The fans are growing tired.
Paul Finebaum Names Major SEC Coach Fans Are 'Getting a Little Tired' Of originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The pressure is mounting for several college football coaches this offseason due to their disappointing performances last year. As a result, these coaches will likely need to deliver a strong bounce-back season, or they may find themselves seeking employment elsewhere next year.
Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops could find himself in this situation. He holds a career record of 77-73 at Kentucky and is the all-time winningest coach in the program's history, surpassing Bear Bryant. However, after a successful 10-3 season in 2021, Stoops experienced consecutive 7-6 seasons. Last year, the Wildcats struggled significantly, finishing 4-8, marking their worst season since Stoops' first year in 2013, when they went 2-10.
During "The Paul Finebaum Show," the SEC Network analyst expressed concern that fans are growing tired of Stoops.
"I get a lot of questions about this program," Finebaum said. "I've tried to defend the coach, but fans are getting a little tired. No one really knows what to make of the Mark Stoops situation at Kentucky."
Recently, Finebaum expressed that Stoops has achieved so much at Kentucky that he deserves a chance to redeem himself. While he acknowledged Stoops' substantial buyout, he suggested that if the season does not go well, Stoops' dismissal might become inevitable.
ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) is a tool used to assess team strength and predict future performance throughout the season. This year, the FPI does not offer much hope for Kentucky's improvement, forecasting the Wildcats will struggle again with a projected total of only five wins, just one more than last season. A significant factor contributing to this prediction may be the team's challenging schedule.
If Kentucky fails to perform well again and Stoops is let go, his contract presents complications, as Finebaum pointed out. If he were to be fired after the 2025 season, the buyout would be approximately $37.5 million. Moreover, under the third amendment of Stoops' contract, Kentucky would be required to pay this sum within 60 days of issuing a termination notice, making it difficult for the university to part ways with him.
The Wildcats are set to open the season against the Toledo Rockets at 12:45 p.m. ET on Aug. 30.
Related: Paul Finebaum Reveals Why One Coach on the Hot Seat Is Unlikely to Be Let Go
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
