For Mark Stoops to Lead UK Football Revival in 2025, One Key Area Must Be Fixed.
Mark Stoops has established himself as one of the most successful head coaches in the history of Kentucky football. Since taking over the program in 2013, Stoops has brought stability, success, and, most importantly, relevance to a program that had long been overlooked in the competitive world of Southeastern Conference (SEC) football. Under his leadership, the Kentucky Wildcats have seen a noticeable rise in performance, highlighted by multiple bowl game appearances and a long-awaited victory over Florida in 2018.
However, while the program has taken significant steps forward under Stoops’ guidance, Kentucky football still faces a number of challenges. For Stoops to continue his success and lead the Wildcats to greater heights, particularly in 2025, there is one key area that demands attention: the offense. To be specific, Stoops and his coaching staff must solve the quarterback situation and establish a consistent, high-powered offense.
The State of Kentucky Football in 2025
When Mark Stoops arrived in Lexington, Kentucky, the Wildcats were a team in need of a fresh identity. Under previous regimes, Kentucky had often been stuck in mediocrity, and competing in the SEC’s highly competitive East Division seemed like an unattainable goal. Stoops quickly turned things around, leveraging strong recruiting, solid defensive play, and a steady culture of improvement. The Wildcats made consistent strides and achieved a level of respectability that the program had lacked for decades.
In recent seasons, however, Kentucky football has found itself in a sort of purgatory. The team is consistently competitive, but not necessarily elite. Kentucky has had impressive defensive units, but the offense, particularly the quarterback position, has held them back from reaching the next level. While Kentucky football has been able to secure bowl appearances, they’ve often found themselves falling short in crucial SEC matchups against higher-tier teams.
Heading into 2025, Kentucky is at a crossroads. Stoops has continued to recruit well, and the Wildcats have a strong defensive foundation. But for Kentucky to truly challenge the SEC’s elite teams and contend for a higher bowl game or an SEC East title, they will need to fix one glaring issue: offensive consistency and, more specifically, the quarterback play.
The Quarterback Dilemma
In college football, the quarterback position is often the most important on the field. The quarterback is not just the leader of the offense; he is the one who makes critical decisions, reads defenses, and leads his team in the most high-pressure moments. Over the years, Kentucky has struggled to find consistency at quarterback. While there have been flashes of potential, there has not been a player who has truly taken command of the position and propelled the offense to sustained success.
In recent years, Kentucky has cycled through a variety of quarterbacks. Will Levis, the Wildcats’ 2022 starting quarterback, was an upgrade over previous options and brought a strong arm and physical presence to the position. However, despite his flashes of brilliance, Levis was often inconsistent, and the offense as a whole struggled to find rhythm. Following Levis’ departure to the NFL, Kentucky has been trying to find his successor, but inconsistency has once again been a major issue.
The team has tried several quarterbacks since Levis left, and although there has been some excitement around players like Devin Leary (a transfer from NC State), the consistency has still been missing. The Wildcats have a solid offensive line and talented skill position players, but without steady quarterback play, the offense has often been stagnant, unable to move the ball effectively against SEC defenses.
As Kentucky enters the 2025 season, the quarterback position remains the most critical aspect of the team’s success. If Stoops is serious about taking this program to the next level, he must address this weakness and either develop or recruit a quarterback who can lead a dynamic and consistent offense.
Why The Quarterback Play is So Crucial
It’s not just about having a solid quarterback—it’s about having a playmaker at the position. In the SEC, a quarterback needs to be able to make quick decisions, throw with accuracy, and, perhaps most importantly, deliver when the game is on the line. The teams that consistently win in the SEC have elite quarterbacks who can turn games in their favor.
While Kentucky’s defense has been a strength for years under Stoops, defense alone isn’t enough to win in the modern era of college football. The SEC is loaded with high-powered offenses, and teams like Georgia, Alabama, and LSU often score at will. For Kentucky to contend, they need an offense that can match the firepower of these teams or, at the very least, keep up in shootout scenarios.
A consistent quarterback will help Kentucky achieve this. A capable signal-caller can:
- Facilitate Offensive Balance: With a strong quarterback leading the charge, Kentucky can establish a balanced attack, mixing both the passing and running game. This would allow the Wildcats to be unpredictable on offense and make their game plan more difficult to defend.
- Help the Running Game: Kentucky has traditionally been a strong running team, especially with backs like Benny Snell and Chris Rodriguez. But a reliable quarterback can enhance the running game by drawing defenders out of the box and keeping opposing defenses honest. Quarterbacks who are threats to both run and pass create additional stress for the defense and open up lanes for running backs.
- Win Big Games: In high-stakes matchups, especially in the SEC, games can be won or lost based on quarterback play. A top-tier quarterback can help Kentucky pull out close games, especially when the team is under pressure in the fourth quarter. This is what differentiates the elite teams from the middle-tier programs.
- Build Confidence: When a quarterback is consistent, the rest of the offense gains confidence. Receivers are more willing to make difficult catches, running backs are more willing to trust their lanes, and offensive linemen can focus on protecting rather than worrying about making up for a shaky quarterback. Confidence is key to an offense’s rhythm.
Potential Solutions for Stoops
As Kentucky heads toward the 2025 season, Stoops has a few options to solve the quarterback problem. The first is to continue developing the players already on the roster. Kentucky has shown interest in transferring in high-caliber quarterbacks, and with the portal being an avenue for top talent, Stoops could land a proven signal-caller to stabilize the position. The transfer portal has been an effective tool for Kentucky in the past, with Levis being a prime example of how a transfer can significantly impact a program.
Additionally, Stoops could focus on recruiting a highly-touted quarterback prospect to come in and compete for the starting job. Kentucky has historically been able to recruit well, and with the program on the rise, Stoops could convince elite high school quarterbacks that Lexington is the place to develop their skills and play in a competitive conference.
If neither of these options provides an immediate solution, Stoops may also have to focus on developing the offensive system around the current quarterback. This means simplifying the offense and finding ways to maximize the current talent. For example, Stoops could focus on a more run-heavy offense or implement quick-passing schemes to help protect a less-experienced quarterback. There are many ways to mask quarterback inconsistencies, but they all require a well-thought-out offensive strategy.
For Mark Stoops to lead Kentucky football to new heights in 2025, it’s clear that the quarterback position needs to be addressed. The Wildcats have proven they can play strong defense, recruit talented players, and compete in the SEC, but without steady quarterback play, the offense will continue to hold them back from reaching the next level.
The Wildcats have the foundation in place, but the quarterback situation remains the missing piece. If Stoops and his coaching staff can find the right solution, whether through recruiting, development, or a transfer portal addition, Kentucky football could be poised for a revival in 2025 that makes them a true contender in the SEC.
It’s time for Mark Stoops to get the quarterback position fixed, and if he does, the Kentucky Wildcats could very well become a force to be reckoned with in college football’s toughest conference.
