Alan Cutler stirred excitement in Big Blue Nation on his radio show by claiming that Mark Stoops had approached Kentucky’s administration after last season to discuss his buyout. Following Kentucky’s 35-14 loss to No. 12 Georgia, Stoops was asked about the report.
Stoops firmly denied the rumor in an interview with Jon Hale, saying he didn’t want to give such speculation any credibility. He stressed that he had made his stance clear last year and had no intention of leaving Kentucky.
“There’s zero chance I’m walking away,” Stoops said. “There’s no quit in me. That report is 100% false, and anyone suggesting otherwise is lying.” His comments reaffirmed his commitment to the program and his determination to keep leading the Wildcats.
As another reporter began to ask a follow-up question, Stoops cut in sharply, saying, “I don’t want to address that crap no more.” His remark underscored his frustration with the rumor and his desire to shift the focus back to football.
If Kentucky were to part ways with Mark Stoops after this season, the school would owe him nearly $38 million within 60 days of termination a hefty buyout that drops by about $9 million each subsequent year.
The financial hurdle adds to the tension following the Wildcats’ recent struggles. Their 35-14 loss to Georgia marked the program’s 16th consecutive defeat to the Bulldogs and dropped Kentucky to 1-10 against SEC opponents since the start of the 2024 season.
Widening the scope further, the Wildcats are just 2-14 in their last 16 SEC games, highlighting the depth of their conference challenges under Stoops despite his long tenure in Lexington.
When asked about the team’s struggles, Mark Stoops expressed confidence in his ability to turn things around.
“Absolutely, it’s hard,” Stoops said. “Listen, I’ve been there. We talked about those challenges knocking down some pegs and moving up. I’ve been there and done that. It’s hard. You’ve got to have the right pieces in place.
We’re not exactly where we want to be. We’re better than we’ve been in the recent past, but we’re still not where we want to be.”
Stoops’ comments reflected both his acknowledgment of the program’s shortcomings and his determination to guide Kentucky back to a higher level of competitiveness in the SEC.
On this morning’s pregame show, Matt Jones shared details he’d heard about last fall’s post-Louisville conversation between Mark Stoops and athletic director Mitch Barnhart.
According to Jones, Stoops’ remarks weren’t confrontational but straightforward. “It was put to me that Mark Stoops basically said, ‘If you don’t want me to be here, you can buy me out,’” Jones explained. “It wasn’t an angry thing. It was part of the conversation… I don’t think he went to him and said, ‘I want out.’”
Jones emphasized that the discussion seemed more about clarifying expectations and the program’s direction rather than Stoops seeking an exit.
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