Much like Mark Stoops, Clark Lea is a defensive mind, serving as the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame before taking the head coaching job at his alma mater Vanderbilt in 2021. The Commodores lost to the Cats 34-17 in Lea’s first season on West End and got revenge a year later in Lexington, a victory that snapped Vanderbilt’s 26-game SEC losing streak and moved him to tears.
Kentucky’s offense is different than a year ago. Not only is Rich Scangarello gone and Liam Coen back, the Cats have a new quarterback in Devin Leary, running back in Ray Davis, and several new faces on the offensive line.