Virtually no one expected the Kentucky Wildcats to be 5-0 as October begins. But here they are, ranked No. 13 in the latest AP poll, suddenly a player in the SEC East race for the first time in recent memory. So how did this happen? Well, here are the 10 biggest reasons Kentucky is 5-0 and on the verge of cracking the Top 10 for the first time since 2007.

1. B-b-b-Benny

Benny Snell, the junior running back from Ohio, leads the SEC in rushing yardage (639) and rushing touchdowns (8). His durable, grinding running style makes Kentucky a fearsome team to fall behind, and could make Snell a longshot in the Heisman Trophy race.

2. All-in for Allen

Kentucky defensive end/linebacker Josh Allen leads the SEC in sacks (6) and tackles for loss (10.5). The all-SEC senior turned down a chance to go pro early to return to Lexington and demonstrate just how far he’s come since he was an anonymous 2-star recruit from New Jersey. So far, mission accomplished.

3. A gutsy call at QB

As I wrote before the season, game-managing pocket passer Gunnar Hoak seemed a better fit for Stoops’ conservative M.O. than dual-threat JUCO transfer Terry Wilson. But Stoops decided to go with Wilson, and has stayed the course with him. As a passer, Wilson has been inconsistent (67 percent completions, 595 yards, 2 TD, 5 INTs), but on the ground, he has been another potential game-breaker and has kept drives alive under pressure. Wilson has rushed for 300 yards and 3 scores and has been sacked only 5 times in 5 games. Kentucky would have been hard-pressed to beat Florida or Mississippi State with a more traditional offense.

4. A veteran secondary

Throughout the past several seasons, Stoops’ secondary has been long on hype, but short on results. This year, the group is turning that around. Kentucky leads the SEC in pass efficiency defense, with safety Darius West tied for second in the conference with 2 interceptions and 5 passes broken up.

5. A group of rough customers up front

The battle of SEC football relies heavily on the big uglies in the trenches, and Kentucky’s crew is paving the way for the league’s top rushing attack. There is no single standout, with players like Bunchy Stallings, Logan Stenberg and Drake Jackson being especially notable. The scary thing is that tackle Landon Young is missing the season due to injury, and he might be the most talented player of the group.

6. G’day, field position

An unheralded Cat making big contributions is sophomore Aussie punter Max Duffy. Kentucky is third in the SEC in net punting, with Duffy averaging 45.7 yards per kick, and his coverage team holding returners to just 48 return yards.

7. Kashing in

One of the few defensive Wildcats who starred in 2017 but did not return this year was graduating middle linebacker Courtney Love. Enter junior Kash Daniel, an Eastern Kentuckian who has emerged as the spiritual leader of the defense.

His 37 tackles tie him for sixth in the SEC, and most for the team along with Darius West. He will miss the first half of next week’s game with Texas A&M after a targeting penalty, but Daniel will make his presence known one way or another.

8. Multi-talented Bowden

Sophomore receiver Lynn Bowden was an important signee from Ohio, and Kentucky loves to find many ways to get him the ball. He leads the Wildcats with 24 receptions for 218 yards and a touchdown. Bowden is pivotal because his speed on the edge forces defenses to respect the corner, giving Snell a little more room to operate inside. He’s also a threat as a runner, a passer, or a kick returner.

9. They love the haters

Motivation is a funny thing. Some teams thrive on praise and support, but Kentucky — led by the example of Snell, the hard-nosed back who wasn’t quite speedy enough to draw an offer from Ohio State — plays its best when disrespected. Last week presented one of the funniest moments of the season, when Will Muschamp threatened his players publicly for anyone offering trash talk for the Wildcats. It didn’t work, but Muschamp had seen prior doubters put in their place, and cautioned his players against the same phenomenon.

10. Big Blue Nation

Kentucky’s attendance figures have been a bit low, but in the past two weeks, Kentucky has played in front of two loud and well-packed crowds at Lexington’s Kroger Field. Kentucky’s fan base is often ridiculed with “wait for basketball” stereotypes, but BBN has, as is typical, showed itself ready and willing to support a Kentucky team that gives them reason to believe.