Mark Stoops emphatically states he will return to Kentucky in 2026: '0% chance I walk away'

Following Kentucky‘s 41-0 loss to Louisville on Saturday, Mark Stoops was pressed on his future with the program. He was emphatic in his answer.

“You think I’m going to walk away? You kidding me? Zero percent chance I walk away. I’m gonna be here as far as I’m concerned,” Stoops said, via KSR’s Nick Roush. He added that “Zero means zero. Zero percent chance I walk.”

He reiterated the statement while speaking with Tom Leach of the UK Sports Network postgame radio show. However, he finished the statement saying that he does have bosses. Those bosses are the ones who reserve final judgement on their program’s leadership.

The loss raises questions on what the future looks like for Stoops at Kentucky. The hot seat speculation tapered off in recent weeks after the Wildcats had won three of its last four games, including wins against Auburn and Florida in SEC play.

However, consecutive blowout losses to end the season against Vanderbilt and now bitter rival Louisville leaves the Wildcats out of bowl eligibility for the second consecutive season. Kentucky had previously made the postseason in eight straight years, but finish the season 5-7 overall. In the past two weeks alone, Kentucky lost to Vanderbilt 45-17 and 41-0 to Louisville.

Discussion over Stoops’ future has been speculated all season as the Wildcats continued to struggle down the stretch. After a 2-1 start, Kentucky lost six of its last nine games including an 0-5 start to SEC play.

Stoops has been the leader at Kentucky for 12 seasons now, but whether he’ll be back for year 13 remains to be seen despite his claim. Still, he’s the longest tenured head coach in the SEC and has gained respect of his colleagues around the conference for his reputation as a program builder.

He’s taken Kentucky from finishing 2-10 to having two different 10 win seasons in five years. But those days, for the time being, appear to be behind the Wildcats. They haven’t won more than seven games in a single season since 2021, and have won nine games in total over the past two years.

Kentucky will now move forward to the offseason as the Wildcats look to improve on the product they’ve produced on the field over the final two weeks of the season. Stoops revealed that a “large group of very good players” have already committed to return to Lexington next season.