Mark Stoops on Dodd Trophy Midseason Watch List
In the midst of a milestone season of his career, Mark Stoops is in the running for one of college football’s highest honors. Stoops is one of 20 coaches on the midseason watch list for the Dodd Trophy, given annually to the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership, and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s coaching philosophy. Stoops is one of five coaches from the SEC on the list, along with Josh Heupel (Tennessee), Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss), Nick Saban (Alabama), and Kirby Smart (Georgia).
Stoops passed Bear Bryant to become Kentucky Football’s all-time winningest coach in September with the victory over No. 12/19 Florida. So far this year, the Cats are 5-2, 2-2 in SEC play. Currently ranked No. 19 in the AP Poll, No. 18 in the Coaches Poll, Kentucky was ranked in the top 10 (7th in the AP poll) for three straight weeks in September, for the first time since 1977. Stoops was also named Honorary Coach of the AFCA Good Works Team in recognition of the millions of dollars he has helped raise and other service events he has done for the Kentucky Children’s Hospital.
2022 Dodd Trophy Midseason Watch List
| Coach | School | Current AP Ranking | Current Record | APR Score |
| Dino Babers | Syracuse (ACC) | No. 14 | 6-0 | 929 |
| Bret Bielema | Illinois (Big 10) | No. 18 | 6-1 | 975 |
| Mack Brown | North Carolina (ACC) | No. 22 | 6-1 | 1000 |
| Dave Clawson | Wake Forest (ACC) | No. 13 | 5-1 | 988 |
| Ryan Day | Ohio State (Big 10) | No. 2 | 6-0 | 1000 |
| Dave Doeren | North Carolina State (ACC) | No. 23 | 5-2 | 988 |
| Luke Fickell | Cincinnati (ACC) | No. 21 | 5-1 | 1000 |
| James Franklin | Penn State (Big 10) | No. 16 | 5-1 | 937 |
| Mike Gundy | Oklahoma State (Big 12) | No. 11 | 5-1 | 979 |
| Jim Harbaugh | Michigan (Big 10) | No. 4 | 7-0 | 982 |
| Josh Heupel | Tennessee (SEC) | No. 3 | 6-0 | 944 |
| Chip Kelly | UCLA (Pac-12) | No. 9 | 6-0 | 964 |
| Lane Kiffin | Ole Miss (SEC) | No. 7 | 7-0 | 1000 |
| Chris Klieman | Kansas State (Big 12) | No. 17 | 5-1 | 986 |
| Nick Saban | Alabama (SEC) | No. 6 | 6-1 | 991 |
| Steve Sarkisian | Texas (Big 12) | No. 20 | 5-2 | 969 |
| Kirby Smart | Georgia (SEC) | No. 1 | 7-0 | 972 |
| Mark Stoops | Kentucky (SEC) | No. 19 | 5-2 | 981 |
| Dabo Swinney | Clemson (ACC) | No. 5 | 7-0 | 994 |
| Kyle Whittingham | Utah (Pac-12) | No. 15 | 5-2 | 988 |
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