It might be comprehensible in the event you wrote off Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats after a 2-5 begin to 2025 that had the markings of an impending dismissal written throughout it.
After revitalizing a constantly mediocre program and bringing two 10-win seasons to Lexington, Stoops and the ‘Cats went 4-8 in 2024 and seemed no higher by means of the primary seven video games of 2025, solely beating Toledo and Japanese Washington.
Kentucky handed South Carolina its solely Southeastern Convention win of the season thus far and seemed misplaced in opposition to the likes of Georgia and Tennessee.
Kentucky quietly turning issues round
However with respect to Stoops, his crew didn’t give up on themselves or their head coach. Over the past three weeks, Kentucky is 3-0 (2-0 SEC) and on the doorstep of bowl eligibility.
The Wildcats’ first SEC win of the season — a 10-3 street win over Auburn — definitely wasn’t fairly, but it surely received Kentucky on the board. The following week, Kentucky rolled over Florida 38-7 earlier than beating a beforehand undefeated FCS squad in Tennessee Tech 42-10 on Saturday.
Make no mistake: Kentucky hasn’t performed probably the most vaunted groups in America over the previous three weeks. However the Wildcats have not stopped preventing and have confirmed that they will band collectively and win video games.
Remaining on the schedule is a street journey to Nashville to tackle No. 14 Vanderbilt (8-2) which can nonetheless be taking part in for a Faculty Soccer Playoff berth. However the Commodores are removed from invincible, as losses to Alabama and Texas and an escape over Auburn have proven.
A street journey to an in-state rival in No. 20 Louisville is one other nice alternative for Kentucky, no matter whether or not or not they take down Vanderbilt. The Cardinals are not preventing for a CFP bid after a surprising loss to Clemson on Friday, and in a rivalry recreation, something can occur.
No matter how the ultimate two video games of 2025 play out, Kentucky remains to be within the battle and has executed a pleasant job of bouncing again after a begin to the season that might solely be described as lower than inspiring.
