Mark Stoops Denies Buyout Report After Georgia Loss

After Saturday's 35-14 loss to Georgia, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops angrily denied a Lexington radio report that he had approached school officials to negotiate a buyout, calling the story "unequivocally 100 percent false" and saying "there's zero chance I'm walking away." The rumor, first aired by a local host and relayed by national outlets, said Stoops sought a separation after last season's loss to Tennessee; Kentucky administrators and Stoops both dispute that account. Stoops is in his 13th season and is the SEC's longest-tenured head coach, under contract through June 2031 with an annual salary of about $8.6 million. The school would owe roughly 75% of his remaining salary—about $38 million—if it fired him, complicating any potential coaching change. Kentucky is 2-3 overall and 0-3 in SEC play this season, and Stoops said the only way to quiet critics is to start winning games.