MARK STOOPS

Georgia and Alabama could be heading for another showdown in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

Georgia finds itself in a most unusual position.

We're checking the temperature of the USC football coaching search. Penn State's James Franklin is considered a top candidate. Urban Meyer still isn't.

Trevin Wallace returned a blocked field goal 76 yards for the go-ahead touchdown late in the third quarter, Chris Rodriguez Jr. added a 9-yard scoring run early in the fourth and Kentucky made a final defensive stand to hold off No. 10 Florida 20-13.

The rich got even richer in the Southeastern Conference when the transfer floodgates opened wide.

24 North Carolina State 23-21 on Saturday in a chippy TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. “John was definitely looking down on us; Coach Schlarman definitely inspired us all,” said Rose, who was named Kentucky's bowl game MVP. “Those are four really good run defenders against a really good rushing offense,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said. Kentucky: The Wildcats won their third bowl game in as many seasons for the second time in school history. UP NEXTNorth Carolina State: Opens the 2021 season at home against USF on Sept. 2.

(AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)Kentucky offensive lineman Kenneth Horsey is one of three winners announced Saturday of the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award, along with Colorado running back Jarek Broussard and Coastal Carolina linebacker Silas Kelly. Horsey overcame a heart condition that required surgery and threatened his career to become a starter on Kentucky's offensive line. Last year, Georgia Southern offensive lineman Drew Wilson was the Bowl Subdivision winner of the Comeback Player of the Year award and Horsey's teammate linebacker Josh Paschal received honorable mention. Usually winners are selected from lower divisions of college football, too, but since the pandemic postponed those seasons three winners were selected in major college football. Horsey said he found inspiration in Kentucky offensive line coach John Schlarman, who continued working while being treated for cancer.

24 North Carolina State (8-3) is a 2 ½-point underdog against Kentucky (4-6) in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, a number the Wolfpack consider a slight heading into Saturday's game in Jacksonville. Kentucky was so bad offensively that coach Mark Stoops fired two assistants less than 24 hours after the regular-season finale. “They can put us down all they want, but we know what we have in the locker room, and that’s it,” NC State quarterback Bailey Hockman said. FAMILY AFFAIRHockman has an uncle who played at Kentucky, and the Gator Bowl matchup has prompted some trash talk. It’s family before everything,” said Bailey, who landed at NC State after transferring from Florida State.