Mark Stoops says Kentucky will re-commit to running the ball
Mark Stoops once again made waves in the college football world in an interview with The Cat’s Paws on Wednesday, when the 12th-year head coach revealed some of the frustration he has with the NIL and Kentucky’s lack of funding. The 57-year-old Stoops sounded like a guy who is tired and doesn’t have enough support from those around him. Some might call it a lack of collaboration.
During his opening remarks at Kentucky’s Kickoff Luncheon at Kroger Field on Monday afternoon, Stoops said he believes in Kentucky’s unity and that without support from the leadership, he doesn’t believe the team would be where it is today, with eight consecutive bowl game appearances and two double-digit win seasons.
“This wouldn’t have been possible if there hadn’t been continuity within the staff and, of course, within the management structure. [Eli] Capilouto, Mitch Barnhart, myself, Mark Hill, Rock Oliver, Sandy Bell. All of these guys have been with me since Day 1,” Stoops said. “They’ve really provided great leadership. You’ve probably heard some things about me. It can get a little frustrating in the summer. We’ve got some work to do.”
“In football, sometimes I feel like I retreat into my own little cave because it’s my job to manage the football program, but when I look at the challenges that the college sports world faces, it makes me feel so small because it’s monumental. What Dr. Capilouto, Mitch and our leadership team have to deal with over the next 12 months is unprecedented, and we’ve dealt with a lot already. We’ve adapted and done the best we can, and we’ll continue to find creative ways to remain as competitive as we’ve always been and take it to the next level.”
The NCAA was dealt a major blow when the courts found the amateurism model illegal, which simultaneously ushered in the era of NIL and the transfer portal. The college sports world has been in turmoil ever since, struggling to create its own model that is legally sustainable. With the House v. NCAA settlement, revenue sharing and scholarship limits will be officially implemented for all sports, a major challenge that all athletic departments will have to face. In the meantime, Kentucky needs financial contributions to build its SEC football roster. Donations will likely be necessary even after 2025, when revenue sharing is implemented.
Coach Mark Stoops has voiced his frustration with the state of college football and the direction of the sport, but the head coach wants everyone to know he has no intention of backing down from the fight.
At SEC Media Day two weeks ago, Stoops tried to make it clear that Kentucky is proud of the past eight years but has no plans to rest on its laurels. Stoops’ flirtation with Texas A&M over Thanksgiving weekend and recent frustrations with both teams on the NIL have led many to speculate that this may be the final season for the winningest head coach in Kentucky football history. The former Arizona and Florida State defensive coordinator told fans directly at a luncheon on Monday that he has no plans to resign and is committed to taking Kentucky to the next level.
“That’s what we want and that’s what you all want,” Stoops said about improving Kentucky’s football program. “I’m not interested in just sitting here and being around. And I’m not interested in being out. We’re interested in finding and exploring how to be the best we can be at Kentucky.”
The next step will include getting Kentucky into the 12-team College Football Playoff. To get there, the Wildcats would need to win 10 regular season games, which they haven’t done under Stoops. That would be even harder in the 16-team SEC, which has no divisions. A nine-game conference format is also likely to be implemented in 2026.
Kentucky has a big task ahead of it, but Mark Stoops says he’s committed to leading the program through the next obstacle.
Subscribe to the KSR YouTube channel for press conferences, interviews, original programming, fan features and exclusive content.