Kentucky football fans hoping for accountability after last season’s disappointing 4-8 campaign were left disappointed by athletic director Mitch Barnhart’s recent comments. Despite the program’s clear regression, Barnhart remains adamant that Mark Stoops is still the right man for the job.
Barnhart’s interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader offered little more than excuses and deflections. Instead of acknowledging a disturbing pattern of decline, he insisted that last year was just a “blip.”
“A one-year blip is not what I would call ‘not sustaining it.’ Now, if we go two or three more, a couple more years, and we’re still not back where we want to be, sure, then you have to have a conversation about, what are we trying to get to here?” Barnhart said.
However, Kentucky’s struggles go beyond just one season. The Wildcats have gone 7-6 in back-to-back seasons before bottoming out at 4-8. They have won just one SEC home game in the last two seasons and went winless in conference play at Kroger Field last year.
Despite these struggles, Stoops remains one of the highest-paid coaches in the country, making over $9 million a year. His salary is a stark contrast to the team’s performance on the field.
Last season, the Wildcats had one of the worst offenses in the country, ranking 124th nationally in points per game and yards per game. Stoops’ plan for 2025 involves a “ground-and-pound” approach, which is unlikely to improve the team’s fortunes.
The team’s transfer portal situation this offseason was also alarming, with 21 scholarship players leaving, including hometown star Dane Key. However, Barnhart and Stoops brushed it off as routine roster turnover.
Barnhart’s comments make it clear that Stoops is not going anywhere anytime soon. The athletic director seems content with the team’s current trajectory, despite the clear decline in performance.
Kentucky football fans are left wondering where the program goes from here. With Barnhart and Stoops at the helm, it seems unlikely that the team will make any significant changes or improvements in the near future.
