Mark Stoops’ last stand? Wildcats need a perfect finish for a bowl game

Mark Stoops has taken the Kentucky Wildcats to eight straight bowl games, and that streak looks like it's about to come to an end. It would take a miracle for Stoops to get his Kentucky Wildcats football team into a bowl game. Unless, like 2020, there aren't enough teams to fill the bowl games, and they add Kentucky in with five wins. They played in and won the Gator Bowl that year.

Here's the problem: It's looking like five wins may even be a stretch for this team. If it wasn't for Murray State in two weeks, they wouldn't have another win on their schedule. The other two games are the Texas Longhorns and the Louisville Cardinals. Neither will be easy, and one feels nearly impossible (Texas).

However, if Stoops wants to take his team to another bowl, he will need to help them win out; every game. Three straight wins and, let's be real, very unlikely. It's nearly impossible; thus, the streak will end, and Stoops' seat will only get hotter.

He is a top-10 paid coach but doesn't put up top-10 results. For a coach paid at that level, Kentucky fans shouldn't be hoping for a bowl game but should be asking, "What seed will Kentucky be in the College Football Playoff?" This is not the case and hasn't been the case since he was hired.

Kentucky would have to pay over $40 million to get out of Stoops's contract. There are some rumors that maybe Stoops would step away on his own, but nothing is substantiated, and it's probably more hope than reality. Something needs to change quickly; the Wildcats have been on a consistent path of regression since Stoops signed that huge contract extension. If he doesn't leave, he needs to do something to change things up. The current trajectory is bleak.