Kentucky football has reached its most decisive fork in the road since the end of the Joker Phillips era. And funnily enough that came after a 40-0 beatdown by Vandy, this was a 41-0 beatdown by Louisville.
Mark Stoops says there is "zero percent" chance he leaves. Mitch Barnhart has publicly indicated he won't make major moves. And yet, the reality on the ground is catastrophic.
Kroger Field didn't sell out a single home game this season. The roster has just 13 commitments. And the team just got shut out by Louisville.
So where does Kentucky go from here? There are three choices, and all of them come with real consequences.
Option A: Keep Mark Stoops, overhaul the staff
We’ve seen this movie before. It doesn’t have a happy ending.
The list of offensive coordinators who have tried to fix Stoops’ system is exhausting: Neal Brown, Shannon Dawson, Eddie Gran, Liam Coen (twice), Rich Scangarello, and Bush Hamdan. None produced a Top-25 offense consistently.
Even the defense is stalling. Brad White’s contract is up, and adjustments have dried up. Rebuilding a staff around a lame-duck head coach is nearly impossible. Who signs up for that job security?
This option keeps the program stable on paper but guarantees a toxic atmosphere next fall.
Option B: Fire Mark Stoops, keep Mitch Barnhart
Financially, this is the most sensible reset. Hamdan’s buyout drops significantly soon. 7 of the 10 coaching assistants are out of a contract after this season. The staff can be reshaped by whoever comes in very easily.
But this trusts Mitch Barnhart to make another hire despite rising concerns that he hasn't adapted to the modern era. NIL has sputtered under his watch. Fan faith is low, and they want him out of a job too.
Still, revenue remains strong, making this the most likely "seismic" change if push comes to shove.
Option C: Blow it all up
This is the dream scenario for the angriest portion of the fanbase: A full cleansing. New AD. New Coach. New NIL model.
Realistically? It is unlikely. Barnhart has unmatched autonomy. Unless there is an internal power shift, a total purge isn't happening.
The cost of staying the same
Options B and C cost $37 million just to fire Stoops. Option A costs very little in buyouts but comes with the highest price in fan engagement.
86–17. That is the combined score of the last two games. That is the number that defines the ceiling of the current era. If Kentucky wants to be serious about football, a clean break is necessary, but will it happen? None of the paths forward will be easy, but one is for sure going to happen soon. Micah 7:7.