Sunday Quickies: Season-Changing Win Edition

With a win against the Vols, Kentucky puts themselves back on track for a successful 2020 season

By Zac Oakes@ZacOakes Oct 18, 2020, 6:40am EDT

Through four games, Kentucky now sits at 2-2, a record many thought Kentucky would hold through the first four games.

It didn’t necessarily happen the way many thought it would. Kentucky opened the season with back-to-back crushing losses, but a 24-2 victory over a Mike Leach - led Mississippi State squad, as well as a 34-7 victory in Knoxville have Kentucky sitting at .500 on the season.

The Wildcats went into Knoxville with a chip on their shoulder and came away with a win that provides a desperate injection of momentum into the team and the fanbase as well.

Kentucky’s defensive unit showed they still have the talent and skill to go up against SEC offenses week in and week out, and that the mistakes and miscues of the first two weeks weren’t a constant plague hanging over the unit.

And as for the offense, after a rocky start, that unit was able to find its identity in the second half and QB Terry Wilson played a pretty solid game. The stat line was nothing mind-boggling, but Wilson was efficient and was a couple dropped passes away from having a really great game.

All of this gives the Wildcats plenty to build upon as they head into the rest of the schedule, which will be no easy road to travel.

Kentucky goes on the road for a critical division matchup next week against Missouri, who had an unexpected week off this week when the Missouri-Vanderbilt matchup was postponed due to COVID-19.

The Tigers lost to Alabama and Tennessee to start the season, but defeated LSU last week.

After that, the Wildcats will play host to Georgia and Vanderbilt, before embarking on road trips to Gainesville and Tuscaloosa and then returning home to end the season with a matchup against South Carolina on the first Saturday in December.

Looking ahead, the possibility of finishing 5-5 on the season is on the table, and at first glance, that doesn’t sound like a lot to look forward to, but considering the schedule, the start to the season, and the 10-game conference slate, a 5-5 record is nothing to be disappointed with for Kentucky.

An even better finish is possible though. Georgia and Florida aren’t unbeatable, and it isn’t crazy to think that Kentucky could catch the Bulldogs off guard looking ahead to a matchup against the Gators the next week. It also isn’t crazy to think the Wildcats couldn’t pull an upset on the Gators, who have shown some holes on the defensive side of the ball.

Yesterday’s win provides optimism for Kentucky going forward. Couple that with the joy of finally winning in Knoxville, and yesterday’s victory was a major cause for celebration in the Big Blue Nation.