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Kentucky Football: Six Must-Win Games In 2016

By Maxwell Ogden

Oct 24, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops celebrates after a replay confirmed a touchdown during the first quarter of the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops celebrates after a replay confirmed a touchdown during the first quarter of the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 5, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; New Mexico State Aggies running back Larry Rose III (3) scores a touchdown against the Florida Gators during the second quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; New Mexico State Aggies running back Larry Rose III (3) scores a touchdown against the Florida Gators during the second quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

New Mexico State Aggies

Date: Saturday, September 17
Venue: Commonwealth Stadium
2015 W-L Record: 3-9 (3-5)
2015 Head-to-Head Result: N/A

The New Mexico State Aggies aren’t a terrible team, but they shouldn’t give Kentucky football too much trouble. That will only prove true if Kentucky enters the game with the proper mentality and doesn’t take New Mexico State lightly.

If Mark Stoops has his players prepared for battle on both sides of the ball, the Wildcats should get a convincing win in Week 3.

Simply put, the Wildcats are the vastly superior team in this comparison. New Mexico State went 3-9 in 2015, with all three of its wins coming against opponents in the Sun Belt Conference—not exactly the stiffest level of competition.

If Drew Barker and the Wildcats can’t win this game in convincing fashion, then it may be time for Stoops to restructure his depth chart.

The Wildcats open the season with tough games against Southern Miss and Florida. Whether Kentucky is 2-0, 1-1, or 0-2 entering the game against New Mexico State, it needs to beat the teams that it’s supposed to beat.

If Kentucky can contain Larry Rose—1,651 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns in 2015—it should win this game quite handily.

Next: September 24

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