Mark Stoops and Will Muschamp jump major hurdles with bowl eligibility

Back in September, Kentucky seemed sunk. After back-to-back seasons with hot starts and unflattering finishes, the Wildcats were kicking off 2016 the way those prior two teams finished.

In a critical year for the program -- and head coach Mark Stoops -- it didn't appear that the Wildcats were making any sort of ground.

But that's why they play the games.

Soon, 0-2 turned to 2-2 and then snowballed to 5-3 with the SEC Eastern Division still in play. After this past Saturday, the team that had come so close, yet been so far with consecutive devastating five-win seasons, is officially bowl eligible after a 49-13 win over Austin Peay.

"You want to deliver for your team, players, administration, fan…