SEC East Team Previews: How your team heads to SEC Championship Game

Nov 29, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops reacts during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John

Kentucky Wildcats

Mark Stoops is slowly turning things around at Kentucky. The Wildcats went 5-7 last season and did have a win against South Carolina. The majority of the remaining victories were against inferior non-conference opponents. However, we are seeing progress at a university that has been overshadowed by its basketball program for decades.

That said, it’s hard to look at their 2015 schedule and see how they win more games this year. Kentucky is a ways away from competing for a division title, but a reasonable goal is to make a bowl game. To do so, they are going to have to upset a few of their SEC opponents.

Book a trip to Atlanta: This is not where the Kentucky program is currently at. I suppose if you were to get Mark Stoops in a moment of candor he would admit to that as well.

Quarterback Patrick Towles returns at quarterback for Kentucky along with quite a few other veteran players. Phil Steele estimates that the Wildcats will have 14 returning starters, which is more than many teams in the East.

Kentucky will eye a bowl game along with a winning record, but to do so they will have to steal some games against SEC East opponents.

Next: Vanderbilt