Going to nine SEC games a year would make it more challenging for UK to get enough wins (six) to become bowl eligible. Barnhart says the physical impact on Kentuckys players also factors into his stance.
History says its very difficult for us to have the level of depth, the second, third, fourth lines of players, that some of the other schools in our league have just as a means of their in-state recruiting situations, Barnhart said. When we have to play a long line of league games, its a grind, our teams can get beaten up physically. Its better for us, for our players, when the schedule allows us to have some so-called breathers, so that our kids can sort of restore themselves physically in-season.