38°F, partly cloudy, wind 3 mph from the northeastWeather: NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database; Nashville International Airport (KBNA), 10 km from the stadium, 23 minutes after kickoff
Officials
Referee Coyte,Chris; umpire Stephens,Mike; head linesman Ammari,Rod; line judge Messuri,Tim; side judge Hulscher,Bernie; field judge Glenn,Brad; back judge Nelson,Justin; center judge Richards,MattGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse
From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.
Team stats
Kentucky
Northwestern
338
Total yards
442
273
Passing yards
109
65
Rushing yards
333
7.0
Yards per pass
5.2
3.0
Yards per rush
5.9
17
First downs
20
1–10
Third downs
6–18
1–1
Fourth downs
1–5
2
Turnovers
0
5–65
Penalties
7–70
24:08
Possession
35:52
2
Sacks (by defense)
2
Efficiency
Kentucky
Northwestern
36%
Success rate
44%
−0.08
EPA per play
0.01
1.60
Explosiveness
1.09
−0.02
Rushing EPA
0.22
−0.11
Passing EPA
−0.44
29%
Passing-down success
42%
−0.44
First-down EPA
0.23
0.34
Second-down EPA
0.06
−0.08
Third-down EPA
0.46
14%
Havoc by its defense
21%
From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.
Before kickoff
Our ratings and the line, going in
Our ratings (scores only)
Northwestern 69% to win. Elo’s favorite won.
The line
Northwestern −7.5, over/under 50.5.
The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.
Before kickoff, the win chances were Northwestern 70%, Kentucky 30%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.
The money
The Music City Bowl was put on by Music City Bowl, Inc., a nonprofit. Its IRS Form 990 for the year to March 2018, which takes in this game, reports $8.4 million in revenue, $3.9 million of it from game sponsorships, and $8.7 million in expenses. Its best-paid, CEO/president Scott Ramsey, was paid $499,000.
From the organization’s IRS Form 990, via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and the IRS’s e-file data. Payments are the grants it lists on Schedule I of that return. See every filing at ProPublica (EIN 62-1720086).
Every drive
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Northwestern drives left to right, Kentucky right to left.
Q1 KentuckyTouchdown, 5 plays, 67 yards
Q1 NorthwesternPunt, 3 plays, 8 yards
Q1 KentuckyPunt, 3 plays, 0 yards
Q1 NorthwesternPunt, 3 plays, −6 yards
Q1 KentuckyPunt, 3 plays, 3 yards
Q1 NorthwesternField goal, 11 plays, 55 yards
Q1 KentuckyPunt, 4 plays, 19 yards
Q1 NorthwesternTouchdown, 7 plays, 80 yards
Q2 KentuckyPunt, 5 plays, 4 yards
Q2 NorthwesternTurnover on downs, 8 plays, 40 yards
Q2 KentuckyInterception, 2 plays, 2 yards
Q2 NorthwesternTouchdown, 5 plays, 52 yards
Q2 KentuckyPunt, 6 plays, 21 yards
Q2 NorthwesternPunt, 3 plays, 9 yards
Q2 KentuckyEnd of half, 3 plays, 14 yards
Q3 NorthwesternTurnover on downs, 12 plays, 46 yards
Q3 KentuckyTouchdown, 6 plays, 74 yards
Q3 NorthwesternMissed FG, 11 plays, 40 yards
Q3 KentuckyPunt, 4 plays, 19 yards
Q4 NorthwesternPunt, 5 plays, 13 yards
Q4 KentuckyPunt, 5 plays, 12 yards
Q4 NorthwesternTurnover on downs, 5 plays, 73 yards
Q4 KentuckyPick-six, 2 plays (Northwestern scores), 14 yards
Q4 KentuckyField goal, 10 plays, 44 yards
Q4 NorthwesternTurnover on downs, 5 plays, 22 yards
Q4 KentuckyTouchdown, 4 plays, 39 yards
Q4 NorthwesternEnd of game, 1 play, −1 yard
Play by play
1st quarter8 drives, then Kentucky 7, Northwestern 3
Kentucky Touchdown, 5 plays
15:00
1st & 10 at own 35
Luke Otto kickoff for 52 yds , Zach Johnson return for 20 yds to the Kent 33
14:48
1st & 10 at own 33
Stephen Johnson pass complete to Tavin Richardson for 26 yds to the Nwest 41 for a 1ST down
14:20
1st & 10 at opp 41
Stephen Johnson run for 1 yd to the Nwest 40
13:48
2nd & 9 at opp 40
Stephen Johnson pass complete to Tavin Richardson for 37 yds to the Nwest 3 for a 1ST down
13:02
1st & goal at opp 3
Benny Snell Jr. run for no gain to the Nwest 3
12:42
2nd & goal at opp 3
Benny Snell Jr. run for 3 yds for a TD, (Austin MacGinnis KICK)Kentucky 7, Northwestern 0
Northwestern Punt, 3 plays
12:42
2nd & 10 at own 35
Austin MacGinnis kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
12:22
1st & 10 at own 24
Justin Jackson run for a loss of 1 yard to the Nwest 24 NORTHWESTERN Penalty, Personal Foul (-12 Yards) to the Nwest 12
11:53
2nd & 23 at own 12
Clayton Thorson pass complete to Bennett Skowronek for 10 yds to the Nwest 22
11:20
3rd & 13 at own 22
Clayton Thorson pass complete to Justin Jackson for 10 yds to the Nwest 32
10:55
4th & 3 at own 32
Hunter Niswander punt for 46 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the Kent 22
Kentucky Punt, 3 plays
10:38
1st & 10 at own 22
Benny Snell Jr. run for no gain to the Kent 22
10:17
2nd & 10 at own 22
Stephen Johnson pass incomplete
10:09
3rd & 10 at own 22
Stephen Johnson pass incomplete to Kayaune Ross
9:59
4th & 10 at own 22
Matt Panton punt for 46 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the Nwest 32
Northwestern Punt, 3 plays
9:49
1st & 10 at own 32
Justin Jackson run for 3 yds to the Nwest 35
9:23
2nd & 7 at own 35
Clayton Thorson pass incomplete to Bennett Skowronek
9:00
3rd & 7 at own 35
Clayton Thorson sacked by Joshua Paschal for a loss of 9 yards to the Nwest 26
8:38
4th & 16 at own 26
Hunter Niswander punt for 49 yds, fair catch by Charles Walker at the Kent 25
Kentucky Punt, 3 plays
8:25
1st & 10 at own 25
Stephen Johnson pass complete to Lynn Bowden Jr. for a loss of 2 yards to the Kent 23
7:46
2nd & 12 at own 23
Sihiem King run for 5 yds to the Kent 28
7:23
3rd & 7 at own 28
Stephen Johnson pass incomplete to Tavin Richardson
7:14
4th & 7 at own 28
Matt Panton punt for 42 yds, fair catch by Flynn Nagel at the Nwest 30
Northwestern Field goal, 11 plays
6:49
1st & 10 at own 30
Jeremy Larkin run for 28 yds to the Kent 42 for a 1ST down
6:33
1st & 10 at opp 42
Clayton Thorson pass complete to Bennett Skowronek for 6 yds to the Kent 36
6:06
2nd & 4 at opp 36
Jeremy Larkin run for 3 yds to the Kent 33
5:37
3rd & 1 at opp 33
Jeremy Larkin run for no gain to the Kent 33
5:05
4th & 1 at opp 33
Clayton Thorson run for 3 yds to the Kent 30 for a 1ST down
4:40
1st & 10 at opp 30
Clayton Thorson pass incomplete to Justin Jackson
4:20
2nd & 10 at opp 30
Jelani Roberts run for 12 yds to the Kent 18 for a 1ST down
4:00
1st & 10 at opp 18
Clayton Thorson pass incomplete to Justin Jackson
3:50
2nd & 10 at opp 18
Jeremy Larkin run for 3 yds to the Kent 15
3:19
3rd & 7 at opp 15
Clayton Thorson pass incomplete to Macan Wilson
3:14
4th & 7 at opp 15
Charlie Kuhbander 33 yd FG GOODKentucky 7, Northwestern 3
Kentucky Punt, 4 plays
3:14
4th & 7 at own 35
Luke Otto kickoff for 55 yds , Lynn Bowden Jr. return for 25 yds to the Kent 35
2:59
1st & 10 at own 35
Benny Snell Jr. run for 18 yds to the Nwest 47 for a 1ST down
2:35
1st & 10 at opp 47
Benny Snell Jr. run for 1 yd to the Nwest 46
1:50
2nd & 9 at opp 46
Stephen Johnson pass complete to Josh Ali for 5 yds to the Nwest 41
1:26
3rd & 4 at opp 41
Stephen Johnson pass incomplete
1:24
4th & 4 at opp 41
KENTUCKY Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the Nwest 46
1:16
4th & 9 at opp 46
Matt Panton punt for 46 yds for a touchback
Northwestern Touchdown, 7 plays
1:06
1st & 10 at own 20
Justin Jackson run for 4 yds to the Nwest 24
1:00
2nd & 6 at own 33
Clayton Thorson pass complete to Bennett Skowronek for 9 yds to the Nwest 33 for a 1ST down KENTUCKY Penalty, Personal Foul (15 Yards) to the Nwest 48 for a 1ST down
0:10
1st & 10 at own 48
Justin Jackson run for 7 yds to the Kent 45
0:00
2nd & 3 at opp 45
Justin Jackson run for 2 yds to the Kent 43
Q2 14:51
3rd & 1 at opp 43
Justin Jackson run for 14 yds to the Kent 29 for a 1ST down
Q2 14:23
1st & 10 at opp 29
Jeremy Larkin pass complete to Clayton Thorson for 24 yds to the Kent 5 for a 1ST down
Q2 14:07
1st & goal at opp 5
Justin Jackson run for 5 yds for a TD, (Charlie Kuhbander KICK)Northwestern 10, Kentucky 7
2nd quarter7 drives, then Northwestern 17, Kentucky 7
Kentucky Punt, 5 plays
14:07
1st & 10 at own 35
Luke Otto kickoff for 62 yds , Lynn Bowden Jr. return for 37 yds to the Kent 40
13:53
1st & 10 at own 40
Stephen Johnson pass incomplete to Justin Rigg
13:34
2nd & 10 at own 40
Stephen Johnson pass complete to Charles Walker for 23 yds to the Nwest 37 for a 1ST down
13:00
1st & 10 at opp 44
Benny Snell Jr. run for a loss of 7 yards to the Nwest 44 KENTUCKY Penalty, Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Benny Snell Jr.) to the Kent 41. Snell ejected for contacting official.
12:46
2nd & 32 at own 41
Stephen Johnson pass incomplete to Isaiah Epps
12:31
3rd & 32 at own 41
Stephen Johnson pass complete to Sihiem King for 3 yds to the Kent 44
12:00
4th & 29 at own 44
Matt Panton punt for 38 yds, fair catch by Flynn Nagel at the Nwest 18
Northwestern Turnover on downs, 8 plays
11:51
1st & 10 at own 18
Justin Jackson run for 14 yds to the Nwest 32 for a 1ST down
11:21
1st & 10 at own 32
Matt Alviti run for 3 yds to the Nwest 35
10:51
2nd & 7 at own 35
Justin Jackson run for no gain to the Nwest 35
9:59
3rd & 7 at own 35
Matt Alviti run for 16 yds to the Kent 49 for a 1ST down
9:43
1st & 10 at opp 49
Flynn Nagel run for 4 yds to the Kent 45
9:04
2nd & 6 at opp 45
Justin Jackson run for no gain to the Kent 45
8:33
3rd & 6 at opp 45
Justin Jackson run for 3 yds to the Kent 42
7:55
4th & 3 at opp 42
Matt Alviti pass incomplete to Jace James
Kentucky Interception, 2 plays
7:43
1st & 10 at own 42
Sihiem King run for 2 yds to the Kent 44
7:17
2nd & 8 at own 44
Stephen Johnson pass intercepted Montre Hartage return for no gain to the Nwest 48
Northwestern Touchdown, 5 plays
7:05
1st & 10 at own 48
Matt Alviti pass complete to Charlie Fessler for 28 yds to the Kent 24 for a 1ST down
6:40
1st & 10 at opp 24
Justin Jackson run for 1 yd to the Kent 23
6:26
2nd & 9 at opp 23
Justin Jackson run for 3 yds to the Kent 20
5:39
3rd & 6 at opp 20
Justin Jackson run for 18 yds to the Kent 2 for a 1ST down
5:12
1st & goal at opp 2
Justin Jackson run for 2 yds for a TD, (Charlie Kuhbander KICK)Northwestern 17, Kentucky 7
Kentucky Punt, 6 plays
5:12
1st & 10 at own 35
Luke Otto kickoff for 50 yds , Kash Daniel return for 21 yds to the Kent 36
5:00
1st & 10 at own 36
Stephen Johnson pass complete to Tavin Richardson for 6 yds to the Kent 42
4:22
2nd & 4 at own 42
Stephen Johnson run for no gain to the Kent 42
3:57
3rd & 4 at own 42
Stephen Johnson pass complete to Garrett Johnson for 25 yds to the Nwest 33 for a 1ST down
3:18
1st & 10 at opp 33
Asim Rose run for 3 yds to the Nwest 30
2:35
2nd & 7 at opp 30
Asim Rose run for 2 yds to the Nwest 28
2:01
3rd & 5 at opp 28
Stephen Johnson pass incomplete
2:01
4th & 5 at opp 28
KENTUCKY Penalty, Unsportsmanlike Conduct (-15 Yards) to the Nwest 43
1:48
4th & 20 at opp 43
Matt Panton punt for 26 yds, downed at the Nwest 17
Northwestern Punt, 3 plays
1:11
1st & 10 at own 17
Matt Alviti sacked by Calvin Taylor Jr. for a loss of 2 yards to the Nwest 15
0:42
2nd & 12 at own 15
Justin Jackson run for 10 yds to the Nwest 25
0:42
3rd & 2 at own 25
Timeout KENTUCKY, clock 00:42
0:39
3rd & 2 at own 25
Justin Jackson run for 1 yd to the Nwest 26
0:39
4th & 1 at own 26
Timeout KENTUCKY, clock 00:39
0:31
4th & 1 at own 26
Hunter Niswander punt for 41 yds , Charles Walker returns for 5 yds to the Kent 38
Austin MacGinnis kickoff for 65 yds , Jeremy Larkin return for 17 yds to the Nwest 17
4:20
1st & 10 at own 17
Justin Jackson run for 13 yds to the Nwest 30 for a 1ST down
3:20
1st & 10 at own 30
Justin Jackson run for 7 yds to the Nwest 37
2:41
2nd & 3 at own 37
Justin Jackson run for a loss of 1 yard to the Nwest 36
2:41
3rd & 4 at own 36
Timeout KENTUCKY, clock 02:41
2:36
3rd & 4 at own 36
Justin Jackson run for 3 yds to the Nwest 39
2:36
4th & 1 at own 39
Timeout KENTUCKY, clock 02:36
2:31
4th & 1 at own 39
Matt Alviti run for no gain to the Nwest 39
Kentucky Touchdown, 4 plays
2:23
1st & 10 at opp 39
Stephen Johnson pass complete to Justin Rigg for 16 yds to the Nwest 23 for a 1ST down
1:54
1st & 10 at opp 23
Stephen Johnson run for 6 yds to the Nwest 17
1:01
2nd & 4 at opp 17
Stephen Johnson sacked by Warren Long for a loss of 2 yards to the Nwest 19
0:50
3rd & 6 at opp 19
Johnson, Stephen pass incomplete, PENALTY NORTHWSTRN holding 10 yards to the NORTHWSTRN9, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN KENTUCKY.
0:37
1st & goal at opp 9
Stephen Johnson run for 9 yds for a TD, (Two-Point Conversion failed )Northwestern 24, Kentucky 23
Northwestern End of game, 1 play
0:36
1st & 10 at own 35
Austin MacGinnis kickoff for 40 yds
0:00
1st & 10 at own 25
TEAM run for a loss of 1 yard to the Nwest 24
Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.