Mark Stoops enters year 13 knowing the challenge. Does BBN still believe?
Mark Stoops knows what he signed up for. And after 12 seasons, 66 wins, 73 losses, and one massive rebuild turned rollercoaster ride, he knows exactly how hard it is to win in the SEC.
“This shit is hard,” Stoops said candidly. “And you might as well go enjoy it.”
That was the most revealing quote from Stoops’ appearance at SEC Media Days — not just for the words themselves, but for the weight behind them. Because after going 4-8 last season, the questions have changed. It’s no longer “Can Stoops build a winner?” It’s “Is Stoops still the right man to lead this program?”
On paper, his résumé is mixed. Take away the 10 vacated wins from 2021 and Stoops is under .500 in his Kentucky career. His record against top-10 teams? 1-18. The one win came in 2023 when Kentucky spoiled Louisville’s playoff bid, a signature moment that saved a pretty bad year. 2024's game had no such luck.
Last season was a low point. Kentucky went 1-7 in SEC play, with the lone win coming via a late miracle: a fourth-down bomb from Brock Vandagriff to Barion Brown that lifted UK past Ole Miss. That game included missed Rebel field goals and a few divine bounces, but it still counted. Most of the rest of the season did not. Kentucky was outclassed by the league's middle tier, let alone its top.
Yet here’s Stoops, re-energized and refocused. He’s banking on internal belief and old-school blue-collar resolve to flip the script. But while Stoops may be looking back to 2018, the SEC is looking forward. Programs like South Carolina, Missouri, and even Vanderbilt have shown signs of offensive innovation and roster adaptability. Kentucky’s identity remains rooted in grit, defense, and structure.
Stoops is confident and enthusiastic about his program.
But enthusiasm only goes so far. BBN once embraced Stoops unconditionally. Those days feel distant. The patience that came with promise has given way to doubt. And while Stoops still sees himself as the man for the job, 2025 might be his toughest sell yet.
Because at this point, it’s not about who built it. It’s about who can keep it from crumbling. Do you still believe?