Can this team win 10 games next season?

[darkshadesofblue]

We have a pretty favorable schedule next season with exception of Florida and Tennessee
http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-17/2017-kentucky-wildcats-football-schedule.php

 

[MrKentucky]

If they have one of those seasons where the stars align, I think they can. Aren't we due for that to happen?

Realistically I'm guessing we look at 7-9 wins. 6 would be a letdown after getting 7 this year, 7 would make us all content, 8 happy and 9 thrilled.

 

[Ukbrassowtipin]

7 or 8

 

[John Henry]

9 regular season plus a bowl victory would make my day

 

[Michigan Fan]

We have a pretty favorable schedule next season with exception of Florida and Tennessee
http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-17/2017-kentucky-wildcats-football-schedule.php

You now have the talent to win 10 games...very simple...nobody on your schedule next year you should Fear...Ole Miss replaces Alabama...Louisville-(replacing 4 defensive starters and the interior of the OL), Florida-(which loses a ton), Tennessee-(which loses a ton), Ole Miss and Missouri at home.

 

[EliteBlue]

Next year would be the year to get over these hurdles that have haunted us. Need to get a W over UT or UF.

 

[sparkstoestheline]

I doubt it. This team could win 10 but they could win 5. The SEC was very young this year. It'll be much tougher next year even without playing bama. How excited I will be based off of number of wins next regular season:
5 wins: far stoops
6 wins: *yawn *shrugs
7 wins: *golf claps
8 wins: *fist pumping
9 wins: *double fisting
10 wins: *jailed or hospitalized/still double fisting

 

[Blueaz]

Obviously, seven is a must.

Eight or nine seems to be possible.

10 regular season wins seems doubtful.

What about the direction? If we falter and only win the 5 games that we definetly should win.
I really don't want to keep switching coaches, but...

 

[Oldtrainer_rivals]

Imo every SEC team on our schedule with exception of Mizzou and Vandy had higher rank recruiting classes than my CATS past five seasons. But you never know what you got till they play and this season CATS youngsters made steady positive progress as season developed. During most of the UofL game CATS on defense had at same time seven sophomores on field! Next season these players will be joined by most in numbers and talented red-shirt class in Stoops era!
I stated that seven wins were doable this season and next year eight wins is very doable. WILDCAT football future is improving!
I don't give credence to trolls and band-wagon fans!

 

[vhcat70]

I think we could win any game on the schedule. Issue is can we sustain top level play in all games. I doubt it. We won't be that deep & talented. I'll guess 8 +/-.

 

[Levibooty]

The best thing about our schedule next year is:
Florida @Tennessee
Tennessee @ Alabama
Ole Miss vs Arkansas

Those are the three opponents for UF, UT, and Ole Miss the week before they play us. They could be beat up a bit when we play them.

 

[On-On-UK_rivals45415]

It's a great home schedule for the fans, but not easy. And the road games will be tough too.

All of our SEC road foes are bowl bound this year, including 5-7 Miss. St. (go figure).
Vandy's a team we typically write off as a win, but they beat Georgia and a ranked Tennessee team, something we haven't been able to do in forever. Even S.Carolina beat Tennessee.

Ten wins is not out of the question, but there are plenty of huge obstacles to overcome.
Can we finally beat Tennessee, Georgia and Florida?

 

[DelkBowl]

IF SJ plays like in ul game maybe. If not, no.

 

[docholiday51]

The best thing about our schedule next year is:
Florida @Tennessee
Tennessee @ Alabama
Ole Miss vs Arkansas

Those are the three opponents for UF, UT, and Ole Miss the week before they play us. They could be beat up a bit when we play them.

Not wishing any serious injuries on anyone,but I hope UT has only 6 players who are walking without a slight limp when they roll into town next year

 

[Rockford]

Counting wins over teams that out recruited us for the past five years is unrealistic.

The real question is, have we closed the gap enough to upset one of them at Commonwealth? (I'm looking at you UF and UT!) Only have done that once in the 30 years. In a "stars align" year we would upset them both. I'm hoping we do it in 2017.

I'm hoping we get 7 next season, and that is going to be tough.

 

[pickled cat]

We have a pretty favorable schedule next season with exception of Florida and Tennessee
http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-17/2017-kentucky-wildcats-football-schedule.php

We don"t know what other teams will produce in the off season . so many times we have sold our own team short by trying to Guess the outcome. I hate to scan a schedule searching for wins, makes us all seem desperate. Lets just come out and support this team as if they could win every game, because you know what, they very well could! GBB!!

 

[macaca]

If Cats can sweep the MS schools then I can see 8-9 wins. 7 seems most likely but 8 or 9 is doable

 

[Rhavic]

Next year would be the year to get over these hurdles that have haunted us. Need to get a W over UT or UF.

Do this, and the team wins 10 regular season games, imo.
The Public Enemy makes a good point above. A lot of players are leaving these teams, damn good players at that. We return a lot of players, and again, damn good players, with a lot of experience. Shoulda won 8 this year, we all know that. Thinking 8 is our floor next year, with a much easier schedule the way I see it, and we could have a special season.
10 wins is absolutely possible. 11 if we can muster up a win against Georgia, that depends on if certain UGA players leave as well.

 

[pikespeak1]

We have a pretty favorable schedule next season with exception of Florida and Tennessee
http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-17/2017-kentucky-wildcats-football-schedule.php

We have a floor of 6 and a ceiling of 10. I'd set the over/under at 8.

 

[UKSanders_rivals37733]

One big factor that hasn't been mentioned yet... coaches of 2 swing games

Dan Mullen - name has been floated for a couple of jobs. If he leaves, I think they take a significant step backward

Butch Jones - does he survive the offseason? If he does and UT comes out of the gates slow (play Georgia Tech, Florida, Bama, and USC prior to UK), is he a dead man walking and has lost the team leading up to the UK game?

 

[docholiday51]

One big factor that hasn't been mentioned yet... coaches of 2 swing games

Dan Mullen - name has been floated for a couple of jobs. If he leaves, I think they take a significant step backward

Butch Jones - does he survive the offseason? If he does and UT comes out of the gates slow (play Georgia Tech, Florida, Bama, and USC prior to UK), is he a dead man walking and has lost the team leading up to the UK game?

You really can't like Jones' chances unless he wins 4 of those 5 games,if UT tanks their bowl game he may not be there at the beginning of next year.

 

[Michigan Fan]

We have a floor of 6 and a ceiling of 10. I'd set the over/under at 8.

I can't believe as a Louisville guy I have a higher opinion of UK In 2017 in comparison to some in this thread. You guys return 19 out of 22 starters that have finally learned how to close out games...Kentucky won 7 out of the last 10 while playing in the SEC...If you beat Georgia Tech it would become 8-3 to close out in reality it should be 9-2-(y'all had Georgia beat). Point being if you win the Taxslayer Bowl don't be surprised if you enter 2017 in the Top 25...

 

[ThwKentuckyKid]

Win one at a time.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

No, don't see it.

 

[cardkilla_rivals379685]

In order to do that, the Cats have to come out ready to play from game 1. They can't lose a game like Southern Miss obviously. With that said, if there is ever a season to do it, next year could be it. You get your tougher games at home(UT, FL, Ole Miss and UL) and winnable games on the road. Cats would need to be no worse than 5-1 going into the bye week. Which is certainly doable. If we're able to FINALLY get over the Florida hump, the Cats could be 6-0 in the bye week (3-0 SEC). Cats have to go no worse than 2-2 against GA,FL,UT, and UL to have a season like we dream of though. Which means the Cats have to do something they haven't done since the 70s, beat really good teams consistently. But there is not one game you can circle as a 'can't win' game. No Bama, no LSU, no Texas A&M

 

[bthaunert]

Here is a better way to look at it. If we are talking regular season, there are only 10 Power 5 teams and only 1 SEC team that won 10 games this year. This year, of those 10 teams, 9 finished the regular season ranked in the Top 10. If we are saying we are a 10 win team, you're basically saying we are a top 10 team next year. I would LOVE 8-4 next year, head to another good bowl and finish 9-4. I mean, Rich Brooks was a decent coach here, with some decent talent and never won more than 7 regular season games. You're talking a 3 game improvement over Brooks best season.

 

[maysvilleky]

I don't think the schedule is as easy as some think. Our home games are much tougher next year (other than our gimmes) and we are on the road at Southern Miss. Winning At Vandy and at South Carolina who are also on upticks will be tough.

My early prediction will be 6 - 7 wins. The same as what I thought this year. Anything above that will be gravy.

 

[Michigan Fan]

Here is a better way to look at it. If we are talking regular season, there are only 10 Power 5 teams and only 1 SEC team that won 10 games this year. This year, of those 10 teams, 9 finished the regular season ranked in the Top 10. If we are saying we are a 10 win team, you're basically saying we are a top 10 team next year. I would LOVE 8-4 next year, head to another good bowl and finish 9-4. I mean, Rich Brooks was a decent coach here, with some decent talent and never won more than 7 regular season games. You're talking a 3 game improvement over Brooks best season.

Will UK win 10 games in 2017...you're correct the odds are against it...but for the first time since the 70s they should fear no one on the schedule. It helps when you have one of the best RB Corps in the nation

 

[Bank Cat]

I can't believe as a Louisville guy I have a higher opinion of UK In 2017 in comparison to some in this thread. You guys return 19 out of 22 starters that have finally learned how to close out games...Kentucky won 7 out of the last 10 while playing in the SEC...If you beat Georgia Tech it would become 8-3 to close out in reality it should be 9-2-(y'all had Georgia beat). Point being if you win the Taxslayer Bowl don't be surprised if you enter 2017 in the Top 25...

TPE, it's a football-version of Stockholm Syndrome, dude! Or we've become "institutionalized" like Brooks Hadlin!
It's going to take us a while, but by August we'll be convinced of an SEC East championship!

 

[Michigan Fan]

I don't think the schedule is as easy as some think. Our home games are much tougher next year (other than our gimmes) and we are on the road at Southern Miss. Winning At Vandy and at South Carolina who are also on upticks will be tough.

My early prediction will be 6 - 7 wins. The same as what I thought this year. Anything above that will be gravy.

Go higher...7 wins should be the floor...minimum 3-1 OOC and 4-4 SEC...could easily be better

 

[merrimanm]

We need to understand that going from 2-10 to 7-6 or 8-5 is hard, but much easier than that next step. Getting to 10 wins, and even 9 wins is much tougher. Especially with our schedule

 

[irishcat1965]

I doubt it. This team could win 10 but they could win 5. The SEC was very young this year. It'll be much tougher next year even without playing bama. How excited I will be based off of number of wins next regular season:
5 wins: far stoops
6 wins: *yawn *shrugs
7 wins: *golf claps
8 wins: *fist pumping
9 wins: *double fisting
10 wins: *jailed or hospitalized/still double fisting

Better buy a lot of lubricant if they win 9 or more.

 

[Xception]

Go bowling go bowling go bowling go bowling go bowling 10 win season

 

[Randy Bob]

We are playing in the SEC, i do not ever see Ky winning 10 games , lucky to get back to 7 or 8..

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

I can see us going 8-4 during the regular season. A win in a Bowl game would put us at 9-4, that would be very good progress.
Who knows what the 2018 season could produce after back to back Bowl games !

 

[willievic]

Even with all the players coming back, it will take a lot of luck to just win 9, but let's hope for 12 plus a bowl game. Will we get them, I doubt it, but if your going to dream, dream big.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[Mr Schwump]

Not without an improved D.

 

[UKvisitor_rivals101449]

Too soon to call wins for next season. The play in the bowl games is important and coaching continuity. Do we lose any important member from this year's staff?

Cats win the bowl and the D gets a near shut out with the staff remaining close to the same, I would believe in a 10 win season for next year.

 

[catscratchfever3215]

There are to many unknowns and uncertainties at this point. This season's coaching carousel could really impact our opponents for next season. Then you have NSD, the transfer wire, graduation and underclassmen leaving for the draft. We also have a few unknown aspects to hash out. Will Boom test the NFL waters and if healthy and able will the coaching staff switch to Barker (would be huge mistake imo). Plus there is The chance we could lose a coach or 2 ourselves. As of now I would say 10 wins is possible but finishing under .500 is also possible.

If Johnson manages to put on some pounds and muscle while maintaining his speed and elusiveness. The coaches may elect to run him a little more to add that dynamic. Yes Johnson took a major step forward throwing the ball against UL if he can sustain that and improve it even more he could be scary good.

Then the question will Boom return or head to the NFL. If he returns we should have one of the top RB cores not just in the SEC but all of college football. Snell would be there from game 1 this season with experience . He should be able to add some more strength than before which could make him even harder to bring down. We do lose Kemp who could have been one of the best #3 in all of football. King (if he doesn't transfer) or Rose should be able to step in there and contribute.

We do lose our leader on the offensive line but we return all other starters. Toth will be hard to replace due to his leadership and work ethic. Jackson or Stallings should be able to step right in and ease the pain of the lose. Then all other lineman should be improved with another off-season to put in work and more experience. Plus Tate Leavitt should finally adjust from Juco to SEC football. Overall our line should improve even after losing its best player.

The WRs have all the skills necessary to become an elite group. Hopefully Bakers big TD catch finally gives him the confidence and he becomes the player we all know he can be. Juice has shown flashes of being an elite playmaker. Badet has top notch speed and is a great deep threat. Badet and Johnson also have great chemistry. Richardson at times look like he has the best hands. Conrad is an all around TE that can open this offense up. Johnson just has to learn how to hit him consistently.

The defensive side of the ball is where the problems seem to be. Starting at the top with the coordinator. The defense did seem to improve as the season went along and after Stoops took over though. 28th the red shirts coming off players and potential JUCO additions depth should be better here.

The line is where the biggest concerns seem to lie. We can all hope with the new additions via recruiting and youngsters it will improve. Also another off-season and not experience can't hurt. But to have a 10 win season we have to improve our pass rushing some how. 38th and improved line every other unit would benefit.

Jones play at linebacker speaks for itself. I just look for him to improve and become more disciplined with another year under his belt. The majority of fans seem to agree that Love is the weak link amongst the backers. Could Kash show enough before the start of the season to take over. Brown should be in line for a breakout year IMO. Allen and Ware should take a few steps forward in their ability to get to the QB and setting the edge. Myself I look for a major improvement here and think it will be the most improved unit on the team.

The secondary should improve on sheer experience alone. After a somewhat sophomore slump I look for Westry to bounce back. Baity showed improvment from his freshman season and from game one. According to Stoops Edwards is our best player so it's safe to assume that safety spot is ok. With the incumbent return of starting safety West We should get our best secondary play since Stoops arrival. Also depth is a non issue here. Defensive backs have been arguably the best recruited unit.

 

[gobgblu37]

If your going to dream, dream big. Cats have a real shot at the East title next year. Several things will have to go our way but we are waay over due. For me the biggest fear is injuries, we have been blessed this year with very few of them. Tenn and Fla both struggled down the stretch because of their high numbers of them, if the Football gods smile on us we can do it, I Believe!!!