After a devastating 0-2 start and an injury to QB Drew Barker, Kentucky would have been thrilled to rally to any bowl. After beating Louisville for their seventh victory in 2016, “any bowl” drastically improved to perhaps Kentucky’s most impressive destination since the 1999 Outback Bowl — a date with Georgia Tech in the TaxSlayer (formerly Gator) Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla., to be played on New Year’s Eve.

The game being Kentucky’s first postseason play since 2010, and again, perhaps their most prestigious bowl appearance of the 21st century, the Wildcats’ opponent hasn’t been the biggest topic of conversation. But not only does Kentucky draw a big-time bowl, it draws an unusual and exotic opponent in the Yellow Jackets, one of only a handful of triple-option teams left in FBS football, and probably the most successful.

Everything you need to know about Georgia Tech

Season in review: Georgia Tech had played in 18 consecutive bowl games before last season, including seven under current coach Paul Johnson. In 2016, Tech finished a deceptive fifth in the ACC’s Coastal Division, with an 8-4 overall mark and a 4-4 record in league play.

Notably, Tech went 2-0 against the SEC. It thumped Vanderbilt 38-7 in Week 3 and closed with a comeback win against rival Georgia.

Nov 26, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Qua Searcy (1) is knocked out of bounds by Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Roquan Smith (3) and safety Dominick Sanders (24) during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Georgia Tech defeated Georgia 28-27. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Tech started 3-0 before dropping consecutive games to Clemson, Miami and Pittsburgh. From there, the Jackets rallied to take five of six, including wins over Coastal Division champion Virginia Tech and intrastate rival Georgia (above, with running back Qua Searcy helping send the Bulldogs tumbling).

What Tech does best: The Tech calling card is Johnson’s triple-option offense, which he ran successfully in prior stops at Georgia Southern and Navy before taking over at Tech from Chan Gailey after the 2007 season. Tech has gained 257 yards per game on the ground in 2016, 10th nationally but slightly down from their usual production. Four times in the 2010s, Tech has topped 300 rushing yards per game, and in another season it ended up at 299.

The Jackets have three players with at least 562 rushing yards, although leader Marcus Marshall is transferring and won’t play in the bowl. Tech’s passing game is limited, but they average more than 10 yards per attempt when they do go to the air.

Their first play against Vanderbilt resulted in an 81-yard touchdown pass from Justin Thomas to Marcus Marshall.

Defensively, Tech employs a bend-but-don’t-break style that keeps them in most games.

Best offensive player: Thomas, the dual-threat quarterback, makes the attack go. A senior who was All-ACC in 2014, Thomas passed for just 1,454 yards this season, but his 162.3 QB rating would lead the SEC. He also threw for eight touchdowns and only two interceptions in 134 attempts.

On the ground, Thomas added another 562 rushing yards and five scores. Kentucky’s hopes of winning the TaxSlayer Bowl will center in large part on whether they can contain Thomas and keep him from having a field day on the ground or in the air.

Best defensive player(s): The two guys who stand out defensively for Tech are defensive back Lawrence Austin and defensive tackle Patrick Gamble. Austin, a junior who started as a nickel back last year, is the main man in pass coverage.  Not only was he tied for fifth on the team with 47 tackles, but he was a co-leader with his twin brother Lance in interceptions with three and broke up another dozen passes this year. For comparison’s sake, Kentucky’s leader in that category, Mike Edwards, broke up eight passes.

Sep 17, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive lineman Patrick Gamble (91) celebrates a defensive stop with defensive back Corey Griffin (14) in the third quarter of their game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Yellow Jackets won 38-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Gamble (91, above) is a senior and the biggest pass rush threat. He also had 47 tackles, including 8.5 for loss. His 5.5 sacks is more than a third of Tech’s total. Neutralizing Gamble in the middle of the line will be key for Kentucky’s offense.

Bowl history: As noted, before last season, Tech had gone bowling 18 consecutive seasons. Tech is 24-19 in bowl play, and won its last bowl appearance in the Orange Bowl against Mississippi State and Dak Prescott 49-34 to cap the 2014 season. Tech actually lost seven consecutive bowl games from 2005-2011, ending that streak by beating USC in the 2012 Sun Bowl 21-7.

Notable: Tech’s SEC history goes way back — back to when it was part of the SEC, from the league’s inception in 1932 through 1964, when the Jackets went the Independent route before eventually ending up in the ACC.

Tech won five SEC championships and played in 15 bowls as a member of the SEC. The Jackets claimed the 1952 national championship after a 12-0 season that ended with a win over a previously 8-0-2 Ole Miss squad in the Sugar Bowl. Tech claims another national title since it left the SEC, which came in 1990, after an 11-0-1 campaign wrapped up with a Citrus Bowl win over Nebraska.

Kentucky is 7-11-1 all-time against Tech, with the last meeting coming in 1960.