Mark Stoops’ Kentucky tenure has had its share of frustrations — and last year’s 4–8 season was a gut punch. But there have also been signature moments where Stoops’ program proved it could go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the country. Here are the six wins that has defined his run so far:
Top 6 wins for the Cats since 2012
6. Tennessee, 2017 – 29–26
24 DAYS UNTIL KICKOFF! 🏈
— Chris Beasmore (@CBeasmoreSports) August 6, 2025
Stephen Johnson’s clutch 11-yard TD run sealed Kentucky’s wild 29-26 win over Tennessee in 2017 😤
He led a 72-yard game-winning drive in the final minutes — a moment BBN will never forget.
History made under the lights 💙 #BBN pic.twitter.com/5dstCdXxlp
It’s easy to forget just how long Kentucky struggled in this rivalry. The Vols had won every matchup since 2011, and before that, it took a miracle to break a 26-year losing streak. On this night, Stephen Johnson was 6-of-15 for just 46 yards, with Lynn Bowden throwing one pass — a 36-yard completion. It wasn’t pretty, but Johnson’s legs sealed it, scoring the game-winner on a QB run and finishing with 84 rushing yards.
5. Louisville, 2016 – 41–38
Lamar Jackson was the Heisman frontrunner and would go on to win the award. But late in the fourth quarter, he fumbled deep in Louisville territory, setting up Austin McGinnis’ clutch field goal to stun the 11th-ranked Cardinals. Kentucky entered just 6–5 — nobody outside Lexington saw it coming.
4. Louisville, 2023 – 38–31
Kentucky upsets No. 10 Louisville 38-31 and ruins the Cardinals' dream of a CFP berth pic.twitter.com/GwtmplmprN
— 247Sports (@247Sports) November 25, 2023
The Cards were 10–1, Jeff Brohm was riding a dream season, and a playoff berth was in play. Kentucky? They had lost five of six and were limping into Cardinal Stadium at 6–5. But Devin Leary threw for three touchdowns, Ray Davis scored three of his own, and BBN celebrated one of the sweetest rivalry wins in years.
3. Ole Miss, 2024 – 20–17
Ranked No. 6, Lane Kiffin’s Rebels had everything to lose — and did. Kentucky pulled the shocker in Oxford thanks to a last-second 4th-down miracle and some timely missed field goals. It was UK’s highest win against an AP poll team since No. 1 LSU in 2007.
2. Penn State, 2018 Citrus Bowl – 27–24
This was program validation. A 10–3 Kentucky squad capped its first double-digit-win season since 1977 by holding off the Nittany Lions. Benny Snell Jr. dominated, and the Citrus Bowl trophy came home.
1. Florida, 2018 – 27–16
54 days until SEC Football returns!
— that SEC podcast (@thatSECpodcast) July 3, 2023
Kentucky snapped Florida's 31-game win streak in this annual series in 2018 thanks in large part to this 54-yard touchdown connection between Terry Wilson and Lynn Bowden.
UK's defense sealed the deal late in the game. #bigorangewalks pic.twitter.com/p8B1Y4xc9b
A 31-year losing streak gone. The Gators would finish No. 8 in the country, making them the highest-ranked team Stoops has beaten at season's end. The streak-breaker wasn’t just a win — it was a statement that Kentucky football could beat anybody.
Will 2025 add a new chapter? With Texas, Georgia, and Louisville on the schedule, the opportunity is there.