The X-Factor Kentucky Must Fix to Bounce Back in 2025”
LEXINGTON — Mark Stoops isn’t mincing words anymore.
After Kentucky’s stunning 4–8 collapse in 2024, the longest-tenured coach in the SEC has spent the offseason admitting things had to change — including the very culture he once prided himself on building.
But when you strip away the narratives and coaching quotes, there’s one clear X-factor Kentucky must fix if it wants to return to bowl eligibility in 2025: the run game.
Last season, Kentucky averaged just 3.9 yards per carry and finished with a negative rushing differential — opponents outgained them on the ground by 16 yards per game.