That is the 40+ million dollar question: can Kentucky football afford to keep Mark Stoops? The buyout is prohibitive, it is due within 60 days of his firing. But as the dust settles on another humiliating SEC loss, the calls from the Kentucky fanbase have reached a fever pitch: it’s time for a change. But as fans debate the future of the program, the administration is facing a much more complicated and expensive reality, all centered around one number: $40.5 million.
That is the approximate size of Mark Stoops’ staggering buyout, a figure that represents the single biggest obstacle to moving on from a coach who has now lost 14 of his last 16 conference games and 7 straight.
A contractual albatross
The buyout number itself is daunting, but a critical detail within the contract, negotiated by Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart, makes it a near-insurmountable challenge. According to the terms, the full buyout amount is reportedly due as a lump sum within 60 days of a firing.
Unlike other contracts that allow for payments to be spread out over years, this clause requires the university to produce a lump sum equivalent to a massive capital project. It was designed to provide ultimate job security for Stoops, but it has now become a financial albatross, handcuffing the program to a coach who is overseeing a steep decline.
In fact, just last week the University sent out an email about what fans would like to see to improve the Kroger Field experience and are trying to get an entertainment district built around Kroger Field. The cost of the improvements? 36 million.
While that money is earmarked for Kroger Field improvements, perhaps no bigger improvement could be ending the Mark Stoops era.
The hidden cost of inaction
While writing a $40 million check seems impossible, and most seem to think it can not happen; a growing portion of the fanbase is arguing that the cost of keeping Stoops is becoming even greater. They might just be right.
Empty seats at Kroger Field, a decline in donations to the athletic program, and a general sense of apathy are all forms of "hidden costs." If top-tier talent considers transferring due to the program's downward trajectory, the long-term damage could far exceed the short-term pain of the buyout. Recruiting will stall out, worse than it already has, coaches will jump ship because who wants to be attached to a coach hanging on only because of a buyout?
The administration is now caught in a trap of its own making. Do they swallow the astronomical fee to inject new momentum into a stalled out program, or do they ride it out and risk alienating the fanbase to the point of no return? For Mitch Barnhart and the university's decision-makers, the answer will define the next decade of Kentucky football.
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