Kentucky football fans demand change, how much would it cost to fire Mark Stoops?

Mark Stoops’ tenure at Kentucky has been a mixed bag of progress and frustration. While he holds the title of the program's all-time winningest coach with 67(10 were vacated in 2021) victories, his record against ranked opponents and in high-stakes moments paints a bleaker picture. His overall record isn't great either, 67–73.

A Record of Mediocrity in Big Games

• Stoops has only managed 10 wins against ranked teams in his 12 seasons as head coach, less than one per year.
• Notably, many of those victories came against teams ranked near the bottom of the Top 25 or during rebuilding years for those programs like Florida.
• Against Top 10 opponents, Stoops' teams have been consistently outclassed, with several blowout losses defining his tenure and the long signature Ole Miss road win.

While Stoops has delivered rare moments of joy—like the 2018 Citrus Bowl victory over Penn State—his record in SEC play (28-62) is underwhelming overall. Even as Kentucky has improved its overall competitiveness, it hasn’t translated to consistent wins against the league’s top-tier teams, or even the medium tier.

A Staggering Buyout Locks Him in Place

One of the most controversial aspects of Stoops’ tenure is his contract, which is structured to favor stability at any cost. Thanks Mitch.

• His current deal runs through 2031 and includes an automatic one-year extension for every season with at least seven wins.
• The buyout to terminate Stoops is $44 million, effectively handcuffing the university should it want to move on, not even counting the coaching assistants. The total number could be well over $60 million.
• This financial burden has left fans questioning if Kentucky prioritized loyalty over accountability as Stoops is under .500 since the Citrus Bowl win.

Have Fans Reached Their Ceiling?

Kentucky football under Stoops has undoubtedly improved from the depths of the Joker Phillips era. Bowl games are more frequent, and the program has gained national attention at times. However, the Wildcats' inability to break through as a true SEC contender remains a glaring flaw. And now with the bowl streak ending, and recruiting hitting lulls, are the Cats cooked?

For a coach earning $9 million annually, fans expect more than mediocre seasons capped by blowout losses to rivals like Tennessee, Louisville, and South Carolina. As Stoops racks up buyout-protected years, the question remains: is this the best Kentucky can do? If so, is that good enough?