Kentucky Faces Brutal 2025 Schedule – Can Mark Stoops Survive the Challenge?
The Kentucky Wildcats are set for a make-or-break 2025 season, with a schedule stacked with powerhouse opponents, including three College Football Playoff teams from last year. And looking ahead to 2026, there are at least two sure wins in the non-conference slate—but will Mark Stoops still be leading the charge by then?
Here’s a closer look at the Wildcats’ 2025 opponents and their 2024 performances:
September Battles Begin at Kroger Field
- August 30: Toledo (Home) – (8-5, Won GameAbove Bowl)
- September 6: Ole Miss (Home) – (10-3, Ranked 9th, Won TaxSlayer Gator Bowl)
- September 13: Eastern Michigan (Home) – (5-7, Missed Bowl Season)
After a manageable start, Kentucky hits its first break on September 20 before stepping into the SEC gauntlet.
SEC Grind: Road Tests and Playoff Teams Await
- September 27: @ South Carolina – (9-4, Lost Cheez-It Citrus Bowl)
- October 4: @ Georgia – (11-3, College Football Playoff, Lost to Notre Dame)
- October 11: Open Date
- October 18: Texas (Home) – (13-3, College Football Playoff, Lost to Ohio State)
- October 25: Tennessee (Home) – (10-3, College Football Playoff, Lost to Ohio State)
A brutal four-week stretch featuring three teams that made the CFP in Georgia, Texas, and Tennessee could define Kentucky’s season.
November: The Road to Redemption or Disaster?
- November 1: @ Auburn – (5-7, Beat Kentucky in Lexington Last Year)
- November 8: Florida (Home) – (8-5, Beat Kentucky in The Swamp)
- November 15: Tennessee Tech (Home) – (7-5, FCS Opponent)
- November 22: @ Vanderbilt – (7-6, Beat Kentucky in Lexington Last Year)
- November 29: @ Louisville – (9-4, Won Sun Bowl)
With only two opponents finishing 2024 with losing records, this schedule does not do Mark Stoops any favors.
Looking Ahead to 2026: Will Stoops Still Be at the Helm?
While the 2026 schedule remains incomplete, Kentucky does have non-conference matchups set for:
- September 5: Youngstown State (Home)
- September 26: South Alabama (Home)
- November 28: Louisville (Home, Annual Rivalry Game)
But will Stoops even get to coach that Louisville game? After a disappointing 2024, 2025 is a must-win year for Kentucky’s head coach. If the Wildcats can’t pull off a major bounce-back, the Stoops era in Lexington could come to a crashing end.
