Mark Stoops speaks at Kentucky kickoff luncheon
With Kentucky football’s season opener against Toledo just a little over a month away, Mark Stoops stepped to the mic at the annual kickoff luncheon and delivered something fans hadn’t heard in a while: optimism with purpose.
“This team’s attacked the offseason,” Stoops said, echoing the kind of mentality Big Blue Nation hopes becomes more than just offseason talk. “There was an awful lot of work to be done" he said before tackling how the guys committed to the program they created.
After a demoralizing 4–8 season in 2024, the roster was rebuilt. Kentucky turned over more than 50 roster spots this offseason, with players flooding in through the portal, high school signings, and grad transfers. It’s one of the most dramatic overhauls of the Stoops era, and it sounds like that was by design.
“We needed some turnover,” Stoops said bluntly. “These guys weren’t here a year ago, and honestly, they don’t care about what happened a year ago. They care about what’s going on right now.”
That mindset might be exactly what Kentucky needs. After watching offensive hopes fizzle with Liam Coen’s exit (again), Rich Scangarello fired after 1 season, and Bush Hamdan’s sputtering debut; BBN needs some good news. After a program identity crisis in 2024, the Cats are now leaning back into the core Stoops philosophy: accountability, toughness, and leadership from within.
The quarterback room now includes SEC veteran Zach Calzada and future face Cutter Boley. And at wideout, Alabama transfer Kendrick Law and Clemson transfer Troy Stellato are expected to lead a unit built for redemption.
Still, the pressure looms. Stoops is earning $9 million a year, and last year’s results didn’t come close to matching the price tag. This offseason may have been attacked, but BBN is waiting to see if that fight actually shows up on the field. And the wait is almost over.