Fansided · Sep 7, 2025
Mark Stoops owes Billy Napier a thank you card
Kentucky football had every chance to beat No. 20 Ole Miss, but Mark Stoops’ conservative approach and offensive struggles cost them a crucial SEC home win. Here’s what went wrong and why Billy Napier’s Florida meltdown kept Stoops out of the hot seat.
Kentucky v Florida | James Gilbert/GettyImagesStoops plays not to lose, Napier just flat-put loses
After a sloppy season opener against Toledo, which exposed Kentucky football’s struggling passing game, poor execution, and lack of explosive plays, Big Blue Nation was already bracing for disaster. So when No. 20 Ole Miss rolled into Kroger Field, many expected Mark Stoops’ team to get blown out.