Realistically, what's in store for 2026?

[TrueblueCATfan]

All these schools hiring new Coaches and I guess we are stuck with Stoops

[Ukcat]

He staying and I see 4-8 next Season if we lucky

[Matt Dillon]

Next year will be either bad or really bad. If there is a coaching change,I can't see him having a very good season with talent returning talent we will have. I think it will take him AT LEAST 2 years to dig out of this hole.
If Stoops returns it will be a disastrous season,in terms of wins fan morale, image and support. I don't know anything about our athletic finances so maybe we really can't afford to fire him. I do know I am done with UK football till he's gone, not that anyone would care. I played football in high school and college and I love the game. I've gone to UK games since the late 60's just not worth the effort to me to watch the Stoops clown show another year.

I've been done for nearly two seasons. I said after the So. Car. debacle last year that I'd never watch another game as long as Stoops is our coach.

[Jload]

Next year will be either bad or really bad. If there is a coaching change,I can't see him having a very good season with talent returning talent we will have. I think it will take him AT LEAST 2 years to dig out of this hole.
If Stoops returns it will be a disastrous season,in terms of wins fan morale, image and support. I don't know anything about our athletic finances so maybe we really can't afford to fire him. I do know I am done with UK football till he's gone, not that anyone would care. I played football in high school and college and I love the game. I've gone to UK games since the late 60's just not worth the effort to me to watch the Stoops clown show another year.

[Jaxcat]

Does that even matter very much at this point? He came back to earth a bunch the last 2 games. What he did in those would be pretty easy to replace.

And I would speculate that he'll be surrounded by lesser talent next year than this. Most/all the OL is gone, our best WR in Law is gone, Kattus was solid, probably both RBs are gone. I certainly don't believe comparable/better replacements are on the team now and we will struggle to get much better in the portal due to successive bad seasons, limited NIL, potential coaching changes, etc. The roster could be laughably noncompetitive next year. We might see several beatdowns next year again.

[blueheretic]

The coaching staff just sucks. Period.

Stoops has made a career off of eating cupcakes and beating down and mediocre SEC teams.

He has two years that he got his because the SEC was down and Loserville was Loserville.

I've never been all that impressed with Stoops. He ain't a world beater. He's a Kmart Kirby Smart who never seemed to realize where he was coaching.

Don't get me wrong. He's done better at UK than most of the dud coaches that Kentucky has hired over the years.

These past two years have been a return to mean. There is no improvement from here.

Mitch Barnhart got punked twice in contracts. Totally punked.

Next coaches who come to Kentucky with other jobs in hand need to be told to go. Go on to your greener pasture and screw off.

[Pete Hogwallop]

Boley says he wants to play for Ky.

Cutter Boley: "I want to play for Kentucky." - On3

Does that even matter very much at this point? He came back to earth a bunch the last 2 games. What he did in those would be pretty easy to replace.

[Jeffky62]

Stoops and barnhart are both in the same boat when it comes to the nil that controls college sports . Poor decision making and not wanting college players to get paid. You can't have inviduals with this mindset leading your programs time for them to move on . A change has to be made now

[Uncle Dave]

In 2024 we finished 4-8/1-7. This year we finished 5-7/2-6. Stoops improved this year over last year THEREFORE, he will return next year. Gospel according to Mitch Barnhardt.

[Jeffky62]

Hopefully no more stoops barnhart done jackassed around and let sumrall go to Florida when will this nightmare end surely after yesterdays beatdown stoops will be gone

[Los Gatos]

If Stoops is back (impossible to speculate on what we'd be like under a hypothetical different coach), it's hard to see us being much better than we were this year. Yeah some young guys get better, Boley and some receivers maybe click better next year. But we lose some transfers I'm sure and we have guys graduating. We don't have elite talent, we don't have the "wow" young guys you knew were going to be stars. We probably aren't bringing in "wow" talent in the portal. And with the schedule next year, we MIGHT win 4 games and then here we are again saying "this is awful but can we afford $30M to get rid of him?"

Yep, agree with your assessment for our chances next year. However, hopefully, next year we will have a new AD. One who will be more willing to pay the buyout. First he/she will not be the one who is responsible for the contract mess. Second there will be a year of solid data on the loss of revenue from a fan revolt. 31M may be a bargain compared to the loss of ticket sale, etc.

[ganner918]

If Stoops is back (impossible to speculate on what we'd be like under a hypothetical different coach), it's hard to see us being much better than we were this year. Yeah some young guys get better, Boley and some receivers maybe click better next year. But we lose some transfers I'm sure and we have guys graduating. We don't have elite talent, we don't have the "wow" young guys you knew were going to be stars. We probably aren't bringing in "wow" talent in the portal. And with the schedule next year, we MIGHT win 4 games and then here we are again saying "this is awful but can we afford $30M to get rid of him?"

[Los Gatos]

I still think he’s gone too. Dunno why, but surely he knows it’s over.

It isn't over by about $38M.

However, I sure hope you are correct. Still I can't see Barney not trying to avoid the buyout. I expect he will try and retain Stoops by announcing how pleased he is by the improvement. etc. Short of a Joker/Vandy like revolt Stoops will be back.

I will be surprised if the is resolved by Monday, maybe Wednesday.

[blueheretic]

I think he and Barnhart see this season as improvement.

Stoops thinks that the fans are ok with this season because of the history of Kentucky football.

After all, without Stoops the Savior, Kentucky wouldn't have those two ten win seasons.

Stoops doesn't have to go anywhere unless that moronic AD scoops up 45 or so million dollars to pay for the football staff.

This is typical Kentucky football.

I just don't get how Barnhart let that bleed over to basketball.

Barnhart needs to go this year.

That has to happen first.

HIre someone as AD who isn't a complete asshat. THEN set that person to hiring a football coach.

I still say that Stoops is back next year.

I could be wrong.

Now, does Stoops deserve to be back next year. Hell NO! He didn't deserve to be back after last year's debacle.

[Helix]

It’s not his choice. I think he is gone.

I still think he’s gone too. Dunno why, but surely he knows it’s over.