Kentucky overcame a difficult start and a series of quarterback injuries to post an 8-5 mark for the school’s 4th consecutive bowl appearance. That record also made for 18 wins in the past 2 seasons, matching Kentucky’s most in a 2-year period since 1976-77. How can Kentucky keep the good times rolling in 2020? Here are 5 measuring sticks the ‘Cats will face next season.

1. A 5th consecutive winning season

UK’s streak of 4 consecutive winning seasons matches a run from 2006-2009 under coach Rich Brooks. But a 5th consecutive winning season would be the most for UK since a run from 1946-1956. Bear Bryant was head coach for the 1st 8 years of the streak, then Blanton Collier continued it for 3 more. Incidentally, another winning season would also give UK coach Mark Stoops a winning record — making him the first UK coach since Collier who could claim such a mark. Stoops is also just 16 wins behind Bryant to lead UK in all-time coaching wins — but obviously, that’s a 2021 mark to aim for, not one for 2020.

2. Being a factor in the SEC East race

Until 2018, Kentucky had never factored in the race for an SEC title in the divisional play era of the SEC (since 1992). That UK squad faced Georgia on Nov. 3 for the East division title. Kentucky lost the game soundly, 34-17, but it was certainly a major step for the program to be in position to claim the division.

Nobody will consider the season a failure if Kentucky fails to win the East — but it would be a step forward to again be a significant factor in the division. Georgia might have taken a step back, Florida might not have fully restocked under Dan Mullen, and Tennessee is still somewhat vulnerable. Speaking of which …

3. Getting over the Tennessee hump

Over the past 4 seasons, Kentucky has won 32 games. Tennessee has won 26 games during the same period. However, UT is 3-1 against UK during the run. Yes, that represents an improvement from UK’s 1984-2010 losing streak to the Vols. But this hasn’t been your father or grandfather’s UT program.

Kentucky beat UT just twice during a miserable 2010s decade for the Rocky Toppers (Derek Dooley, Butch Jones, a big rebuilding job for Jeremy Pruitt). Now that the Florida losing streak is over, grabbing a few more wins over the Vols might be Kentucky’s best chance to move up the ladder in the East.

4. A 5th consecutive season with a 1,000-yard rusher

In 2019, it was WR/QB Lynn Bowden who reached 1,000 yards on the ground for the Wildcats — following 3 seasons of 1,000-yard work from Benny Snell, the first of which also featured a 1,000-yard year for junior running back Boom Williams.

Before this run (pun intended) began, Kentucky had never had back-to-back seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher.

The physical UK rushing game has been near the top of the SEC for the past several seasons, and another big year on the ground would go a long way toward enhancing Kentucky’s reputation for a grinding, churning offense.

Senior back A.J. Rose is the most likely candidate to keep the streak alive, with 826 rushing yards in 2019, but opponents can’t sleep on either sophomore Kavosiey Smoke (616 yards, 6.1 yards per carry) or Chris Rodriguez (533 yards, 7.5 yards per carry).

5. Keep the hammer down on Mizzou

Kentucky had a 5-game winning streak over South Carolina before laying an egg in Columbia in 2019 with a 24-7 loss that wasn’t even as close as the score. That said, the Wildcats posted a 5th consecutive win over Missouri last year.

Historically, Kentucky has struggled to put together streaks against any SEC foe not named Vanderbilt. In fact, no other SEC squad has lost to Kentucky in 6 consecutive seasons.

While Kentucky wants to gain on Georgia, Florida and Tennessee, the Wildcats also have to be sure to avoid stumbles against Carolina, Mississippi State, and perhaps most of all, Mizzou.