'Bring it On': Mark Stoops Embraces Kentucky's Brutal, 'Awkward' Schedule

kentucky-football-schedule-mark-stoops-awkward-bring-it-on — Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops met with members of the media at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Monday, July 28, 2025 - © Jeff Faughender/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Kentucky has one of the toughest schedules in the country this season; in fact, it’s the seventh hardest, according to ESPN’s College Football Power Index. Not helping matters is the fact that both of the Cats’ bye weeks come in the first half of the season, setting up an absolute gauntlet in the second. Even if Kentucky is vastly improved from last season, a 6-6 record should be considered a success.

This morning, Mark Stoops was asked about the schedule, specifically facing an SEC team in week two of the season for the second year in a row (last year, it was South Carolina; this year, it’s Ole Miss); however, Stoops knows better than to look past week one. Kentucky opens the season vs. Toledo on August 30. Last year, the Rockets finished with an 8-5 record, which included a 41-17 win over Mississippi State in Starkville in week three.

“We’ve got a big game in week one. I mean, honestly, I’m not just saying that. It’s not coach speak. I think you all could recognize that. [Toledo] is a team that’s picked to win the MAC and a very, very mature football team and well-coached and everything. So, that’s going to be a big game, and that’ll get us prepared, because we have to be prepared for week one.”

Stoops is right. Toledo is a Group of Five power, considered the team to beat in the MAC under longtime coach Jason Candle. There’s also a familiar name on the Rockets. Running back Chip Trayanum transferred from Kentucky to Toledo this past offseason. The former Ohio State Buckeye played in only three games for Kentucky after suffering a broken hand in the preseason. As a Wildcat, he totaled 19 carries for 101 yards. He’ll be looking to play spoiler in his return to Kroger Field. Right now, Kentucky is a 10-point favorite.

Then, Ole Miss comes to town. It’s still wild that Kentucky’s lone SEC win last season was over the then-No. 6-ranked Rebels in Oxford. Jaxson Dart, Tre Harris, and Jordan Watkins may all be in the NFL now, but Ole Miss reloaded in the transfer portal, and Lane Kiffin will be eager to get some revenge for Stoops’ uncharacteristically bold decision to go for it on 4th down late in the game, which resulted in a 63-yard catch by Barion Brown to help set up the game-winning touchdown.

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Kentucky hosts Eastern Michigan the week after and then has its first bye week, with the second coming after road trips to South Carolina and Georgia. That means that from October 18 on, when Kentucky hosts Texas, there are no weekends off. As Stoops said, the SEC didn’t do the Cats any favors with the bye weeks.

“Just in general, talking about the schedule, it’s awkward this year, as far as where the byes are and all that. And the back half is going to be — you know, I don’t even like looking at it, just because of the way it falls, with no bye and the teams that we play.”

After the second bye: Texas, Tennessee, at Auburn, Florida, Tennessee Tech, at Vanderbilt, and at Louisville. Little to no margin for error, with only the game vs. Tennessee Tech, an FCS program, providing any kind of reprieve. Still, Stoops says it’s a challenge he and the team are ready to tackle head-on.

“It’s just an awkward schedule, but again, remember, we’re embracing it, we’re optimistic, and we’re excited about it. So, it is what it is. I can’t change that. I can’t change what our byes are. I can’t change who we play when, all that, you know. So, it is what it is. Bring it on.”

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2025 Kentucky Football Schedule (with TV windows)

Date	Opponent	Time (ET) / TV Window	TV
Aug. 30	Toledo	12:45 PM	SEC Network
Sep. 6	Ole Miss	3:30 PM	ABC
Sep. 13	Eastern Michigan	7:30 PM	ESPNU
Sep. 20	BYE	—	—
Sep. 27	at South Carolina	FLEX	TBD
Oct. 4	at Georgia	Noon	ABC or ESPN
Oct. 11	BYE	—	—
Oct. 18	Texas	Night	TBD
Oct. 25	Tennessee	Night	TBD
Nov. 1	at Auburn	FLEX	TBD
Nov. 8	Florida	FLEX	TBD
Nov. 15	Tennessee Tech	1:30 PM	SECN+/ESPN+
Nov. 22	at Vanderbilt	Afternoon	TBD
Nov. 29	at Louisville	TBD	TBD

TV Game Windows

Early: Noon to 1 p.m. ET start
Afternoon: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. ET start
Night: 6 to 8 p.m. ET start
Flex: Games flexed between the Afternoon (3:30-4:30 p.m.) and Night (6-8 p.m.) windows