Throwing passes in the snow against an overmatched Charlotte team, Drew Barker gave Kentucky a reason for optimism at least for a week. His next challenge is to do it against archrival Louisville to build on a budding career.

What the Wildcats would sign up for is another stellar performance on third down — he converted four first-half chances in the 58-10 victory against Charlotte.

Of course, nothing else helped more than a punishing ground game where three players, Jojo Kemp, Boom Williams and Sihiem King had the majority of Kentucky’s 415 rushing yards as they combined for six TDs.

One of his best plays came on a 15-yard pass on fourth down while facing a blitz.

“He looked very comfortable back there,” coach Mark Stoops. “He was poised … He’s more and more comfortable. He needs more reps. With his first start I was pleased with what I saw.”

But because of the weather conditions, Barker threw just three passes in the second half, and has accounted for just one pass of more than 25 yards.

The Charlotte game turned out to be somewhat of an experiment for Barker.

“There were times we forced the pass just to work on it,” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said after the game. “There was one series for sure where we threw it three times in a row and we got the turnover down there. So really I just wanted to throw it.”

The four-star Barker is one of the top recruits Stoops signed in 2014 during the program’s recent resurgence. As a native of northern Kentucky who chose UK over Steve Spurrier and South Carolina, Barker arrived with significant mystique.

Barker’s signing came after he reportedly he received 115 hand-written letters from the UK coaching staff, and was the No. 5 pro-style quarterback in the 2014 class as ranked by Rivals.com.

All those recruiting rankings and the momentum built against Charlotte will be tested by a Louisville defense that ranks 17th nationally in total defense. The Cardinals are 19th in the country with 30 sacks. That defensive front will face a Kentucky offensive line that’s allowed 27 sacks this season, which is 87th nationally.

The Cardinals have three players with at least 5.5 sacks led by LB Trevon Young who has 8.5.