2021 Kentucky Wildcats football team

2021 University of Kentucky football season

2021 Kentucky Wildcats football

Citrus Bowl champion (vacated)
Citrus Bowl, W 20–17 (vacated) vs. Iowa
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Division	Eastern Division
Ranking
Coaches	No. 15
AP	No. 18
Record	0–3, 10 wins vacated (0–3 SEC, 5 wins vacated)
Head coach	Mark Stoops (9th season)
Offensive coordinator	Liam Coen (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple pro-style
Defensive coordinator	Brad White (3rd season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Jon Sumrall (1st season)
Base defense	3–4 or 4–3
Home stadium	Kroger Field
Seasons← 2020 2022 →

2021 Southeastern Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Eastern Division
No. 1 Georgia x#^	8	–	0	14	–	1
No. 18 Kentucky*	5	–	3	10	–	3
Tennessee	4	–	4	7	–	6
Missouri	3	–	5	6	–	7
South Carolina	3	–	5	7	–	6
Florida	2	–	6	6	–	7
Vanderbilt	0	–	8	2	–	10
Western Division
No. 2 Alabama x$^	7	–	1	13	–	2
No. 11 Ole Miss	6	–	2	10	–	3
No. 21 Arkansas	4	–	4	9	–	4
Mississippi State	4	–	4	7	–	6
Texas A&M	4	–	4	8	–	4
Auburn	3	–	5	6	–	7
LSU	3	–	5	6	–	7
Championship: Alabama 41, Georgia 24
# – College Football Playoff champion ^ – College Football Playoff participant $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions * – Kentucky vacated all wins due to NCAA violations. Rankings from AP Poll

The 2021 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky (UK) in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wildcats played their home games at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky, and competed in the East Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by ninth-year head coach Mark Stoops.

On August 2, 2024, the NCAA announced that the University of Kentucky has agreed to accept penalties for violations of impermissible benefits as 11 football players were paid for jobs which they did not perform in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Although the NCAA has not announced the full penalties, it has been indicated by the university that those penalties will include a 2–year probation and vacation of all games in which the ineligible players participated for those two seasons.

Offseason

Position key

End

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award	Player	Position	Year

SEC Media Days

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
Media poll (East Division)
1	Georgia	923 (124)
2	Florida	784 (7)
3	Kentucky	624 (2)
4	Missouri	555
5	Tennessee	362
6	South Carolina	355 (1)
7	Vanderbilt	149

Place	Team	Votes
Media poll (SEC Championship)
1	Alabama	84
2	Georgia	45
3	Ole Miss	1
4	Texas A&M	1
	Florida	1
	Kentucky	1
	South Carolina	1

Preseason All-SEC teams

Personnel

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Years at Kentucky
Mark Stoops	Head coach	9th
Vince Marrow	Associate head coach/tight end coach	9th
Liam Coen	Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach	1st
Brad White	Defensive coordinator/Outside linebackers coach	4th
John Settle	Running backs coach	1st
Jon Sumrall	Inside linebackers coach /co-defensive coordinator	3rd
Frank Buffano	Safeties coach	2nd
Eric Wolford	Offensive line coach	1st
Scott Woodward	Wide receivers coach	1st
Anwar Stewart	Defensive line coach	2nd
Mark Hill	Strength and conditioning	6th
Reference:

Schedule

Spring game

The Wildcats were scheduled to hold spring practices in March and April 2021 with the Kentucky football spring game, which took place in Lexington, KY in April 2021.

Regular season

The 2021 Kentucky regular-season schedule consisted of seven home games and five away games. UK hosted four SEC opponents: Florida, LSU, Missouri, and rival Tennessee. UK traveled to four SEC opponents: Georgia, Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt. Kentucky was not scheduled to play SEC West opponents Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M in the 2021 regular season. The Wildcats' bye week was during week 8 (on October 23, 2021).

Kentucky's out-of-conference opponents represented the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Southern Conference (SoCon), and Sun Belt Conference (SBC), as well as one FBS independent. The Wildcats hosted SoCon member Chattanooga, SBC member Louisiana-Monroe, and independent New Mexico State. The Wildcats closed out the regular season by traveling to Louisville, KY to face in-state rival Louisville for the Governor's Cup.

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 4	12:00 p.m.	Louisiana–Monroe*		Kroger Field Lexington, KY	SECN	W 45–10 (vacated)	47,693
September 11	7:30 p.m.	Missouri		Kroger Field Lexington, KY	SECN	W 35–28 (vacated)	58,437
September 18	12:00 p.m.	Chattanooga*		Kroger Field Lexington, KY	ESPN+/SECN+	W 28–23 (vacated)	55,214
September 25	7:00 p.m.	at South Carolina		Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, SC (SEC Nation)	ESPN2	W 16–10 (vacated)	77,559
October 2	6:00 p.m.	No. 10 Florida		Kroger Field Lexington, KY (rivalry)	ESPN	W 20–13 (vacated)	61,632
October 9	7:30 p.m.	LSU	No. 16	Kroger Field Lexington, KY (SEC Nation)	SECN	W 42–21 (vacated)	61,690
October 16	3:30 p.m.	at No. 1 Georgia	No. 11	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (College GameDay / SEC Nation)	CBS	L 13–30	92,746
October 30	7:00 p.m.	at Mississippi State	No. 12	Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS	SECN	L 17–31	49,487
November 6	7:00 p.m.	Tennessee	No. 18	Kroger Field Lexington, KY (rivalry)	ESPN2	L 42–45	61,690
November 13	7:00 p.m.	at Vanderbilt		Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN (rivalry)	ESPN2	W 34–17 (vacated)	25,798
November 20	12:00 p.m.	New Mexico State*		Kroger Field Lexington, KY	SECN	W 56–16 (vacated)	47,749
November 27	7:30 p.m.	at Louisville*		Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY (Governor's Cup)	ESPN2	W 52–21 (vacated)	55,018
January 1, 2022	1:00 p.m.	vs. No. 15 Iowa*	No. 22	Camping World Stadium Orlando, FL (Citrus Bowl)	ABC	W 20–17 (vacated)	50,769
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 2) – Released prior to game All times are in Central time

Game summaries

Louisiana–Monroe

	1	2	3	4	Total
Louisiana–Monroe	7	0	0	3	10
• Kentucky	14	14	3	14	45

Date: September 4
Location: Lexington, KY
Game start: 12:03 p.m.
Elapsed time: 3:11
Game attendance: 47,693
Game weather: 78 °F (26 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SW 7 MPH
Referee: Jason McArthur
TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (color), Alyssa Lang (sideline)
Source: Official Box Score

Scoring summary

1	08:53	ULM	Kadyn Roach 3-yard rush (Calum Sutherland kick) (12 plays, 42 yards, 5:01)	ULM 7–0
	06:13	UK	Wan'Dale Robinson 33-yard pass from Will Levis (Matt Ruffolo kick) (5 plays, 84 yards, 2:40)	TIE 7–7
	04:20	UK	Josh Ali 58-yard pass from Will Levis (Matt Ruffolo kick) (1 play, 58 yards, 0:09)	UK 14–7

2	10:40	UK	Chris Rodriguez 2-yard rush (Matt Ruffolo kick) (14 plays, 84 yards, 6:37)	UK 21–7
2	05:44	UK	Wan'Dale Robinson 15-yard pass from Will Levis (Matt Ruffolo kick) (4 plays, 80 yards, 2:24)	UK 28–7

3	03:54	UK	Matt Ruffolo 45-yard field goal (7 plays, 51 yards, 3:40)	UK 31–7

4	13:07	UK	Brenden Bates 4-yard pass from Will Levis (Matt Ruffolo kick) (9 plays, 76 yards, 4:00)	UK 38–7
	04:39	ULM	Calum Sutherland 29-yard field goal (11 plays, 48 yards, 5:11)	UK 38–10
	01:00	UK	Michael Drennen II 4-yard rush (Matt Ruffolo kick) (8 plays, 68 yards, 3:39)	UK 45–10

Pregame line	Over/under
UK −31.0	54

Statistics	ULM	Kentucky
First downs	12	24
Total yards	87	564
Rushing yards	17	145
Passing yards	70	419
Turnovers	0	3
Time of possession	28:13	31:47

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
ULM	Passing	Rhett Rodgriuez	9/17, 56 yards
	Rushing	Chandler Rogers	7 carries, 11 yards
	Receiving	Boogie Knight	6 receptions, 58 yards
Kentucky	Passing	Will Levis	18/26, 367 yards, 4 TD's
	Rushing	Chris Rodriguez Jr.	19 carries, 125 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Josh Ali	5 receptions, 136 yards, 1 TD

Missouri

	1	2	3	4	Total
Missouri	7	7	7	7	28
• Kentucky	14	7	7	7	35

Date: September 11
Location: Lexington, KY
Game start: 7:38 p.m.
Game attendance: 58,437
Game weather: Sunny, 74°F, Wind S @ 8 mph
Referee: Ken Williamson
TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (color), Alyssa Lang (sideline)

Sources:

Statistics	Missouri	Kentucky
First downs	25	26
Total yards	398	520
Rushing yards	104	341
Passing yards	294	179
Turnovers	1	2
Time of possession	27:12	32:48

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Missouri	Passing	Connor Bazelak	34/51, 294 yards, 4 TD’s, 1 INT
	Rushing	Tyler Badie	14 carries, 61 yards
	Receiving	Tyler Badie	10 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD
Kentucky	Passing	Will Levis	10/18, 179 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Chris Rodriguez Jr.	27 carries, 207 yards, 2 TD’s
	Receiving	Wan'Dale Robinson	5 receptions, 101 yards

Chattanooga

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chattanooga	7	3	3	10	23
• Kentucky	7	7	0	14	28

Date: September 18
Location: Lexington, KY
Game start: 12:02 p.m.
Game attendance: 55,214
Game weather: Sunny, 81°F, Wind E @ 3 mph
Referee: David Smith
TV announcers (ESPN+, SEC Network+): Mike Morgan (play-by-play), Ben Hartsock (color), Paul Carcaterra (sideline)

Sources:

Statistics	Chattanooga	Kentucky
First downs	16	20
Total yards	339	356
Rushing yards	171	102
Passing yards	168	254
Turnovers	1	3
Time of possession	31:42	28:18

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Chattanooga	Passing	Cole Copeland	21/35, 168 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Ailym Ford	21 carries, 128 yards
	Receiving	Reginald Henderson	9 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD
Kentucky	Passing	Will Levis	23/35, 254 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
	Rushing	Chris Rodriguez Jr.	13 carries, 46 yards
	Receiving	Wan'Dale Robinson	8 receptions, 111 yards

At South Carolina

See also: 2021 South Carolina Gamecocks football team Game Four – Kentucky Wildcats (3-0) at South Carolina Gamecocks (2-1)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Kentucky	7	3	3	3	16
South Carolina	0	0	7	3	10

at Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina

Date: Saturday, September 25, 2021
Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: Sunny • Temperature - 74°F
Game attendance: 77,559
Referee: Justin Autrey
TV announcers (ESPN2): Brian Custer (play-by-play), Kelly Stouffer (color) and Lauren Sisler (sideline)
Box Score

Game information
First quarter (8:27) UK – Kavosiey Smoke 15-yard run (Matt Ruffolo Kick). Kentucky 7-0. Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 6:33. Second quarter (0:00) UK – Matt Ruffolo 43-yard field goal. Kentucky 10-0. Drive: 10 plays, 57 yards, 4:39. Third quarter (10:52) SC – Jalen Brooks 5-yard pass from Luke Doty (Parker White Kick). Kentucky 10-7. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:08. (3:43) UK – Matt Ruffolo 21-yard field goal. Kentucky 13-7. Drive: 13 plays, 72 yards, 7:09. Fourth quarter (4:26) UK – Matt Ruffolo 27-yard field goal. Kentucky 16-7. Drive: 9 plays, 51 yards, 5:17. (2:31) SC – Parker White 54-yard field goal. Kentucky 16-10. Drive: 5 plays, 39 yards, 1:55.

Game information

First quarter

(8:27) UK – Kavosiey Smoke 15-yard run (Matt Ruffolo Kick). Kentucky 7-0. Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 6:33.

Second quarter

(0:00) UK – Matt Ruffolo 43-yard field goal. Kentucky 10-0. Drive: 10 plays, 57 yards, 4:39.

Third quarter

(10:52) SC – Jalen Brooks 5-yard pass from Luke Doty (Parker White Kick). Kentucky 10-7. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:08.
(3:43) UK – Matt Ruffolo 21-yard field goal. Kentucky 13-7. Drive: 13 plays, 72 yards, 7:09.

Fourth quarter

(4:26) UK – Matt Ruffolo 27-yard field goal. Kentucky 16-7. Drive: 9 plays, 51 yards, 5:17.
(2:31) SC – Parker White 54-yard field goal. Kentucky 16-10. Drive: 5 plays, 39 yards, 1:55.

Statistics	UK	SC
First downs	22	12
Plays–yards	66–332	51–216
Rushes–yards	230	58
Passing yards	102	158
Passing: comp–att–int	15–22–1	17–25–0
Time of possession	35:36	24:24

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UK	Passing	Will Levis	15/22, 102 yards, INT
	Rushing	Chris Rodriguez Jr	26 carries, 144 yards
	Receiving	Wan'Dale Robinson	7 receptions, 65 yards
SC	Passing	Luke Doty	17/25, 158 yards, TD
	Rushing	Kevin Harris	12 carries, 38 yards
	Receiving	Jalen Brooks	4 receptions, 63 yards, TD

No. 10 Florida

This was the Wildcats' first home win over Florida since 1986.

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 10 Florida	7	3	0	3	13
• Kentucky	7	0	6	7	20

Date: October 2
Location: Lexington, KY
Game start: 6:01 p.m.
Game attendance: 61,632
Game weather: Cloudy, 75°F, Wind SW @ 6 mph
Referee: Marc Curles
TV announcers (ESPN): Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Dan Orlovsky (color), Kris Budden (sideline)

Sources:

Statistics	Florida	Kentucky
First downs	21	13
Total yards	382	224
Rushing yards	171	137
Passing yards	211	87
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	36:18	23:42

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Florida	Passing	Emory Jones	23/31, 203 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Emory Jones	13 carries, 63 yards
	Receiving	Jacob Copeland	6 receptions, 59 yards
Kentucky	Passing	Will Levis	7/17, 87 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Chris Rodriguez Jr.	19 carries, 99 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Wan'Dale Robinson	4 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD

LSU

Statistics	LSU	Kentucky
First downs	22	24
Total yards	408	475
Rushing yards	147	330
Passing yards	261	145
Turnovers	1	0
Time of possession	27:48	32:12

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
LSU	Passing	Max Johnson	22/38, 261 yards, 1 TD
Rushing	Tyrion Davis-Price	22 carries, 147 yards, 2 TD’s
Receiving	Kayshon Boutte	8 receptions, 73 yards
Kentucky	Passing	Will Levis	14/17, 145 yards, 3 TD’s
Rushing	Chris Rodriguez Jr.	16 carries, 147 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Wan'Dale Robinson	8 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TD

At No. 1 Georgia

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 11 Kentucky	0	7	0	6	13
• No. 1 Georgia	0	14	10	6	30

Date: October 16
Location: Athens, GA
Game start: 3:45 p.m.
Game attendance: 92,746
Game weather: Sunny, 75°F, Wind W @ 15 mph
Referee: James Carter
TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color), Jamie Erdahl (sideline)

Sources:

Statistics	Kentucky	Georgia
First downs	16	20
Total yards	243	416
Rushing yards	51	166
Passing yards	192	250
Turnovers	0	0
Time of possession	37:47	22:13

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kentucky	Passing	Will Levis	32/42, 192 yards, 2 TD’s
	Rushing	Kavosiey Smoke	5 carries, 14 yards
	Receiving	Wan'Dale Robinson	12 receptions, 39 yards, 1 TD
Georgia	Passing	Stetson Bennett	14/20, 250 yards, 3 TD’s
	Rushing	James Cook	6 carries, 51 yards
	Receiving	Brock Bowers	5 receptions, 101 yards, 2 TD’s

At Mississippi State

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 12 Kentucky	7	3	0	7	17
• Mississippi State	0	14	17	0	31

Date: October 30
Location: Starkville, MS
Game start: 6:09 p.m.
Game attendance: 49,487
Game weather: Cloudy, 55°F, Wind NW @ 5 mph
Referee: Lee Hendrick
TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color), Cole Cubelic (sideline)

Sources:

Statistics	Kentucky	Miss State
First downs	14	27
Total yards	216	438
Rushing yards	66	94
Passing yards	150	344
Turnovers	4	0
Time of possession	18:50	41:10

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kentucky	Passing	Will Levis	17/28, 150 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT’s
	Rushing	Chris Rodriguez Jr.	8 carries, 34 yards
	Receiving	Wan'Dale Robinson	9 receptions, 79 yards
Miss State	Passing	Will Rogers	36/39, 344 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Jo'Quavious Marks	20 carries, 58 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Jaden Walley	6 receptions, 95 yards

Tennessee

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Tennessee	14	10	14	7	45
No. 18 Kentucky	7	14	14	7	42

Date: November 6
Location: Lexington, KY
Game start: 7:05 p.m.
Game attendance: 61,690
Game weather: Sunny, 46°F, Wind N @ 4 mph
Referee: Steve Marlowe
TV announcers (ESPN2): Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (color), Dawn Davenport (sideline)

Sources:

Statistics	Tennessee	Kentucky
First downs	17	35
Total yards	461	612
Rushing yards	145	225
Passing yards	316	387
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	13:52	46:08

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tennessee	Passing	Hendon Hooker	15/20, 316 yards, 4 TD’s
	Rushing	Jabari Small	4 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Velus Jones Jr.	5 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD
Kentucky	Passing	Will Levis	31/49, 372 yards, 3 TD’s, 1 INT
	Rushing	Chris Rodriguez Jr.	22 carries, 109 yards
	Receiving	Wan'Dale Robinson	13 receptions, 166 yards, 1 TD

At Vanderbilt

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Kentucky	7	24	0	3	34
Vanderbilt	3	0	8	6	17

Date: November 13
Location: Nashville, TN
Game start: 6:05 p.m.
Game attendance: 25,798
Game weather: Sunny, 42°F, Wind N @ 1 mph
Referee: Ken Williamson
TV announcers (ESPN2): Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Mike Golic Jr. (color), Taylor McGregor (sideline)

Sources:

Statistics	Kentucky	Vanderbilt
First downs	21	16
Total yards	413	266
Rushing yards	236	96
Passing yards	177	170
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	29:46	30:14

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kentucky	Passing	Will Levis	14/22, 177 yards, 2 TD’s, 1 INT
	Rushing	Chris Rodriguez Jr.	16 carries, 144 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Wan'Dale Robinson	6 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD
Vanderbilt	Passing	Ken Seals	12/17, 87 yards, 1 INT
	Rushing	Patrick Smith	18 carries, 84 yards
	Receiving	Chris Pierce Jr	6 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD

New Mexico State

	1	2	3	4	Total
New Mexico St	7	9	0	0	16
• Kentucky	21	14	14	7	56

Date: November 20
Location: Lexington, KY
Game start: 12:03 p.m.
Game attendance: 47,749
Game weather: Sunny, 52°F, Wind SW @ 9 mph
Referee: Alex Moore
TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (color), Tera Talmadge (sideline)

Sources:

Statistics	New Mexico St	Kentucky
First downs	13	29
Total yards	282	707
Rushing yards	101	248
Passing yards	181	459
Turnovers	2	4
Time of possession	26:07	33:53

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
New Mexico St	Passing	Jonah Johnson	16/35, 181 yards, 1 INT
	Rushing	Juwaun Price	11 carries, 51 yards
	Receiving	Justice Powers	1 reception, 41 yards
Kentucky	Passing	Will Levis	21/31, 419 yards, 4 TD’s, 1 INT
	Rushing	Chris Rodriguez Jr.	16 carries, 119 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Wan'Dale Robinson	8 receptions, 181 yards

At Louisville

Governor’s Cup

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Kentucky	14	10	14	14	52
Louisville	7	0	0	14	21

Date: November 27
Location: Louisville, KY
Game start: 7:41 p.m.
Game attendance: 55,018
Game weather: Cloudy, 48°F, Wind SW @ 3 mph
Referee: Matt Loeffler
TV announcers (ESPN2): Chris Cotter (play-by-play), Mark Herzlich (color), Jalyn Johnson (sideline)

Sources:

Statistics	Kentucky	Louisville
First downs	28	20
Total yards	511	352
Rushing yards	362	144
Passing yards	149	208
Turnovers	0	1
Time of possession	35:04	24:56

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kentucky	Passing	Will Levis	14/18, 149 yards
	Rushing	Chris Rodriguez Jr.	16 carries, 121 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Wan'Dale Robinson	9 receptions, 97 yards
Louisville	Passing	Malik Cunningham	12/20, 145 yards, 1 INT
	Rushing	Jalen Mitchell	11 carries, 53 yards
	Receiving	Marshon Ford	6 receptions, 68 yards

Vs. No. 15 Iowa (Citrus Bowl)

Vrbo Citrus Bowl

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 15 Iowa	0	3	7	7	17
• No. 22 Kentucky	7	6	0	7	20

Date: January 1, 2022
Location: Orlando, FL
Game start: 1:06 p.m.
Game attendance: 50,769
Game weather: Sunny, 82°F, Wind S @ 11 mph
Referee: Jeff Heaser
TV announcers (ABC): Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (color), Tom Luginbill (sideline)

Sources:

Statistics	Iowa	UK
First downs	0	24
Total yards	0	354
Rushing yards	0	121
Passing yards	0	233
Turnovers	3	1
Time of possession	22:06	37:54

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa	Passing	Spencer Petras	19/30, 211 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT’s
	Rushing	Gavin Williams	16 carries, 98 yards
	Receiving	Sam LaPorta	7 receptions, 122 yards, 1 TD
Kentucky	Passing	Will Levis	17/28, 233 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Chris Rodriguez Jr.	20 carries, 107 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Wan'Dale Robinson	10 receptions, 170 yards

Rankings

Further information: 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	—	RV	RV	RV	RV	16	11	15	12	18	RV	RV	RV	25	25	18
Coaches	RV	RV	RV	RV	23	14	11	14	12	17	RV	RV	25	22	20	15
CFP	Not released									18	—	—	—	23	22	Not released

Statistics

Scoring

Scores by quarter (All Home Games)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Opponents	49	32	31	44	156
Kentucky	77	63	58	70	268

Scores by quarter (All Away Games)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Kentucky	35	47	17	33	132
Opponents	10	28	42	29	109

Scores by quarter (All Neutral Field Games)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Opponents	0	0	0	0	0
Kentucky	0	0	0	0	0

Scores by quarter (Home Games – SEC)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Opponents	28	20	28	31	107
Kentucky	35	28	41	35	139

Scores by quarter (Away Games – SEC)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Kentucky	21	37	3	19	80
Opponents	3	28	42	15	88

Scores by quarter (Neutral Field – SEC)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Opponents	0	0	0	0	0
Kentucky	0	0	0	0	0

Scores by quarter (Home Games – NC)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Opponents	21	12	3	13	49
Kentucky	42	35	17	35	129

Scores by quarter (Away Games – NC)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Kentucky	14	10	14	14	52
Opponents	7	0	0	14	21

Scores by quarter (Neutral Field – NC)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Opponents	0	0	0	0	0
Kentucky	0	0	0	0	0

Scores by quarter (All NC Opponents)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Opponents	28	12	3	27	70
Kentucky	56	45	31	49	181

Scores by quarter (All SEC Opponents)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Opponents	31	48	70	46	195
Kentucky	56	65	44	54	219

Scores by quarter (All opponents)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Opponents	59	60	73	73	265
Kentucky	112	110	75	103	400

Media affiliates

Radio

WHAS (AM) (News Radio 840 WHAS), WBUL-FM – Nationwide (Dish Network, Sirius XM, TuneIn radio and iHeartRadio)

TV

CBS Family – WKYT (CBS), CBS Sports Network
ESPN/ABC Family – WTVQ (ABC), ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network)
FOX Family – WDKY (FOX), FOX/FS1, FSN
NBC – WLEX, NBC Sports, NBCSN

References

Wright, Meghan Durham (August 2, 2024). "Violations occurred in Kentucky football, swimming programs". NCAA.org. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
"Seven Home Games Highlight Kentucky Football 2021 Schedule". UK Athletics. UK Athletics. January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
de Rond, Mark (March 1, 2017), "Hawkeye", Doctors at War, Cornell University Press, retrieved February 25, 2022
"Kentucky rallies past No. 10 Florida 20–13 in SEC showdown". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 2, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
Weisner, Molly (October 29, 2021). "How to watch Mississippi State vs. Kentucky football on TV and live stream". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
Stovall, Gabriel (October 30, 2021). "Kentucky vs. Mississippi State: The Wildcats fall to Bulldogs 31-17". Louisville Courier Journal. Retrieved November 9, 2021.

v t e Kentucky Wildcats football
Venues	Stoll Field/McLean Stadium (1916–1972) Kroger Field (1973–present) E.J. Nutter Training Facility (practice)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Centre Florida Indiana Louisville: Governor's Cup Tennessee Transylvania: Battle On Broadway Vanderbilt
Culture & lore	The Wildcat Scratch Blue "On, On, U of K" "Kentucky Fight" Marching band Bluegrass Miracle 2003 Arkansas game Big Blue Nation
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders NFL draftees Starting quarterbacks
Seasons	1881 1882–1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
National championship seasons in bold

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