Last year, Kentucky got off to a slow start during SEC play. After winning back-to-back non-conference games to open 2019, the Wildcats lost their first three against conference opponents. However, they came back to win five of their last seven regular-season games, finishing with a 7-5 record and making a bowl game.

This year, Kentucky is again facing some adversity early. The Wildcats have opened the year with losses to Auburn and Ole Miss, and they now will look to get on track this Saturday as they host Mississippi State.

Will Kentucky again respond to a tough start and get things going here soon?

“I certainly anticipate they will,” Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops said during his Monday press conference. “I’m excited to get in our team meeting here in a little bit and get on with it, face the reality of our situation. Nobody’s going to point fingers. … You know we can fix some of those things, you know we can play better.”

Kentucky’s season opener was a tough matchup at Auburn, which it lost, 29-13. The Wildcats were in better position to potentially win their home opener this past Saturday, but they ended up losing, 42-41, in overtime to Ole Miss, as a missed extra point by Matt Ruffolo in OT allowed the Rebels to go on to win it.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier for Kentucky, as it must now try to find a way to stop Mississippi State’s Air Raid offense, which has already shown its potential in its season-opening win at LSU.

“It’s most definitely a challenge,” Stoops said. “… I think it’s a great example of how good [Bulldogs head coach] Mike [Leach] is and how much better his team will get throughout the year.”

Kentucky and Mississippi State will kick off on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network.