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Kentucky ready to measure up in Stoops' third year?
They say that it takes until a coach's third full season before you can truly start judging his effect on a program. With that in mind, how will the Wildcats measure up as Mark Stoops enters his third year at the program's helm?
Improvement was evident for Kentucky in 2014, as the team improved to five wins from just two the year before. The Wildcats did, however, lose their final six contests to fall short of qualifying for a bowl game. Going 1-7 again in SEC play will not be enough to consider Stoops' third season a success.
Ultimately, the team's success will be largely determined in three games this season, as pointed out by Mark Story of Herald-Leader.
The first is an October 24 matchup in Starkville against Mississippi State. Kentucky has traditionally fared well on the road in this matchup, winning three of four between 2002 and 2008. But the Wildcats will have their hands full this season trying to stop Heisman candidate Dak Prescott and the Bulldogs, who won 10 games last season.
The next game on Story's list is a November 14 showdown with Vanderbilt. This one may not have the national hype of a typical SEC rivalry, but it's a game in which Kentucky will desperately need to take advantage of an opponent that went winless in conference play last year. This may also be the only in-conference game Kentucky is favored to win.
Last on the list is Kentucky's intrastate rivalry game with Louisville on November 28. The Wildcats will be hungry to avenge a heartbreaking 44-40 loss to the Cardinals last year, and like last year, they may again find their bowl hopes hanging on a win in that contest.
(h/t Herald-Leader)
Image Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
