Mark Stoops is putting up a strong year with Kentucky, and he earned a one-year contract extension with the Wildcats win over Vanderbilt.

The Wildcats are putting up a strong season under Stoops after knocking off the Commodores. Kentucky is now 7-3 on the year and has tied its highest win total since Stoops arrived on campus. Kentucky also won seven games in 2016.

The Wildcats have two games left this season, Georgia and Louisville, and a bowl game to try and reach eight wins. If Kentucky is able to pull it off, it would be the first eight-win season for the Wildcats since 2007. That team finished 8-5 with a win in the Music City Bowl.

Kentucky is already guaranteed back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2008-09, but the win was also a crucial one for Stoops. Under his current deal, Stoops is guaranteed a one-year extension every time the Wildcats reach seven regular season wins. His contract, which already ran through 2022, will now be extended to run through 2023 following the win over Vanderbilt.

The Wildcats have already had a strong season under Stoops and are two last-minute losses away from a 9-1 record. It is no good wondering what could have been, but Kentucky still has a great shot to come away with eight wins and a trip to a solid bowl game.