Following a frustrating 2024 campaign, optimism is hard to come by in Big Blue Nation as Mark Stoops enters his 13th season at the helm. In fact, a recent survey suggests Kentucky fans are more discouraged about their program than any other Power Four fanbase.
The Athletic’s 2025 College Football “Hope O-Meter,” which polled 12,415 fans across all 136 FBS programs, placed Kentucky at the very bottom of the Power Four. An overwhelming 89% of Wildcat fans admitted to feeling pessimistic about the season ahead a dramatic swing from just a year ago, when 73% expressed optimism about 2024.
My, how quickly things turned. The tone for the season was set on opening night, when storms delayed the Southern Miss game for nearly two and a half hours before it was eventually called in the third quarter. A 31–6 loss to South Carolina the following week raised serious red flags, though hope flickered briefly when Kentucky stunned top-ten Ole Miss in Oxford in late September.
That spark didn’t last. The upset of the Rebels proved to be the Wildcats’ lone SEC win of the year and one of only two victories overall, the other coming against Murray State at Kroger Field on Nov. 16.
Among a season full of tough losses, none stung Big Blue Nation more than Louisville’s 41–14 thrashing in Lexington to close the year. To make matters worse, the Cardinals enter 2025 tied for first in The Athletic’s Hope-O-Meter, with 100% of their fans expressing optimism. Ouch.
The Athletic even spotlighted one Kentucky fan, Pete Gabbucci, who summed up the mood. Even if the Wildcats had limped to six wins and a bowl berth, he admitted he wouldn’t have been satisfied. Judging by his outlook, you’d guess he lives somewhere along the Kentucky–Indiana border.
One fan put it bluntly: “The Mark Stoops era needs to finally become the ‘Mark Stops’ era. He looks checked out, and the fan base is right there with him. Mediocre 6–6 bowl trips aren’t statue-worthy especially with the playoff field expanding and even Indiana finding its way in. Damn Hoosiers!”
Last season may have been rough, but 89% pessimism still feels steep. Maybe that’s just the game-week excitement talking, but here’s a stat to chew on: Kentucky has won its last five home openers and seven of its last eight season openers overall. Even more encouraging, the Wildcats have beaten their opening opponent by at least 24 points in each of the last four years.
With Saturday’s spread against Toledo sitting at -10, a convincing win say, another 24-plus point margin would extend the streak and, just maybe, spark some much-needed optimism in Big Blue Nation.
Leave a Reply