Kentucky football fans saw a flicker of hope late Monday night, and it didn’t come from the practice field.
According to a report from 247Sports, Mark Stoops has been listed as a potential candidate for the vacant Virginia Tech head coaching job. For Big Blue Nation, that simple line might have been the most uplifting sentence of the season.
A flicker of hope from Blacksburg
Earlier this year, Virginia Tech officially parted ways with Brent Pry, opening one of the more interesting jobs on the East Coast. The early list of names to watch includes a host of familiar faces like James Franklin, Shane Beamer, and much to the dismay of BBN, Jon Sumrall. But the inclusion of Mark Stoops immediately caught the attention of BBN.
For Stoops, the connection isn’t entirely out of nowhere. Virginia Tech’s athletic department values stability and player development, two areas Stoops has leaned on to build his reputation. He’s the winningest coach in Kentucky history, but also the coach with the most losses. His tenure has produced memorable highs, but that energy has evaporated in recent years.
An 'escape hatch' for both sides?
Kentucky’s offense has sputtered, recruiting has cooled, and the team has won just one SEC game since 2023. The tension between the fan base and the program’s leadership has never been higher. For that reason alone, the mention of Stoops’ name on another school’s list sounded like freedom to some fans.
Stoops for his part has repeatedly said there is no quit in him. But this isn't quitting.
From a Virginia Tech perspective, Stoops could represent a safe, proven hire. For Stoops, a mutual parting could provide an exit route that benefits everyone: Kentucky gets a reset; Stoops gets a fresh start; and both sides avoid the optics of a firing.
For now, it's just a rumor, but a welcome one
The idea of a “mutual breakup” between Stoops and Kentucky no longer sounds far-fetched. His stubborn commitment to staying, even as the losses pile up, has frustrated the fan base. His postgame comments often sound more defensive than defiant. And while no one questions what he’s accomplished, the sense of forward progress is gone.
So when a national outlet places Stoops’ name among potential replacements in Blacksburg, it isn’t just another rumor, it’s hope.
A chance for Kentucky to turn the page. A chance for Stoops to start fresh. A chance for everyone to move on without a messy ending. Other programs are ascending with similar disadvantages Kentucky has, but Kentucky is standing still.
For now, it’s only speculation. But in Lexington, speculation has rarely sounded so good.
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