UK football mailbag: What’s the timing for a decision on Stoops’ coaching future?
Well, that happened.
Remember the optimistic shift in tone in last week’s Kentucky football mailbag? Fans seemed ready to wrap their heads around a possible return for UK coach Mark Stoops in 2026 thanks to the momentum built in a three-game winning streak and emergence of a more exciting brand of offense.
You won’t find any of that optimism this week.
Kentucky football’s Nashville nightmare ended with a 45-17 loss to Vanderbilt that was not even as close as the final score indicated. In less than one half, almost all the good vibes around the program had seemingly vanished as Diego Pavia and the Commodores dominated Kentucky in all facets of the game, handing UK one its most lopsided defeats of Stoops’ 13-season tenure.
Now, the calls for change are back. The Wildcats still have a chance to salvage bowl eligibility with a win over archrival Louisville in the regular-season finale, but the performance against Vanderbilt does not leave much room for hope of that happening.
The questions submitted for the final Monday mailbag of the season read a lot like the ones that dominated this space before UK’s November turnaround ahead of what figures to be a fascinating week for the future of the program.
Stoops’ job status is tops on the list again ahead of the Governor’s Cup rivalry game.
John Lenin on X: There’s no way we can run this back can we? I mean the Stoops era is so clearly over. I don’t see one positive or ‘pro’ in trying this once again. It would be illogical. It’s done. We need to move on.
I wrote in the immediate aftermath of the Vanderbilt loss that the way Kentucky lost that game might be the biggest hole yet for Stoops to dig out from. Kentucky has trailed by 40 in a game only four other times in Stoops’ 13-year tenure. Twice in his first season, once in 2016 before the turnaround and once in 2020 when the roster was decimated by positive COVID tests and contact tracing. Those losses came to Alabama, Florida and Georgia. To lose to a traditional SEC cellar dweller — even one having as good a season as Vanderbilt — feels like a much more significant blow.
All of that is true, but Kentucky also can flip the narrative again this week by beating Louisville. That win might not be as impressive as it looked a few weeks ago when the Cardinals were ranked, but it would still get Kentucky to six wins and a bowl game. The rivalry bragging rights are especially important this year after Vince Marrow’s defection to Louisville.
Whether beating Louisville is enough to convince fans there is a path forward for Stoops is a different question.
Ed Helinski on X: Is Kentucky ready and willing to pay the big buyout to get rid of Mark Stoops at the end of the season? Or does he get another year?
I’ve been pretty adamant throughout the season that Kentucky was not going to pay the full buyout to fire Stoops (almost $38 million due within 60 days). I certainly think that won’t happen after the three-game winning streak. The path to a separation has always involved Stoops being willing to negotiate a smaller buyout or at least having his buyout paid out over multiple years with an offset clause to be reduced by the salary at his next job.
When Penn State and LSU fired their coaches, there was no shortage of UK fans who pointed to those decisions as proof Kentucky could fire Stoops, but Penn State has already negotiated James Franklin’s buyout to just $9 million after he was hired by Virginia Tech and LSU is currently embroiled in a legal battle with former coach Brian Kelly about how much money it will ultimately pay him. More recently, Wisconsin, Maryland, Baylor and Florida State have all announced their embattled coaches will return in 2026 rather than be fired with massive buyouts due them, so there is precedent to bring Stoops back even if Kentucky finishes at 5-7.
@Wildcats_Braves on X: Before yesterday I said, finish 2-0, bring him back; finish 0-2, he’s got to go; finish 1-1 (most likely), it depends … and depends a lot on how the team looks. Now that they were destroyed by Vanderbilt, am I still on track with these thoughts?
If we’re operating under the assumption that Stoops has to agree to a reduced buyout to leave, I think a win this week probably still opens the door for his return. I just don’t see why Kentucky would pay its all-time winningest coach any money to walk away after going to a bowl game. If they get to six wins and Stoops wants to come back, I think he will come back. He could still look for another job for a fresh start, but it’s hard to see where that fit is right now.
Will Hammons on X: It’s obvious, when will Stoops separate, and who’s in line?
If Kentucky loses to Louisville, I certainly will be on alert all day Sunday for an announcement about Stoops’ future. I think we would get some word on the decision — stay or go — by Monday at the latest. If they win, I think fans should go into the offseason assuming Stoops will be back. The power-conference programs with current openings will surely try to fill them as quickly as possible in December, so it should not take long to learn if Stoops is in the running for any of those jobs. There might be another wave of jobs opening with postseason firings or when current sitting coaches leave for other jobs. Even those schools will want a coach in place in time for the transfer portal to open in January.
@JakeAllen5 on X: Will the Sumrall announcement take place before or after Mitch announcing he is retiring?
I know there has been a lot of speculation about Barnhart retiring in the last week, but his contract status is not new. Barnhart signed a contract extension in August 2023 that specified he could move to a special assistant to the president role beginning on July 1, 2026. He has to give UK written notice of that happening six months in advance of his departure date. I’ve always had 2026 circled as a possible retirement date for Barnhart, but that contract was signed before the college sports landscape was blown up with the House settlement. UK president Eli Capilouto has been vocal in his view that Barnhart is the best person to guide UK through that transition, so I would be a little surprised if he steps down when first able to in July. Even if he does, he would still be the AD for a football coaching search if one happens this offseason.
As for Sumrall, Kentucky might face even more competition for him if Lane Kiffin leaves Ole Miss for Florida or LSU. It cannot be assumed Sumrall would pick UK even if the job is open and he is offered it. Any decision about whether to part ways with Stoops has to be made in the context of the reality that the next coach might not be as successful as Stoops has been at UK.
@ILikeTrees7 on Bluesky: It’s just like 2 years ago. The entire off season mood is going to be based on the Louisville game outcome.
As mentioned above, I’m not totally sold that even beating Louisville would win back the majority of fans for Stoops, but it is fascinating to look back on that game in 2023. That morning started with reports that Stoops was the leading candidate for the Texas A&M job. Then UK upset Louisville, and it felt like Stoops was going out on the perfect high note. Later that night, reports from College Station emerged that Stoops had been offered the A&M job, but fans there revolted and Stoops announced he was returning to UK shortly after midnight.
This Saturday could be another wild ride, but it will be hard to top that day.
@KentuckyKroge on X: Glad it’s the last Monday mailbag for football.
I hope everyone has enjoyed this addition to our weekly coverage as much as I have. We’ll bring these back periodically through the offseason. I have a feeling there is going to be plenty to talk about, regardless of what happens with the coaching staff over the next week.
This story was originally published November 24, 2025 at 6:45 AM.