We all know Kentucky football is in a bad place. But as the losses pile up, it’s crucial to understand this isn’t just a slump. The program under Mark Stoops is in the midst of a historic collapse, posting numbers that are simply unheard of for a head coach in their 13th season, numbers that have already gotten other coaches fired.
The on-field product is a mess, but the statistics behind the failure are even more alarming. This is the grim reality of where the Wildcats stand today.
The numbers don’t lie: A generational collapse 📉
Let’s get straight
to the cold, hard facts. The Wildcats’ performance in the Southeastern Conference, the lifeblood of the program, has fallen off a cliff. Consider this:
- Kentucky is 1-10 in its last 11 SEC games.
- Expanding the sample size, the Cats are 2-14 in their last 16 SEC contests.
To put that in perspective, Mark Stoops has gone more than a full calendar year without a conference victory. This isn’t a rebuilding phase; it’s a complete regression to the perennial cellar-dweller status the program fought for a decade to escape. And the Georgia game is just a perfect encapsulation of Mark Stoops’ tenure; bad plays, dumb decisions, bad luck, and a big loss.
A standard of failure unacceptable elsewhere
Perhaps the most alarming part of this collapse is how it compares to other Power Five programs. In the cutthroat world of college football, these records are a fireable offense.
- Sam Pittman was fired mid-season at Arkansas. His team’s record over the same 16-game conference span? 4-12, a full two games better than Kentucky’s.
- Brent Pry was recently let go at Virginia Tech. His recent conference record was 10-7, well above .500.
Coaches are being fired for achieving more than what is currently being accepted in Lexington. The fact that Stoops appears to be under no significant pressure from the administration is baffling and sets a dangerous precedent.
Apathy has arrived, and it’s taking over
The consequences of this prolonged failure are now unavoidable. For the first time in a long time, Kroger Field is in real danger of becoming an away-game environment for the Wildcats. When Texas comes to town in two weeks, there is a legitimate fear that burnt orange could outnumber the home blue, as Big Blue Nation has already started its annual pivot to basketball season. A pivot that doesn’t have to happen, but is.
The fanbase is checking out. The anger has turned to apathy, and empty seats will soon follow.
Despite this, the message from the head coach seems disconnected from the grim reality. After the 35-14 thrashing by Georgia, Stoops noted that he thought quarterback Cutter Boley “grew up a lot.” And that, while it’s “not fun,” the team will just have to “get back to work.”
While the young QB may be improving, the team just got outscored 70-27 over its last two games. Finding silver linings in blowouts is a classic sign of a program that has lost its way, content with “respectable losses” instead of demanding wins.
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
