: Get the 2021 Citrus Bowl live football updates and scores

The Kentucky Wildcats football team will cap off its season four weeks after its final game of the regular season against Louisville.

The No. 22 Wildcats (9-3, 5-3) face No. 15 Iowa (10-3, 7-3) in the Citrus Bowl at 1 p.m. Saturday. This will be UK’s sixth consecutive bowl game and their second Citrus Bowl appearance in four years.

Since the matchup was announced, much attention has been paid to UK coach Mark Stoops’ ties to the Iowa program, beat writer Jon Hale wrote. Stoops played at Iowa from 1986 to 1989, following his brothers Bob and Mike in wearing the Hawkeyes’ uniform.

Citrus Bowl: Kentucky to face coach Mark Stoops’ alma mater – Iowa football – in Citrus Bowl 2021

“My father has my game jersey from the Hawkeyes very neatly folded and placed in his casket where he’s buried with the black and gold,” Stoops said after the matchup was confirmed. “It definitely will mean something to me. Different than anybody else I’ve played, that’s for sure.”

Kentucky vs. Iowa football: Kentucky vs. Iowa football: What you need to know before picking the Citrus Bowl winner

4:18 p.m. – DeAndre Square saves the game with interception

This has been one for the books!

Iowa quarterback Petras was rushed on the throw and Square made a diving interception to seal the win for the Wildcats.

4:14 p.m. – Robinson’s catch sets up game-changing TD

And just like that, UK has found life again and has taken the lead.

Wan’Dale Robinson sets up touchdown with amazing 52-yard catch and run to the Iowa 1-yard line.

A false start on the offense backed the Wildcats up to th 6-yard line, but it didn’t slow down Chris Rodriguez, who broke one tackle behind the line of scrimmage before pushing his way into the end zone to take the lead.

Story continues

3:58 p.m. – Levis throws interception on critical fourth down

With less than five minutes left in regulation and the Wildcats down 17-13, UK found itself trying to make something happen on fourth and 10 from the Iowa 46.

Levis looked to throw from the shotgun formation, then targeted DeMarcus Harris near the right sideline but was intercepted by Iowa’s Jermari Harris.

3:34 p.m. – Iowa scores again, takes the lead 17-13

The Hawkeyes have scored 14 unanswered points in the second half and has taken the lead for the first time today.

This drive totaled 92 yards on just nine plays. Iowa scored on a 36-yard pass to Sam LaPorta as he bursts through three Wildcats for the TD.

Petras has amassed 182 passing yards so far in this game with one TD and 2 interceptions. LaPorta has 98 receiving yards and a score.

3:12 p.m.- Iowa scores its first touchdown, 13-10

Iowa sees signs of life on its next possession after getting virtually nowhere most of the game.

The Hawkeyes traveled 50 yards over six plays, capped off by a Arland Bruce IV touchdown run for 20 yards.

Iowa closes the gap to 3 points after the score.

3:01 p.m.- Wildcats force turnover on downs

UK has come out in the second half with the same defensive energy from the first.

On Iowa’s opening drive, the Hawkeyes penetrated into the red zone for the first time all game and decided to go for it on fourth and one from UK’s 11-yard line.

QB Spencer Petras’ keeper was for no gain and the Wildcats took over possession.

2:23 p.m. – Kentucky 13, Iowa 3, halftime

UK put together an impressive defensive showing just before halftime, with Quandre Mosely intercepting an Iowa Hail Mary attempt in the end zone.

Will Levis is 9 for 11 for 91 yards and a touchdown in the first half.

Chris Rodriguez has 56 yards on 10 carries. Wan’Dale Robinson has 61 yards on four catches in the half.

The defense has allowed just 126 total yards with 82 of those through the air.

2:16 p.m.- Wildcats convert another field goal, 13-3

UK took advantage of the interception and stretched their lead to two possession before the half.

The Wildcats traveled 22 yards on five plays before Matt Ruffolo made a 27-yard kick.

2:08 p.m. – D’Eryk Jackson gets interception for UK

On Iowa’s second play of its next possession, Jordan Wright got his hand on the ball for a deflection, and Jackson dove for the interception. The Cats take over at the Iowa 31.

Jackson was initially expected to miss the entire season an an Achilles’ injury, but has come up big for the Wildcats just before halftime.

2:02 p.m.- Kentucky settles for field goal after long play, 10-3

The Wildcats were able to convert a long third and 26 into a first down when Wan’Dale Robinson put UK in great field position at the Iowa 20 after a 34-yard catch from Levis.

UK wasn’t able to turn that into a touchdown, though, as it found itself tuck at the 3-yard line after an unsuccessful Levis keeper and opted to kick the field goal.

1:48 p.m.- Iowa scores on field goal, 7-3

Iowa got a bit of momentum going, traveling 55 yards in 10 plays before the Wildcats put a top to its progress in the red zone.

Hawkeyes QB Spencer Petras is now 7 for 10 passing in the game for 58 yards, but wasn’t able to get his team into the end zone. Iowa instead settled for a 28-yard field goal by Caleb Shudak.

Th Hawkeyes are 0-for-3 on third downs.

1:20 p.m.- Levis to Rodriguez gets UK on board first, 7-0

The Wildcats are off to a strong start.

After forcing a three and out on Iowa’s opening drive, UK stormed down the field in 13 plays covering 8 yards before a Will Levis pass to RB Chris Rodriguez resulted in a touchdown on the left side of the end zone.

Levis is a perfect 6 for 6 passing to start the game and Rodriguez has 28 rushing yards on the first drive.

12:50 p.m.- UK missing several starters due to injuries, illness

ORLANDO – Kentucky football will be without at least eight players normally on the two-deep depth chart for the Citrus Bowl versus Iowa due to a combination of injuries and health and safety protocols initiated by positive COVID-19 tests.

Defensive end Josh Paschal, left tackle Dare Rosenthal, wide receiver Josh Ali and outside linebacker J.J. Weaver are among the starters listed as inactive by UK. Among the key backups out are running back Kavosiey Smoke, linebacker Trevin Wallace, linebacker Marquez Bembry and wide receiver Isaiah Epps.

Rosenthal, Weaver, Smoke, Wallace and Bembry had not previously been confirmed to miss the game. UK has declined to identify specific players who have tested positive for COVID-19 throughout the pandemic, so it is not clear if those players are sideline by injuries or health and safety protocols.

10:17 a.m. -Will Levis honors tornado victims with custom cleats

Before Saturday’s kickoff, Kentucky quarterback Will Levis Tweeted the cleats he will be wearing in the matchup against Iowa will honor the victims of the Western Kentucky tornado that ripped through the region last month.

Levis stated the cleats will be auctioned off for charity to aid tornado relief at a later date.

Josh Paschal unlikely to play vs. Iowa

ORLANDO – Kentucky football senior captain Josh Pascal is “highly questionable” to play against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl.

UK’s defensive end reaggravated an undisclosed injury in the regular-season finale against Louisville then was delayed traveling to Orlando because of another issue, UK coach Mark Stoops announced Friday morning. While Paschal has practiced on a limited basis since arriving in Orlando, Stoops made it clear he is unlikely to play in the game.

“I don’t feel like I could play him with a clear conscious,” Stoops said.

— Read more about Paschal here

Josh Ali, Isaiah Epps out after car accident

LEXINGTON – Kentucky football will likely be without two of its best wide receivers for the Citrus Bowl.

Super senior Josh Ali and senior Isaiah Epps were involved in a car accident earlier this month that will prevent them from playing in the bowl matchup with Iowa.

“They are OK,” UK offensive coordinator Liam Coen told reporters Monday. “All is well. They are OK but will not be available for the game against Iowa.

“They are totally fine. They’re doing well. They’re here. They’re getting treatment. They’ve been doing all of those things. They’ve been trying to get back to be able to play, but it just doesn’t look like they’ll be available for us in the Iowa game.”

— Read more from beat writer Jon Hale here

Mark Stoops to play against alma mater

LEXINGTON – In talking about Kentucky football’s opponents, Mark Stoops generally likes to stick to coaching clichés.

The next game is a big game only because it is the next one.

But even Stoops made no effort to hide the importance of Kentucky facing Iowa, the program he and two of his brothers played for in college, in the Citrus Bowl.

“My father has my game jersey from the Hawkeyes very neatly folded and placed in his casket where he’s buried with the black and gold,” Stoops said in a Zoom news conference Sunday evening after the matchup was confirmed. “It definitely will mean something to me. Different than anybody else I’ve played, that’s for sure.”

— Read more from beat writer Jon Hale

How to watch the Citrus Bowl

Kentucky vs. Iowa will take place at 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1 at Camping World Stadium; Orlando, Florida.

Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek and Tom Luginbill will have the call on on ABC. That’s channel 11 in Louisville and 36 in Lexington on DirecTV, Dish, U-Verse and FiOs and Spectrum Cable 4 in Louisville and 10 in Lexington.

Eligible subscribers can stream the game online via WatchESPN.

Tom Leach (play-by-play), Jeff Piecoro (analyst) and Dick Gabriel (sideline) will have the UK radio network call on 840 AM in Louisville and both 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington or online at UKAthletics.com.

Follow Courier Journal Kentucky beat writer Jon Hale (@JonHale_CJ) for Wildcats updates. Follow USA TODAY network reporter Kennington Lloyd Smith (@SkinnyKenny_) for Iowa updates. You can follow the team’s official accounts at @HawkeyeFootball and @UKFootball.

Betting lines, odds, payouts for Citrus Bowl

The Wildcats are a 2.5-point favorite over the Hawkeyes, per the Tipico Sportsbook.

UK’s moneyline is set at -140, meaning that were UK to win straight up, a gambler who wagered $140 on the Wildcats would win $100.

ESPN’s Football Power Index gives UK a 52.9% chance of winning the game.

Tipico Sportsbook has the game’s total points set at 44.5.

The Wildcats are 8-4 this year against the spread, including 5-2 as the favorite, according to the Action Network, while Iowa is 7-6 against the spread, including 2-2 as an underdog.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Citrus Bowl 2021: Kentucky vs. Iowa live updates, scores, highlights

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