Redshirt junior Patrick Towles will be Kentucky's starting quarterback to open the season, coach Mark Stoops said Monday.
Towles started all 12 games for the Wildcats last season, throwing for 2,718 yards and 14 touchdowns with nine interceptions. He finished 10th in the SEC in total touchdowns, with 20.
Stoops said Towles benefited from the competition with redshirt freshman Drew Barker, who was an ESPN four-star prospect.
New offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said in the spring that he was open to both quarterbacks, but that Towles had the "upper hand" because of his experience.
"As far as arm talent goes, I haven't been around anybody with that arm strength," Dawson said of Towles.
Kentucky opens the season Sept. 5 against Louisiana Lafayette of the Sun Belt Conference. In 2014, the Wildcats were 5-7, 2-6 in the SEC.