BBN isn't pre-ordering Kentucky football
Anwar Stewart has never lacked confidence. The Kentucky defensive line coach joined WLAP’s Sunday Morning Sports Talk this week with plenty of fire, urging fans to block out the noise and “trust the process” after a 4–8 season. And unlike gamers who will preorder a game, BBN is taking a wait and see approach.
Stewart pointed to eight straight bowl appearances under Mark Stoops, insisted “one year doesn’t change that,” and promised a faster, more explosive defensive front in 2025. He doubled down by telling doubters they can “wait until Toledo” to see the difference.
It’s a good sales pitch — but Big Blue Nation has heard it before. And there are three big reasons the fanbase isn’t just blindly buying in this time.
1. We’ve heard this song before
Since 2021, every Kentucky offseason has been laced with optimism about how the roster has taken a leap. The results? Records of 7–6, 7–6, and then last year’s 4–8 collapse.
Even that celebrated bowl streak is misleading — the Cats went 4–4 in those eight games, losing the last two in embarrassing fashion. In the 2022 Music City Bowl, they were shut out 21–0 by Iowa. In the 2023 Gator Bowl, they surrendered 28 points in the fourth quarter to Clemson, blowing a 21–10 lead in a 38–35 loss.
Words are cheap. Kentucky needs wins, not another summer of talking points.
2. Stoops’ “one bad year” Is a pattern
Stoops and company keep framing 2024 as an outlier, but the numbers say otherwise. In 12 seasons, Stoops has averaged just 5.5 wins per year.
Kentucky’s SEC record since the COVID season? A grim 12–20. And while UK isn’t a top-four spender in the league, they’re in the upper half — more than enough resources to expect consistent winning football.
Instead, the roster has trended down in talent. Portal additions from mid-tier programs have replaced the four-star recruits leaving Lexington. That’s not a process — that’s erosion.
3. Kroger Field isn’t a home field advantage
Since 2021, Kentucky is a pedestrian 11–11 at home. Strip out the three annual guarantee games against lower-tier opponents like Murray State, and that drops to an alarming 3–11.
Here’s the kicker — since Oct. 1, 2023, Kentucky hasn’t beaten a Power Four opponent at Kroger Field. For a program with the same head coach for 12 years, that’s unacceptable.
Bottom line
Stewart’s passion is admirable, and his players may very well be ready to fight. But trust is earned, not demanded. The money has been invested. The fanbase is engaged. And on Aug. 30 against Toledo, Kentucky needs to show more than energy and soundbites.
Because if 2025 ends up looking like the last three years, the process won’t be the only thing under review — the people running it will be, too.