BBN Shocked by Ridiculous Mark Stoops’ Power 4 Coach Ranking from National Outlet
Lexington, KY — May 29, 2025
The Big Blue Nation (BBN) woke up to a jolt stronger than their morning bourbon-infused coffee on Wednesday, as a controversial new ranking of Power 4 football coaches sent shockwaves through Kentucky sports circles. In what many fans are calling “a disgraceful slight,” Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops was ranked 22nd among Power 4 head coaches by the national sports outlet Gridiron Authority, trailing behind the likes of unproven upstarts and perennial underachievers.
The annual list, released just ahead of summer media days, ranked coaches from the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12. But the jaw-dropper came when Stoops—who has led Kentucky to four straight winning seasons, including a 10-win campaign in 2023 and a Citrus Bowl victory over Penn State—was listed behind coaches with thinner résumés and less consistency.
“This is an embarrassment,” tweeted longtime BBN booster and former Wildcat linebacker Jared Whitlow. “The man built Kentucky football from rubble. Twenty-second? You gotta be kidding.”
The outrage didn’t stop there. Sports talk radio across the Bluegrass lit up with furious calls, some comparing the ranking to “leaving bourbon out of a Derby party.” Stoops, who ranks second all-time in wins at Kentucky and has developed an SEC basement-dweller into a perennial Top 25 program, has garnered national respect in coaching circles for his player development and defensive genius. Yet, Gridiron Authority cited “inconsistency in marquee games” and “limited offensive identity” as justification for the low ranking.
“What are we doing?” asked UK athletics reporter Michelle Granger on a morning broadcast. “This is a guy who took a basketball-first school and made them fearsome in the SEC. The culture shift alone puts him top 10.”
The ranking placed Stoops behind coaches like Nebraska’s Luke Fickell, who hasn’t made a bowl in the past two seasons, and Florida State’s Adam Grayson, whose only winning record came in a pandemic-shortened season. BBN supporters pointed to Stoops’ winning record in one of college football’s most brutal conferences, and his success at recruiting and retaining in-state talent, as clear signs of his elite coaching tier.
“I don’t coach for rankings,” Stoops said stoically at a charity golf outing in Bowling Green. “But I coach for respect. My players earn it. The staff earns it. This program has earned it. If people don’t see that, they’re not paying attention.”
That humility only poured more fuel on the fans’ fire. By noon, “#StoopsSnub” was trending regionally on X (formerly Twitter), and Kentucky’s official football account posted a subtle graphic showing Stoops surrounded by former players now in the NFL—a pointed reminder of his developmental success.
As the Wildcats prepare for a 2025 season where they’re expected to contend in the newly realigned SEC East, one thing is certain: this perceived snub might be the fuel Stoops and BBN needed. The disrespect is real—but so is the motivation.
And if history has taught us anything, it’s to never underestimate a blue-collar coach with a chip on his shoulder—especially one backed by the full force of the Big Blue Nation.
