In a thrilling Alamo Bowl, the Arizona Wildcats emerged as champions with a 38-24 win over their opponents, who turned the ball over five times. Arizona quickly went up 10-0 and, after an initial 13-0 lead, faced a challenging period with an interception and five straight punts. The Wildcats turned the game around with a 57-yard touchdown pass and another touchdown to extend their lead to 38-24 with just 2:56 left in the game. Meanwhile, Kentucky's Barion Brown set a school record and Gator Bowl history with his 100-yard kickoff return touchdown, his third of the season, making him the active FBS player with the most kick return touchdowns. In a close contest, Clemson's Jonathan Weitz kicked a 52-yard field goal, which doinked off the crossbar, giving Clemson a 30-28 lead. The game concluded with Clemson securing a 38-35 victory with only 17 seconds left on the clock.
Jonathan Weitz final 2 games in a Clemson uniform... 6-6 on FGs (28, 39, 42, 49, 50, 52) Left his mark. https://t.co/q0apZIIpbP
Clemson QB Cade Klubnik says after team went down 21-10 to Kentucky on the kickoff return TD he told the offense on the sideline: βWhy quit?β Says this comeback win and finish is βso awesomeβ after 4-4 start https://t.co/pqEAiSNJAM
Dabo Swinney: "I don't know what to say about Weitzy." Says kicker Jonathan Weitz was "amazing" in these last two games, going 6 for 6 against USC and Kentucky and kicking a Q4 52-yard field goal today "52 yards and 1 inch," enough for it to doink off crossbar and in
Clemson with the TD and 2 points on top for a 38-35 lead with 0:17 to play!! https://t.co/4SBeEowPdZ
THE CROSSBAR DOINK IN FROM 52 YARDS OUT AND CLEMSON LEADS 30-28!! https://t.co/WzwnYeEB1x
That 52-yard kick from Clemson's Jonathan Weitz is the longest FG ever made in the Gator Bowl. https://t.co/pcaPOkBKxo
Weitz Mania here in Jax 52-yarder off the crossbar Clemson up 30-28, 4:20 Weitz 6-6 on FGs last 2 games with 2 from 50-plus
This game is wild. Clemson back in front, 30-28, with 4:20 to go on a 52-yard field that doinked the crossbar and hopped over.
CLEMSON FG DOINK OFF THE BOTTOM BAR AND IN FOR A 2 POINT LEAD WITH 4:20 LEFT IN THE GATOR BOWL!!
Madness. Clemson kicker Jonathan Weitz makes a 52 yard field goal while kicking into the wind ... it looks short, hits the crossbar and doinks over. 30-28 Clemson with 4:20 to go. Tigers sideline erupts
HAVE YOURSELF A DAY, BARION BROWN! A 100-yard KO return TD and now a 60-yard TD catch to give UK the lead π³ https://t.co/YnIS1TbBQl
And Barion Brown goes and totally redeems himself, 60-yard TD catch. What a day for Brown, touchdowns rushing, receiving and return. UK leads again. https://t.co/xZsQBb1m8c
KENTUCKY TIES IT WITH A 60 YARD TD!! (XP pending)
Tigers going for 2 again up 25-21 after that TD ... and it's good. Cade Klubnik to Tyler Brown. So, 27-21 Clemson with 6:45 remaining. What a swing here https://t.co/sSd6cslzpu
Cade Klubnik back on the field for Clemson at QB after limping off the field badly last drive ... he's gutting it out w Tigers down 21-16 in the fourth quarter
Barion Brown of @UKFootball has had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in each of his last two games including today in the @taxslayerbowl. The last FBS player to have a 100-yard KO return TD in each of his last two games of a season was Hawaii's Chad Owens in 2001. https://t.co/ciU3NXHPNL
BARION BROWN TO THE HOUSE π― @UKFootball The longest kick return TD in Gator Bowl history π₯ https://t.co/YE4GEgGNq9
100-YARD RETURN FOR KENTUCKY π± (via @UKFootball) https://t.co/AaaYpDjNba
100-YARD KICK RETURN. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! π€― (π₯: @UKFootball) https://t.co/jjXXHyTjiv
One final Barion Brown stat: Brown has returned 4 of 32 career returns (12.5%) for a touchdown.
.@BarionBrown goes 100 yards for the kick return TOUCHDOWN. https://t.co/6WpbcY4k1Y
In addition to these records, Barion Brown now has the most Kick Return TDs by an active FBS player (4). https://t.co/gI9Y0N0pN4
Per the Gator Bowl record book, Barion Brown's 100-yard kickoff return TD is the longest kickoff return for a TD in the history of the bowl. The prior record had been a 95-yarder by Greg Allen for Florida State in 1982.
This is the longest kickoff return TD in Gator Bowl history, per PA announcer in press box https://t.co/3VjtBGnwKy
2 new school records set by Barion Brown just now: - Most Kick Return TDs in a career (4) - Most Kick Return TDs in one season (3) https://t.co/SZuJiPptiV
KENTUCKY KICK RETURN 100 YARDS TO THE HOUSE!! https://t.co/wcj5mLXTO1
.@BarionBrown has set a new @UKFootball record for most kickoff return touchdowns in a career (4)
100 YARD TOUCHDOWN RETURN ON THE KICK FOR KENTUCKY BUT THERES A FLAG
Jonathan Weitz is good from 39 yards in his last career game (for real this time around) and Clemson leads Kentucky 3-0 in Q1. Veteran kicker who was called up off the couch mid-season stays hot after hitting from 50, 49 and 42 in rivalry win over South Carolina
THE ARIZONA WILDCATS ARE ALAMO BOWL CHAMPIONS!!! THE WILDCATS RALLY FROM DOWN 11 AND WIN 38-24!! https://t.co/hlBU7uuNoG
ARIZONA PUNCHES IT IN!!! THEY LEAD 38-24!!! 2:56 LEFT IN THE GAME!!
Alamo Bowl making a late play for game of the year! 5:28 left after a 57-yd dime to give Arizona a 31-24 lead. π
THE THROW. THE CATCH. TOUCHDOWN ARIZONA. Wildcats take the lead with a @jaycowing_ 57 yard TD reception π€ AZ 31 - OK 24 πΊ: ESPN https://t.co/LQ9qbd0PUc
WILDCATS STRIKE ON A 57 YARD TD PASS!!
ANOTHER INT FOR ARIZONA!!! OU HAS TURNED IT OVER 5 TIMES NOW!!
After taking a 13-0 lead, Arizona has gone INT and 5 Straight Punts. https://t.co/VOvTnzC44n
ARIZONA INT AND BANG TD PASS ON THE NEXT PLAY!! WILDCATS UP 10-0!!