Cavaliers defense makes a stance on the final play of the game for the bowl game victory.

Phil Mafah ran for four touchdowns, including a 3-yarder with 17 seconds to play, and Clemson beat Kentucky 38-35 in a wild Gator Bowl to finish the year on a five-game winning streak.

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.