After Kentucky's gritty 10-3 win at Auburn, the mood in Big Blue Nation shifted from "when will Stoops be fired?" to "wait, can this team actually go bowling?" It might sound crazy given their 3-5 record (1-5 SEC), but a quick look at the remaining schedule shows that a path to a bowl game is surprisingly realistic. That would definitely ensure a run back of the Stoops/Hamdan pairing.
Kentucky needs to win three of its last four games to secure the six wins necessary for bowl eligibility. Let's look at the possible path.
Kentucky football's path to six wins and bowl eligibility
- vs. Florida (3-5, 2-3 SEC): This is a very winnable game. The Gators are coming off an emotional loss to Georgia and are currently without a head coach after firing Billy Napier. They will be making their first trip to Lexington in November since 1990. This is a must-win, and Kentucky should be favored at home, even with their 10-game home SEC losing streak.
- vs. Tennessee Tech (8-0, 5-0 FCS): This should be a guaranteed victory. While Tennessee Tech is undefeated, they are an FCS opponent. Kentucky cannot afford to slip up here, and they shouldn't.
- @ Vanderbilt (7-2, 3-2 SEC): This is the toughest remaining test. Vandy is a very good football team. However, they play a physical, defensive style that is similar to Kentucky's. Mark Stoops-coached teams often keep these hard-hitting, low-scoring games close. It's certainly not an impossible game.
- @ Louisville (7-1, 4-1 ACC): The rivalry game for the Governor's Cup. Kentucky has not lost in Louisville in a decade. While this game is always a toss-up, history and pride play a huge factor. It's a winnable game.
Winning three of these four is not a long shot. A 3-1 finish gets the Wildcats to 6-6. So, if they pull it off, where could they be spending December?
Based on the SEC's current bowl tie-ins, the three most likely destinations for a 6-6 Kentucky team would be:
- TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl (Birmingham, AL) vs. American
- Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl (Tampa, FL) vs. American
- SRS Distributors Las Vegas Bowl (Las Vegas, NV) vs. Pac-12
Could Mark Stoops really turn it around and make a bowl game? The schedule easing up gives him a chance.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion