Mark Stoops, Bush Hamdan, and Brad White: What they said versus what they delivered for Kentucky football in 2024

Mark Stoops before the season was entering his 12th year as Kentucky’s head coach. He became the current longest active SEC coach at one school, and insists the program is striving for more than mere existence.

We are going to look at what he said, versus what he has accomplished using his pre-season statements and the stats his team put out.

His claims of improvement and adaptability are immediately overshadowed by a season plagued by lackluster performance and concerning stats. Despite Stoops’ rhetoric about "not being here to just exist," the Wildcats seem stuck in a cycle of mediocrity, evidenced by their 2024 season results (4-8, 1-7 in conference) and mounting player losses in the transfer portal (19). You can read all the up to date portal information here

Offensively, Kentucky ranked 111th in plays per game (64.3) and 113th in pass attempts per game (25.4), a staggering inefficiency for a team aspiring to compete in the SEC. Offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan, the program's sixth in Stoops’ tenure, promised a mix of explosiveness and balance but oversaw an offense that averaged just 20.58 points per game, good for a dismal 119th in yards per point nationally.

Stoops’ talk of being able to "run the ball better" fell flat, as the team averaged only 145.6 rushing yards per game and a paltry 3.9 yards per attempt. The offense produced just 29 touchdowns, compared to 32 allowed by opponents.

Defensively, the Wildcats fared no better. While Stoops emphasized "getting off the field" and improving third-down defense, the team allowed opponents to convert 40.1% of third downs. Kentucky’s rushing defense ranked 88th nationally, surrendering 168.4 yards per game and 20 rushing touchdowns. Defensive coordinator Brad White’s admission of failing to meet the standard set in 2022 underscores the regression.

Adding to these struggles, 19 players, including stars like Barion Brown and Dane Key, have entered the transfer portal, leaving glaring holes in the roster. Yet Stoops claims the program remains stable—a dubious assertion when comparing their lack of offensive rhythm and defensive lapses to other SEC programs.

Kentucky football, under Stoops, has undeniably made strides from the disaster of the Joker Phillips era. However, 2024’s stats and player exodus suggest a program regressing rather than reaching the "next level" Stoops so often preaches. As the team heads into 2025 with less talent and the same systemic issues, the Wildcats seem to be not just existing but actively floundering.