Kentucky faces a big challenge if it wants to rise above the middle of an expanded Southeastern Conference, now stronger with the addition of two major college football teams.
Coach Mark Stoops is hoping that having a strong defense and a faster offense under a new coordinator will help the Wildcats stay competitive against one of their toughest schedules in recent years.
Kentucky went 7-6 last year and 3-5 in the SEC. This season, they will face AP Top 25 preseason No. 1 Georgia and No. 6 Mississippi. The fourth-ranked Texas and No. 16 Oklahoma have joined the SEC, but the Wildcats will only play Texas in a demanding schedule that leaves little room for mistakes.
“We’ve got to get better,” Stoops said. “We’ve got to find a way to make those plays in critical moments to push us over the top. We’re not interested in just existing. …
We want to find a way to improve, use these rules, whatever it is, to make changes, to make that jump to get to the next level. It’s extremely challenging.”
The Wildcats benefit from the return of SEC interceptions co-leader Maxwell Hairston, among 10 defensive starters and 21 total returning players from a team that made a school-record eighth consecutive bowl appearance.
Return specialist Barion Brown, who was one of the league’s top all-purpose players, is expected to excel in a faster-paced offense under new coordinator Bush Hamdan.
Dane Key (636 yards receiving, six touchdowns) and Brown (539 yards, four touchdowns) lead a receiving group that has been working with former Georgia backup quarterback Brock Vandagriff.
Vandagriff is among 26 new transfers brought in to strengthen the roster, including a rushing defense that allowed 113.1 yards per game, second in the league behind Georgia.
