Mark Stoops's final stand? Year 13 is a test of Kentucky's program

Kentucky v Louisville | Andy Lyons/GettyImagesThe Mark Stoops era at a crossroads: Can Kentucky's winningest coach rebuild his legacy?

When Mark Stoops arrived in Lexington back in 2013, the Kentucky job was widely considered one of the toughest in the SEC. A basketball school. A football graveyard. A place where good coaches went to get humbled with the exception of Rich Brooks.

Stoops changed that narrative. Slowly but surely, he built the Wildcats into a program capable of winning 8–10 games a year, sending players to the NFL, and earning national respect. By 2023, he had become the winningest coach in school history, surpassing even Bear Bryant. Kroger Field was renovated, new facilities…