He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats where he was the team's starting quarterback for seven games as a junior and was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft.

[9] Against Missouri, Bowden scored a 67-yard touchdown on the first punt return of his career while also catching 13 passes for 166 yards and was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week.

[10] Bowden entered his junior season on the Hornung and Fred Biletnikoff Award watchlists and second-team preseason All-SEC.

[12] In his first start against Arkansas, Bowden led Kentucky to a 24–20 win after completing seven of 11 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown along with 24 carries for 196 yards and two touchdowns and was named the SEC Co-Offensive player of the Week and the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week.

[14] Bowden set the SEC record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a single game when he rushed for 284 yards and four touchdowns against rival Louisville in the final game of the regular season and was again named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week and the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week.

[17] He was named a consensus first-team All-American after being selected by the American Football Coaches Association, AP and the Sporting News.

[18][19][20] Bowden announced that he would enter the 2020 NFL draft after playing in Kentucky's bowl game, forgoing his senior season.

[25] He was officially drafted at the running back position by the Raiders with the intention of using him as a "utility player" on offense.

[27] Bowden made his NFL debut on September 20, 2020, against the Buffalo Bills, catching one pass for a loss of one yard.