The Mark Stoops era at a crossroads: Can Kentucky's winningest coach rebuild his legacy?
When Mark Stoops arrived in Lexington back in 2013, the Kentucky job was widely considered one of the toughest in the SEC. A basketball school. A football graveyard. A place where good coaches went to get humbled with the exception of Rich Brooks.
Stoops changed that narrative. Slowly but surely, he built the Wildcats into a program capable of winning 8–10 games a year, sending players to the NFL, and earning national respect. By 2023, he had become the winningest coach in school history, surpassing even Bear Bryant. Kroger Field was renovated, new facilities were built, and the program enjoyed stability rarely seen in the SEC.
But success in this league is fragile. One down year can undo years of goodwill, and Stoops experienced that reality last season. The offense sputtered to a standstill, the defense wore thin and down, and the team’s confidence cracked. Kentucky looked more like the 2013 Wildcats than the 2018 or 2021 versions.
Now entering Year 13, Stoops is trying to convince Big Blue Nation he can do it all over again.
“I’ve made a commitment to the team this year that no matter what the situation, it’s all gas, no brakes,” Stoops said at the annual Kickoff Luncheon. “I like the way they play. I like the way they care about each other.”
That sounds good, but BBN is growing skeptical. Vegas already adjusted Kentucky’s opening line against Toledo, dropping the spread from -9.5 to -7.5, a clear sign that confidence in Stoops’ group is slipping. When you’re only a touchdown favorite at home against a MAC opponent, it doesn’t scream stability.
The irony in all this? Stoops flirted with leaving two years ago. He nearly took the Texas A&M job before Aggie fans revolted. Now he finds himself in Lexington with a massive salary — over $9 million annually — and a mandate to rebuild the very program he once built up.
Rebuild is a generous word, though. Kentucky isn’t starting from scratch, but the offense desperately needs an identity, and the defense must rediscover its edge. Most of all, Stoops needs to win back the trust of a fanbase that has grown restless.
August 30th against Toledo won’t define the season, but it will set the tone. If Kentucky struggles, the noise will grow louder. If they dominate, Stoops may buy himself the belief he needs.
In the end, Year 13 is about more than wins and losses. It’s about proving the Stoops era still has life left in it. If not, the foundation he built may soon feel shakier than ever.