Wildcats face McSorley-led Nittany Lions
Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Terry Wilson (3) throwing during warmups before the game. University of Kentucky’s football team lost to University of Tennessee, 24-7, at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Photo by Michael Clubb | Staff
January 1, 2019
The No. 14 Kentucky Wildcats are set to face off against the No. 12 Penn State Nittany Lions in the VRBO Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FL. Both the Wildcats and the Nittany Lions come into the game with an identical 9-3 record.
This is the Wildcats’ first New Year’s Day Bowl in twenty years when these two teams faced each other at the first ever sold-out Outback Bowl. Kentucky now looks for redemption against the Nittany Lions after the 26-14 loss on New Year’s Day 1999.
OFFENSE
On offense the Nittany Lions are helmed at the quarterback position by senior Trace McSorley. McSorley led the Nittany Lions with 16 touchdowns, which ranks seventh in the Big Ten, and a quarterback rating of 124.3, ranking eighth in the Big Ten. McSorley has also added 723 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.
McSorley enters the game with a chance to leave as the program’s career rushing leader among quarterbacks. He has rushed for 1,622 yards, and, among quarterbacks, only Michael Robinson with 1,637 has rushed for more for the Lions. McSorley can also surpass Robinson’s single-season quarterback rushing record of 806 yards with 84 yards against the Cats.
In the backfield, junior running back Miles Sanders took over after the departure of Pro Bowler running back Saquon Barkley and has not disappointed, leading the Nittany Lions with 1,223 yards and nine touchdowns. Sanders ranks top 10 in yards, touchdowns and yards per attempt in the Big Ten.
DEFENSE
On the other side of the ball, the Nittany Lions have talented players all over. Penn State ranks fifth in the nation in team sacks. Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos leads the Nittany Lions in both sacks (8) and tackles for loss (20). Robert Windsor and Shareef Miller are second and third in sacks with 7.5 and seven, respectively.
On the secondary, safeties Garrett Taylor, Nick Scott and Amani Oruwariye lead the team with three interceptions each.
ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the Penn State Nittany Lions a 68% chance to win. The line on the game is Penn State by 6.5 and the over/under is set at 47.
The game will kick off at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ABC.
