Mark Stoops Under Pressure: Kentucky’s 2025 Season Could Define His Future

The heat is on for Mark Stoops as he heads into the 2025 college football season, with Kentucky fans and analysts questioning whether he can turn things around after a dismal 4-8 campaign in 2024. With the Wildcats projected to struggle once again in a brutally tough SEC schedule, Stoops’ job security is a major talking point heading into the new season.

A Rocky 2024 Leads to Sky-High Expectations

Kentucky’s 2024 season was a major disappointment, finishing with only one SEC win and a stagnant offense that ranked near the bottom nationally. Stoops himself admitted, “We didn’t do a good enough job in any area—there’s no way around it. A blowout loss to Louisville to close the year only added to the frustration, as the Wildcats lacked the physicality and discipline that had defined Stoops’ better seasons in Lexington.

Now entering his 13th season, Stoops has embraced a “back-to-basics” approach for 2025, emphasizing toughness, discipline, and physicality in spring practice. He’s relying heavily on the transfer portal, bringing in 19 new players, including quarterback Zach Calzada from Incarnate Word, hoping that experience can lead to immediate improvement.

A Brutal 2025 Schedule Adds to the Pressure

Unfortunately for Stoops, the road to redemption will be brutal. Analyst Brad Crawford of 247Sports predicts that Kentucky could finish as poorly as 3-9, including a winless SEC campaign 【23】. If that happens, it would be the worst season of Stoops’ tenure since his first year in 2013. Key matchups include games against Georgia, Texas, and Tennessee—all teams that are expected to be in the national conversation.

A major concern is whether Kentucky’s offensive line and defense can withstand the physicality of SEC play. Last season, they were outscored 146-45 in conference road games, a stat that Stoops is determined to change

Is Stoops’ Job in Jeopardy?

Despite growing fan frustration, Stoops’ contract might buy him some time. His buyout is estimated at $37.5 million, which makes firing him a costly decision for Kentucky’s administration However, if the Wildcats fail to show significant progress, calls for change will only grow louder.

Stoops remains focused on instilling a “blue-collar” mentality in his team, emphasizing daily improvement and accountability. “You could go back probably to my first press conference, and I’m saying these same things, right?” Stoops said recently. “That doesn’t mean they’re always going to happen, right? We know the concentration, the focus, has to give back to making sure we don’t sacrifice in any of these areas”

If Kentucky shows signs of life in 2025, Stoops could buy himself more time. However, if they fail to improve and finish near the bottom of the SEC again, his long tenure in Lexington may be nearing its end.