Mark Stoops finally snapped his ten-game SEC losing streak, something that was wildly celebrated, and maybe a little too much. But now comes a stretch of games far more manageable than the gauntlet Kentucky just escaped from.
Even Stoops supporters admit it: his teams simply don’t match up well against wide-open, tempo-heavy offenses. Tennessee has now beaten him regularly, and Stoops himself said, “It’s a tough matchup for us right now.” Hearing that from a coach in Year 13 is… alarming to say the least. But that is where we are with Stoops, we know what we are going to get.
A deceivingly soft finish
Here’s the reality of Kentucky’s final month:
- Auburn is a mess, and Kentucky stole a needed win. Hugh Freeze was then fired.
- Florida is spiraling and heads to Kroger Field in November for the first time in 35 years, oh and they also don't have a head coach.
- Tennessee Tech, a top-10 FCS team, still shouldn’t upset an SEC roster. It really shouldn't be close.
- Vanderbilt plays Stoops-style football, slow, physical, and ugly, which likely keeps Kentucky in it.
- Louisville looks good, but Kentucky hasn’t lost in Louisville in more than a decade, and the Vince Marrow element adds a little spice.
So what’s the real concern? It is Mark Stoops himself.
A decade of offensive stagnation, 10 straight SEC home losses, openly acknowledging certain teams can’t be beaten, it’s not acceptable in Year 13. Those things get you fired, like the ABC announcers mentioned earlier this year. Fans are tuning out. Kroger Field’s energy is fading. And yet a soft finishing schedule could convince Mitch Barnhart to “run it back” in 2026.
Beating bad teams after a disappointing season can mask long-term problems. That’s the worry. It’s not Tennessee Tech. It’s not Vanderbilt. It’s not Louisville.
It’s whether a late-season bump convinces the administration to ignore the bigger picture.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion