Mark Stoops spoke confidently about his team’s offseason preparations and early spring practices, but the numbers tell a different story. Despite a “productive, good offseason” and a renewed focus on team bonding, the Wildcats’ performance on the field has been less than inspiring in recent years. A new offensive line, and a new QB in Zach Calzada will try to reestablish Stoops' ground and pound.
The Hard Facts
Kentucky finished the 2024 season with a 4-8 record, the second straight disappointing season. Their SEC record of 1-7 was among the worst in the conference, only managing to beat Ole Miss. Since their breakthrough 10-win season in 2021, Kentucky has gone just 20-22 overall and 8-16 in SEC play. That’s an average of fewer than three conference wins per year.
The offense, once a promising unit, averaged just 21.4 points per game last season, ranking 12th in the SEC. The passing attack was inconsistent, and the running game lacked the explosiveness of previous years. The defense, Stoops’ supposed specialty, wasn’t much better. Kentucky allowed an average of 28.6 points per game, good for 10th in the SEC. They also gave up a dreadful 5.8 yards per play, consistently getting gashed on the ground and through the air.
Stoops’ Inability to Adjust
Stoops continues to emphasize team bonding and offseason workouts, but the results haven’t shown up on the field. His own words highlight the problem:
“The focus has to be there. If you look at the season last year, there are so many critical plays, there’s just no excuse to take any play off. In a game of 160 plays, you don’t know any one play that could make a difference in the game.”
He talks about focus, but the Wildcats have continuously lacked discipline and consistency. Stoops’ approach seems rooted more in motivational speeches than actual on-field adjustments.
Now, as he prepares for the 2025 season, Stoops is singing the same tune:
“Felt good to get back on the grass with the players. We’re excited about this opportunity, excited about spring. The guys had good juice, good energy.”
“I felt like we had a really productive, good offseason, weight room, the guys have worked really hard.”
But how many times have fans heard similar sentiments, only to watch Kentucky stumble through another disappointing season?
Recruiting: A Silver Lining That’s Turning Gray
One area where Stoops has thrived is recruiting. Kentucky’s 2024 class ranked 25th nationally, but good recruiting only matters if it translates to wins. Stoops’ inability to turn talent into on-field success has been a growing concern. At some point, highly-touted recruits want more than the promise of development—they want wins. And they have 0 commits in 2026 so far.
He talks about building chemistry with “31 new players” on the roster and mentions how the offseason allows for better preparation, saying, “We are able to do a little more in the offseason, so you get more work with them. So, you don’t get out there, day one, where it’s just completely new.”
Yet, despite having the advantage of better offseason training, the Wildcats have failed to capitalize on it.
Is It Time for a Change?
Stoops’ tenure at Kentucky has undoubtedly brought some high points, but the program appears to be sliding backward. How many more mediocre seasons will the administration and fan base tolerate? For a school with the resources being spent, continuous mediocrity isn’t acceptable. Unless Stoops finds a way to turn things around quickly, his seat is only going to get hotter.
The 2025 season may very well be a make-or-break year for Stoops. Fans are tired of hearing about offseason workouts and focus when the results simply aren’t there. Kentucky deserves better. The question is, can Mark Stoops deliver it?