Kentucky, which worked overtime to put away Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 3, is coming off a bye week before hosting Auburn on Thursday night.

The Wildcats’ opportunity to produce a signature victory can’t be overstated. Local papers have sold the game as such, suggesting only two possible outcomes with no room for gray: A victory proves this is the new Kentucky and pushes the program closer to its first winning conference season since the 1977 team went 6-0. A loss shows this is the same old Kentucky, the Power 5 program with the most consecutive years without a winning conference record.

1977? Kentucky fans didn’t even know who Sam Bowie was in 1977.

Good thing for the Wildcats, history won’t wear a uniform Thursday night. But these five Wildcats will, and they are the key to adding a newer, brighter chapter to Kentucky football:

1. QB Patrick Towles: Towles has played well out of conference — he threw for a season-high 329 yards against Eastern Kentucky — but hasn’t quite had the same success against SEC teams. Three of his six interceptions have come in Kentucky’s three SEC games. He’s also been sacked 16 times this season. He will have a chance to clean up both numbers against an Auburn defense that only has seven sacks and four interceptions in five games.

2 RB Boom Williams: Kentucky’s starting running back was held out of the Eastern Kentucky game, but coach Mark Stoops told reporter that the talented sophomore is “back in good standing.” Williams ran for 107 yards against South Carolina and 80 in a tough loss against Florida.

3. DE Denzil Ware: Auburn’s quarterbacks have struggled so much during this disappointing season that Tigers coach Guz Malzahn didn’t publicly name the starter this week. “Shaky QB play” reads like a green light to a defensive end, so look for Ware and his linemates to get after whomever is under center Thursday night.

4. K Austin MacGinnis: Most lines have Auburn as two-point favorite, so assuming that remains somewhat accurate, one kick could provide the difference. MacGinnis missed the Eastern Kentucky game with a groin injury and told the Louisville Courier-Journal he’ll be a game-time decision. He has made 6 of 7 field goals this season, his longest connection a 45-yarder. (His counterpart, Daniel Carlson has missed three kicks already, including two inside of 30 yards.) Kentucky’s backup kicker Miles Butler missed an extra point against Eastern Kentucky and hasn’t attempted a field goal.

5. LB Josh Forrest: Pick a defensive stat, start at the top of the list and it won’t take long to find Forrest’s name. He leads the Wildcats in tackles (49), solo tackles (22) and sacks (2.5). He also has intercepted a pass. He’ll be busy Thursday as Auburn tries to establish its run game behind RB Peyton Barber, who is tied for fifth in the SEC with six rushing touchdowns, while the struggling QBs likely look for safer check-downs in the passing game.