What Is Mark Stoops' Contract Buyout After HC Says He Won't Step Down at Kentucky?

Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops confirmed that he won't step down from his position as he closes out his 13th season patrolling the sidelines for the Wildcats.

"You think I'm going to walk away," Stoops said Saturday, according to On3.com's Nick Roush. "You kidding me? Zero percent chance I walk away. I'm gonna be here as far as I'm concerned."

"Zero means zero," he added. "Zero percent chance I walk."

Stoops' contract buyout is worth just over $37.6 million, per USA Today's college football head coach database.

The 58-year-old helped lead Kentucky to eight consecutive bowl game appearances from 2016-23, but his squad has struggled as of late.

The Wildcats wrapped up a disappointing 4-8 finish in 2024 before suffering a lopsided 41-0 defeat against Louisville on Saturday in the Governor's Cup. Kentucky needed to win in order to become bowl eligible, but dropped to 5-7 in 2025 instead.

It marked the second straight game in which the Wildcats gave up at least 40 points, as they suffered a 45-17 loss at the hands on Vanderbilt on Nov. 22.

Stoops' squad also sits at No. 11 in the SEC standings with a 2-6 record against conference foes.

The Wildcats have struggled on both sides of the ball, as their scoring average of 25.1 points per game heading into Saturday's action represented the fourth-worst mark in the SEC.

Still, Stoops doesn't plan on parting ways with his current role anytime soon and Kentucky would need to finalize a contract buyout with him if the school wants to hire a new head coach.