UK Sells Initial TaxSlayer Bowl Ticket Allotment

LEXINGTON, Ky. – In just three days, Kentucky has sold through its initial allotment of 8,000 tickets for the TaxSlayer Bowl. The UK Ticket Office has also secured additional lower-level tickets from the TaxSlayer Bowl in order to fulfill all ticket requests. Lower-level tickets are still available for the game and can be purchased by visiting UKFootballTix.com or through the TaxSlayer Bowl’s website.

“The passion of our fans is a major reason we were selected to play in the TaxSlayer Bowl and we are thankful they have already made plans to follow us in such great numbers,” Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said. “Though we have sold through our initial allotment, tickets are still for sale. We hope many more members of the Big Blue Nation will buy them and join us in Jacksonville.”

Fans should visit UKFootballTix.com and TaxSlayerBowl.com if they are interested in buying tickets for the game between UK and Georgia Tech. Ticket locations throughout the stadium are still available, including many in the lower level. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets on the west side of the stadium, as the UK sideline will be located on that side.

The Wildcats and Yellow Jackets will face off on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida and broadcast on ESPN. Originally known as the Gator Bowl, the TaxSlayer Bowl has been played continuously since the 1945 season, making it the sixth-oldest existing bowl game.

UK is making its first bowl appearance since the 2010 season and first during the Stoops era. Overall, this will be Kentucky’s 16th bowl appearance with the Wildcats owning a record of 8-7 in those games. UK has never played in the TaxSlayer Bowl.

Kentucky will enter the TaxSlayer Bowl with a record of 7-5, including 7-3 over the last 10 games following an 0-2 start to the season. The Wildcats got their signature win in the regular-season finale, retaking the Governor’s Cup with a 41-38 upset of No. 11 Louisville on the road to follow up a 4-4 finish in conference play, tied for second in the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division.

The Wildcats’ emergence this season has come in large part due to a ground game that ranked 16th nationally entering this weekend with an average of 241.3 yards per game. UK boasts a pair of 1,000 yard rushers – Stanley “Boom” Williams and Benny Snell, Jr. – for the first time in school history.

UK’s young, improving defense will be challenged by another strong ground attack, as Georgia Tech (8-4, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) enters the TaxSlayer Bowl ranked 10th nationally at 257.4 yards per game. The Yellow Jackets closed the season with three straight wins, including a 28-27 victory over rival Georgia, under ninth-year head coach Paul Johnson. UK has an all-time record of 7-11-1 vs. Georgia Tech – a member of the SEC from 1932-64 – losing the last time the teams met in 1960, 23-13.