Photo by Keyli Chisesi (Go Big Blue Country)
At 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the SEC, there is still a lot to be achieved for the UK football program. Sure, the schedule may never be this favorable again and missed opportunities vs. Florida and Ole Miss sting but opportunities are still available.
A win this Saturday vs. Vanderbilt would give Kentucky a record of 7-3. The last time a Wildcat team was 7-3 was the 2007 team, who also picked up their seventh victory on the road in Nashville. However, that team ended the regular season with losses at Georgia and at home vs. Tennessee to turn a 6-1 start into an average 7-5 season.
Following this weekends date with the Commodores, Kentucky travels to Athens to face the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs, before the season finale at home with rival Louisville.
Just looking at that schedule, Kentucky could easily win a couple of those games or they could drop them all. The latter would result in a mediocre 6-6 campaign. Although the Wildcats would make a second consecutive Bowl trip, the hype that surrounded the program prior to the season and a limp towards the finish line would leave a sour taste in the mouths of fans.
The best-case scenario is they win all three, while the worst is they drop them all. If they pick up one victory to guarantee a 7-5 finish, that would be a push, as fans would consider the season no regression or progress.
The ugly truth is Kentucky has three regular-season games left to put a stamp on the regular season. Two victories would give them an 8 win season, which would be the best finish since the 1984 Wildcats finished 9-3. One more victory would also give them a 4-4 record in conference play for the second consecutive season. The East may be down but things are much worse for Florida, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt, than they are for Kentucky.
Three games to change the narrative and push the program a step forward. A strong finish will solidify recruiting, while a less than stellar final three weeks could result in prospects choosing to go elsewhere.
Under Stoops, UK has been known for fast starts and lackluster finishes. Last year was the difference, as Kentucky finished by winning four of their final six games. However, most fans think that is the outlier and rely more on the 0-6 and 1-5 finishes in previous years.
For five years, Stoops has been able to sell the future and some of the best facilities in the country. At some point, that sales pitch has to include victories that show the program is moving in the right direction. Sure, wins vs. Vanderbilt and Louisville aren’t flashy but an 8-4 regular season shows growth, which is what Mark Stoops needs the most.
