While Kentucky and Texas have rarely crossed paths on the football field—their lone meeting came in 1951, with Texas claiming a narrow 7-6 win—the head coaches share a deeper connection.
Steve Sarkisian, Texas’ head coach, recently praised Kentucky’s Mark Stoops, highlighting their long-standing relationship and Stoops’ reputation for defensive discipline. He even tried to hire Stoops once while coaching Washington, but Stoops refused to stay on staff with his brother.
Sark says he once hired Kentucky’s Mark Stoops at Washington, but Stoops ultimately said no because he couldn’t leave his brother. “Mark and I are very good friends, very good friends.”
— Brian Davis (@byBDavis) November 21, 2024
"Mark and I are very good friends," Sarkisian noted, adding that he’s long admired the Stoops brothers for their coaching acumen dating back to their days at Arizona. Sark emphasized how Kentucky teams under Stoops are consistently "sound, disciplined, and full of well-recruited players," a testament to Stoops’ 12-year tenure in Lexington.
Steve Sarkisian: "Mark and Mike (Stoops) are tremendous football coaches, all the way back to their days at Youngstown. They grew up in the profession. I actually started competing against them I think when they were at Arizona and I was an assistant at USC, then in my time at…
— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) November 21, 2024
As Kentucky prepares for its matchup against playoff-hopeful Texas, the Wildcats are looking to try to get to bowl eligibility, needing to win both its remaining games to get to six wins. Kentucky (4-6, 1-6 SEC) has struggled for consistency all year, but Stoops believes his team can still play high-level football. Despite the challenges of competing in the grueling SEC, Kentucky has demonstrated resilience, remaining competitive against top-ranked opponents like Georgia and Ole Miss.
Texas, ranked No. 3 with a 9-1 record, brings a complete package of talent and execution. Sarkisian has constructed one of the nation's most balanced teams, blending a creative offense with a stout defense. The Longhorns’ dynamic playmakers present a significant challenge, but Kentucky has thrived as an underdog before. Can Stoops get his team to buy in one more time this year?
For Stoops, this game is more than a matchup; it’s a chance to showcase the growth of his program on national TV. Can the Wildcats summon another road upset like the one in Oxford earlier this year? Fans will find out Saturday as Kentucky looks to derail Texas’ playoff aspirations and add another chapter to Stoops’ legacy.