If you thought the timeline was toxic after the Louisville loss last year, you haven’t seen anything yet.
Following Kentucky’s humiliated 45-17 defeat to Vanderbilt on Saturday, a game where the Wildcats were non-competitive against a program they used to circle as a guaranteed win; Big Blue Nation didn't just get angry. They reached a collective breaking point.
The word of the day? Insanity.
The old definition of insanity,"doing the same thing over and over expecting different results" comes to mind, especially when applying it directly to Mark Stoops’ 13th year in Lexington. The don't panic mantra is dead. The new reality is a fanbase that feels trapped in a time loop of regression.
The Joker Phillips comparisons are back
For years, Mark Stoops was immune to comparisons to his predecessor. He raised the floor. He built a culture. But after watching Diego Pavia shred Kentucky’s defense for 469 yards, the numbers are starting to look terrifyingly familiar.
After 2 SEC wins in a row, are we back to speculating about Mark Stoops' future at UK after today? Last time UK took a beat down in Nashville like that, James Franklin mauled Joker Phillips. Phillips was gone the next year.
— Willard Knipp (@wknipp3) November 22, 2025
Does anyone remember when UK lost to Vandy 40-0. That was the end of the Joker Phillips era.
— Keith Peel (@bigblueview56) November 23, 2025
Does this massive beatdown by Vandy signal the end of the Mark Stoops era? pic.twitter.com/89g0oKWvdq
This is the worst game of Kentucky Football I have ever watched in my life, which is saying something.
— LQ (@LQ4110) November 22, 2025
The "Fire Stoops" crowd grows louder
Usually, the "Fire the Coach" crowd is a fringe group of overreactors. Not tonight. Tonight, it feels like the majority opinion again after Stoops got some goodwill back after 3 straight wins.
I don't care how good of a QB they have.
— WT - Mikel Enthusiast (@WildcatsTongue) November 22, 2025
I don't care how injured we are.
Kentucky Football should not lose by 40+ to VANDERBILT.
The last time that happened, coaches were fired. It needs to happen again.
The anger isn't just about losing; it's about the apathy fans are seeing on the sideline.
Bush Hamdan is the Brandon Garrison of Kentucky Football
— BBN Memes (@BBN_Memes) November 22, 2025
The fool's gold realization
Perhaps the most painful realization on social media is that the 2025 season's high points, the wins over Auburn and Florida, were lies. And now fans are back to throwing shade on Mark Stoops.
BREAKING: All future Kentucky football games coached by Mark Stoops to be aired on ESPN Ocho.
— Owen (@75toRupp) November 23, 2025
Fans are pointing out that beating struggling teams convinced everyone the problems were fixed, only for a competent Vanderbilt team to expose the truth. At least Louisville looked inept too.
Kentucky football vs Louisville football 2025 pic.twitter.com/LBIXFbFgsf
— Kory (@koryhBBN) November 22, 2025
Louisville and Kentucky football today pic.twitter.com/ZYQBzg3fSm
— A Sea of Blue (@ASeaOfBlue) November 23, 2025
Media personalities weigh in
It wasn't just the fans. Local media members, who often try to keep a level head, sounded defeated. The tone from the press box wasn't anger, it was shock at just how far the standard has fallen.
Kentucky is getting treated like an FCS team in September.
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) November 22, 2025
We are getting beaten by “Announcers reading definitions from the dictionary” levels today
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 22, 2025
The post-game shows on KSR and local radio are going to be brutal, tune into WLAP if you want to hear it.
Kentucky will need to knock off Louisville in Louisville if it wants to go bowling.
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