It is a measure of the improvement in the Kentucky football program under Mark Stoops that the type of season that used to be celebrated at UK — 7-6 with a bowl trip — was considered a major disappointment for the Wildcats in 2022.
The good news for backers of the Blue is that with Liam Coen back from a year’s hiatus in the NFL to run the Kentucky offense and former North Carolina State star Devin Leary in to quarterback the Wildcats, UK should field a better team in 2023 than it had in 2022.
Alas, with Alabama joining Georgia on the Cats’ 2023 schedule, it is also possible Kentucky will boast a substantially better team without producing a markedly better record.
In this week when UK wrapped up spring practice, it seems an appropriate time to look ahead. Here are 10 ways that Stoops and troops could make positive history in 2023:
— Target of opportunity one: Beat Florida for a third straight season for the first time since UK beat the Gators four in a row from 1948 through 1951.
The lay of the land: Coming off back-to-back victories over Florida — 20-13 in Lexington in 2021; 26-16 in Gainesville last season — Kentucky will get a home-field shot on Sept. 30 to make it three in a row vs. the Gators.
Odds of a Big Blue breakthrough: Good.
— Target of opportunity two: Beat Vanderbilt in Nashville for a fourth straight time, something UK has not done since winning at Vandy in 1977, 1979, 1981 and 1983.
The lay of the land: Vanderbilt will draw confidence from its 24-21 upset of Kentucky last season in Lexington. However, UK has played better against Vandy in Nashville in recent years than in Lexington. The Wildcats have won the past three meetings with the Commodores in the Music City by a combined score of 116-52.
Odds of a Big Blue breakthrough: Good.
— Target of opportunity three: Beat Louisville for a fifth straight time, something the Cats have never done in the modern history (since 1994) of the Governor’s Cup rivalry.
The lay of the land: New U of L head man Jeff Brohm has been a good “rivalry coach.” At Western Kentucky (2014-2016), Brohm went 2-1 vs. Middle Tennessee State. At Purdue (2017-2022), Brohm was 4-1 against Indiana. However, Brohm has a massive gap to close in U of L’s rivalry with UK. The Wildcats have outscored the Cardinals a combined 179-57 in their past four meetings.
Odds of a Big Blue breakthrough: Good.
— Target of opportunity four: Beat Mississippi State in Starkville for the first time since 2008.
The lay of the land: State is a mystery team in 2023. Former MSU defensive coordinator Zach Arnett is moving up to head coach to replace the late Mike Leach. Arnett brought in Appalachia State offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay to run the Bulldogs’ attack and the duo is junking Leach’s famed Air Raid attack.
Odds of a Big Blue breakthrough: Medium.
— Target of opportunity five: Beat Florida, Tennessee and Louisville in the same season for the first time.
The lay of the land: Three times in the past five seasons, Kentucky has beaten both UF and U of L but has not been able to add Tennessee to create a “triple crown” of football victories that the BBN would cherish.
Odds of a Big Blue breakthrough: Medium.
— Target of opportunity six: Beat Georgia for the first time since 2009.
The lay of the land: Since a 27-24 Kentucky loss to Georgia in 2016 in Kirby Smart’s first season as top Dawg, UK has not played the Bulldogs within single digits since. Kentucky has scored only three total touchdowns in its past four games vs. Georgia.
Odds of a Big Blue breakthrough: Low.
— Target of opportunity seven: Beat Alabama for the first time since 1997.
The lay of the land: Kentucky is 2-38-1 all-time vs. Bama — but the “Saban-ic forces” will have to come north to Lexington on Nov. 11 in what could be much cooler temperatures than the Crimson Tide are accustomed to.
Odds of Big Blue breakthrough: Low.
— Target of opportunity eight: Beat Georgia and Alabama in the same season for the first time.
The lay of the land: Kentucky has lost seven straight vs. Alabama and 13 in a row to Georgia.
Odds of a Big Blue breakthrough: Low.
— Target of opportunity nine: Win the SEC East for the first time.
The lay of the land: It is widely expected that the Southeastern Conference will scrap divisions when Oklahoma and Texas join the league in 2024 — so this could be UK’s final chance to claim a division crown.
Odds of a Big Blue breakthrough: Low.
— Target of opportunity 10: Play in a major bowl for the first time since the 1951 season yielded a UK trip to the Cotton Bowl.
The lay of the land: One can reasonably surmise that it will take 10 regular-season victories to earn a berth in a “New Year’s six” bowl. For Kentucky, getting to 10 wins in a season when it must play both Alabama and Georgia is a monumental ask.
Odds of a Big Blue breakthrough: Low.
