(This is the third of a 14-part series previewing the Sun Belt Conference and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns opponents for the 2015 season.  Today:  Kentucky.  The Cajuns and Wildcats open the season in Lexington on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 6pm (ESPNU).

The 2014 season started with so much promise.

The Kentucky Wildcats won five of their first six games last year, including two SEC wins for the first time since 2011.  Their only loss during that stretch was a controversial three OT loss at Florida.

Then it call caved in.

Playing four of their last six on the road, Kentucky dropped all six, including the final three where they allowed a whopping 157 points.  That left the Wildcats 5-7 on the season and on the outside again when it came time for bowl bids.  But there’s no question Kentucky made big strides after back to back 2-10 seasons.  HC Mark Stoops obviously has the Wildcats heading in the right direction and they’re hoping to get their first bowl bid since 2010.

OFFENSE—It was announced last week that incumbent junior Patrick Towles will be Kentucky’s starting quarterback.  Towles was the first UK quarterback to start every game since 2007.  But he struggled down the stretch, throwing two touchdown passes with five interceptions in his last four games.  Overall, though, his numbers were good with 2,718 yards and 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions.  He also showed his mobility with 303 net yards rushing.  Stanley Williams battled injuries as a freshman but still had 486 yards rushing with a 6.6 average.  He should be the starter at tailback.  Kentucky has good depth at running back with two more running backs that combined for more than 600 yards.  Towles has only one starting receiver returning, but there’s good depth at that position.  Dorian Baker and Garrett Johnson, both of whom played as freshmen, will get a lot more playing time this year.  And, the Wildcats should be able to open some holes with four starters on the line returning.  The Wildcats have a new offensive coordinator (Shannon Dawson/West Virginia) after Neal Brown won the head coaching position at Troy.  The goal of the offense is to be more consistent getting the ball in the end zone.  UK scored 30 points or more on seven occasions, but were held to 17 or less four times.

DEFENSE—Kentucky got hurt by graduation in the defensive line, especially with the loss of all-SEC  lineman Bud Dupree.  The Wildcats will switch to a 3-4 defense this season and will be solid in the back eight with six players who started last year.  Kentucky especially returns a lot of experience at linebacker and will start three seniors in the defensive backfield including solid corners Fred Tiller and Cody Quinn.  The defense did its job last year with turnovers as Kentucky finished +8 in TO margin.

SPECIAL TEAMS:  Kentucky returns two very solid kickers, especially Austin McGinnis, who was a first team All-SEC selection as a freshman.  He was 21-27 with a long FG of 54.  Their return game was solid with RB Williams averaging nearly 27 yards per return.  But the Wildcats have to get better in the kick coverage part of special teams.  They allowed four returns for touchdowns a year ago.

SCHEDULE—Kentucky opens with the Cajuns in week one, then they don’t play OOC until October 3 and then in the final two games of the season.  The good news for Kentucky is they have eight home games this year, with EKU, Charlotte and Louisville all visiting Commonwealth Stadium.  They get Auburn (Thursday off a bye) Florida, Missouri and Tennessee at home in league play.  They travel to Mississippi State, Georgia, Vandy and South Carolina.

OUTLOOK:  In year two, Stoops improved his team from two wins to five and got a pair of SEC wins.  There is no question he’s improved the talent level in the Commonwealth and fans are hopeful for at least seven wins and a bowl berth.  Seven probably won’t be possible unless they run the table in non-conference.  That means you can expect Kentucky to be ready to play when the Cajuns get to Lexington.  There is such a thing as a G5 winning over a P5 team.  But most of those upsets don’t occur in week one.  We shall see.

(Information from Phil Steele's College Football Report was used in this story.)

More From 103.3 The GOAT