What Kind of Ceiling Does Kentucky Football Face?

We can all agree that the Kentucky football program faces unique challenges compared to many of the other SEC powerhouses: recruiting, facilities, NIL. Which of these is most important could be debated but there is little debate that Kentucky faces inherent disadvantages in the best football conference in the country. Mark Stoops has done an amazing job of facing those challenges and conquering many to make this a competitive program.

However, the Georgia game also highlighted one of Mark Stoops’ biggest weaknesses, according to some. Stoops has been notoriously conservative in his play-calling and general mentality around game-planning. Running the football, strong lines on both sides, and winning the close games have been staples, and that has elevated Kentucky from the bottom of the league to at least mid-tier. And more than anything, it has generally removed the embarrassing performances of the Joker Phillips years (sans South Carolina).

But the ceiling is also there to elevate Kentucky into the upper tier and the Cats just can’t seem to really break through for good. Moreso, the Stoops mentality that elevated this program might also keep it from breaking through the ceiling. I think fans are going to fall into one of two categories, using this ceiling analogy:

GLASS CEILING

Those who think the ceiling is made of glass for Kentucky football probably don’t think Mark Stoops is the right man for the job anymore. That’s because Stoops sometimes doesn’t even seem to want to try and break the glass for the risk he might get bloody. But if you think Kentucky could ever actually compete for an SEC Championship and the glass ceiling is there to be broken, you probably can use Georgia as the perfect example of why Stoops won’t get that done. These fans are overly optimistic and probably more emotional than the second group below. They have high hopes for what Kentucky football could be and are willing to see drastic measures taken to get us there. Mark Stoops is not a drastic measures kind of person.

This group loved Hal Mumme. This group didn’t love Rich Brooks as much.

CONCRETE CEILING

This group is very thankful for Mark Stoops and believes he has likely gotten Kentucky near the highest heights it can realistically achieve. They simply want to avoid embarrassment. Going to bowl games every year with the occasional 9-10 win season would more than satisfy them.

While losing to Georgia hurts, they don’t ever think Kentucky would actually beat the Bulldogs, so they are still content with the result. Mark Stoops can be the coach as long as he wants in their view. The conservative nature is what got us here and that will keep us here. The ceiling to break into the SEC elite is just filled with too many hurdles.

WHICH FAN ARE YOU?

Unlike in basketball, where I think almost all fans have the highest of expectations year in and year out, Mark Stoops has actually created a schism in the fanbase in regards to expectations. In many ways, it’s a compliment to him. He has elevated the program to a level that many could not have imagined after the previous 30 years before him. It gave many fans a taste of something they’d never had before. It is only right to ask, “What’s next.” And that is where the canyon has developed. For some, what is next is the ability to, year in and year out, be a bowl team. Consistency is what they want. No more two and three-win seasons. And for others, it’s how we elevate to the next echelon.

So what kind of ceiling faces Kentucky football right now? And what kind of coach matches the type of ceiling we face?