Adam RittenbergNov 29, 2025, 04:38 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter; joined ESPN in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University.Follow on X
Kentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals: Full Highlights (1:18)Kentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals: Full Highlights (1:18)
Despite a second straight losing season that ended with Saturday’s 41-0 loss to in-state rival Louisville, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said he’s not going anywhere.
Stoops, 58, is 72-80 overall at Kentucky with 10-win seasons in 2018 and 2021. He’s earning $9 million this year and is signed through June 2031. If fired, Stoops would be owed 75% of his remaining salary, which equates to approximately $37.7 million.
“I’m going to be here as far as I’m concerned,” Stoops said Saturday. “Now I can’t control what decision [is going] to be made. If you’re asking me, I said zero. Zero means zero.”
playKentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals: Full Highlights (1:18)Kentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals: Full Highlights (1:18)Adam RittenbergNov 29, 2025, 04:38 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter; joined ESPN in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University.Follow on XOpen Extended ReactionsDespite a second straight losing season that ended with Saturday’s 41-0 loss to in-state rival Louisville, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said he’s not going anywhere.Asked after the game about the possibility of stepping down, Stoops told reporters, “Like, I’m going to walk away? Are you kidding me. … Zero-percent chance I walk.” Stoops completed his 13th season at Kentucky with a 5-7 record after going 4-8 in 2024.Stoops, 58, is 72-80 overall at Kentucky with 10-win seasons in 2018 and 2021. He’s earning $9 million this year and is signed through June 2031. If fired, Stoops would be owed 75% of his remaining salary, which equates to approximately $37.7 million.”I’m going to be here as far as I’m concerned,” Stoops said Saturday. “Now I can’t control what decision [is going] to be made. If you’re asking me, I said zero. Zero means zero.”Stoops took a similar position earlier in the season when asked about a report that he met with Kentucky administrators to discuss his buyout. He called the report “unequivocally 100-percent false,” adding that, “There’s no quit in me.”
Kentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals: Full Highlights (1:18)Kentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals: Full Highlights (1:18)
CloseCollege football reporter; joined ESPN in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University.Follow on X
Kentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals: Full Highlights (1:18)
playKentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals: Full Highlights (1:18)Kentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals: Full Highlights (1:18)Adam RittenbergNov 29, 2025, 04:38 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter; joined ESPN in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University.Follow on XOpen Extended ReactionsDespite a second straight losing season that ended with Saturday’s 41-0 loss to in-state rival Louisville, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said he’s not going anywhere.Asked after the game about the possibility of stepping down, Stoops told reporters, “Like, I’m going to walk away? Are you kidding me. … Zero-percent chance I walk.” Stoops completed his 13th season at Kentucky with a 5-7 record after going 4-8 in 2024.Stoops, 58, is 72-80 overall at Kentucky with 10-win seasons in 2018 and 2021. He’s earning $9 million this year and is signed through June 2031. If fired, Stoops would be owed 75% of his remaining salary, which equates to approximately $37.7 million.”I’m going to be here as far as I’m concerned,” Stoops said Saturday. “Now I can’t control what decision [is going] to be made. If you’re asking me, I said zero. Zero means zero.”Stoops took a similar position earlier in the season when asked about a report that he met with Kentucky administrators to discuss his buyout. He called the report “unequivocally 100-percent false,” adding that, “There’s no quit in me.”
playKentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals: Full Highlights (1:18)Kentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals: Full Highlights (1:18)Adam RittenbergNov 29, 2025, 04:38 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter; joined ESPN in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University.Follow on XOpen Extended ReactionsDespite a second straight losing season that ended with Saturday’s 41-0 loss to in-state rival Louisville, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said he’s not going anywhere.Asked after the game about the possibility of stepping down, Stoops told reporters, “Like, I’m going to walk away? Are you kidding me. … Zero-percent chance I walk.” Stoops completed his 13th season at Kentucky with a 5-7 record after going 4-8 in 2024.Stoops, 58, is 72-80 overall at Kentucky with 10-win seasons in 2018 and 2021. He’s earning $9 million this year and is signed through June 2031. If fired, Stoops would be owed 75% of his remaining salary, which equates to approximately $37.7 million.”I’m going to be here as far as I’m concerned,” Stoops said Saturday. “Now I can’t control what decision [is going] to be made. If you’re asking me, I said zero. Zero means zero.”Stoops took a similar position earlier in the season when asked about a report that he met with Kentucky administrators to discuss his buyout. He called the report “unequivocally 100-percent false,” adding that, “There’s no quit in me.”
playKentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals: Full Highlights (1:18)Kentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals: Full Highlights (1:18)Adam RittenbergNov 29, 2025, 04:38 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter; joined ESPN in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University.Follow on XOpen Extended ReactionsDespite a second straight losing season that ended with Saturday’s 41-0 loss to in-state rival Louisville, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said he’s not going anywhere.Asked after the game about the possibility of stepping down, Stoops told reporters, “Like, I’m going to walk away? Are you kidding me. … Zero-percent chance I walk.” Stoops completed his 13th season at Kentucky with a 5-7 record after going 4-8 in 2024.Stoops, 58, is 72-80 overall at Kentucky with 10-win seasons in 2018 and 2021. He’s earning $9 million this year and is signed through June 2031. If fired, Stoops would be owed 75% of his remaining salary, which equates to approximately $37.7 million.”I’m going to be here as far as I’m concerned,” Stoops said Saturday. “Now I can’t control what decision [is going] to be made. If you’re asking me, I said zero. Zero means zero.”Stoops took a similar position earlier in the season when asked about a report that he met with Kentucky administrators to discuss his buyout. He called the report “unequivocally 100-percent false,” adding that, “There’s no quit in me.”
playKentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals: Full Highlights (1:18)Kentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals: Full Highlights (1:18)Adam RittenbergNov 29, 2025, 04:38 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter; joined ESPN in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University.Follow on XOpen Extended ReactionsDespite a second straight losing season that ended with Saturday’s 41-0 loss to in-state rival Louisville, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said he’s not going anywhere.Asked after the game about the possibility of stepping down, Stoops told reporters, “Like, I’m going to walk away? Are you kidding me. … Zero-percent chance I walk.” Stoops completed his 13th season at Kentucky with a 5-7 record after going 4-8 in 2024.Stoops, 58, is 72-80 overall at Kentucky with 10-win seasons in 2018 and 2021. He’s earning $9 million this year and is signed through June 2031. If fired, Stoops would be owed 75% of his remaining salary, which equates to approximately $37.7 million.”I’m going to be here as far as I’m concerned,” Stoops said Saturday. “Now I can’t control what decision [is going] to be made. If you’re asking me, I said zero. Zero means zero.”Stoops took a similar position earlier in the season when asked about a report that he met with Kentucky administrators to discuss his buyout. He called the report “unequivocally 100-percent false,” adding that, “There’s no quit in me.”
Adam RittenbergNov 29, 2025, 04:38 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter; joined ESPN in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University.Follow on XOpen Extended ReactionsDespite a second straight losing season that ended with Saturday’s 41-0 loss to in-state rival Louisville, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said he’s not going anywhere.Asked after the game about the possibility of stepping down, Stoops told reporters, “Like, I’m going to walk away? Are you kidding me. … Zero-percent chance I walk.” Stoops completed his 13th season at Kentucky with a 5-7 record after going 4-8 in 2024.Stoops, 58, is 72-80 overall at Kentucky with 10-win seasons in 2018 and 2021. He’s earning $9 million this year and is signed through June 2031. If fired, Stoops would be owed 75% of his remaining salary, which equates to approximately $37.7 million.”I’m going to be here as far as I’m concerned,” Stoops said Saturday. “Now I can’t control what decision [is going] to be made. If you’re asking me, I said zero. Zero means zero.”Stoops took a similar position earlier in the season when asked about a report that he met with Kentucky administrators to discuss his buyout. He called the report “unequivocally 100-percent false,” adding that, “There’s no quit in me.”