**A Top-10 Paid Coach Nowhere Near a Top-10 CFP Spot: Where Kentucky Landed in the First Rankings**
When the first College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings of the season were released, many eyes were focused on which teams had earned spots in the top 10. However, one glaring omission stood out — Kentucky. Despite having a top-10 paid coach in Mark Stoops, the Wildcats found themselves nowhere near the coveted playoff positions, raising eyebrows and fueling discussions about the current state of Kentucky football.
Mark Stoops, who has been at the helm of the Kentucky football program since 2013, has elevated the Wildcats from SEC bottom-dwellers to a consistent, competitive team in the toughest conference in college football. Over the years, Stoops has built a strong defense, recruited well, and guided Kentucky to several bowl games, including an appearance in the Citrus Bowl in 2020. As of 2023, Stoops is ranked among the highest-paid coaches in college football, reflecting his success and importance to the program.
However, despite these accolades, Kentucky’s place in the CFP rankings was a stark reminder that, in college football, being a high-paid coach doesn’t guarantee a playoff spot, or even a top-10 ranking. When the initial CFP rankings came out, Kentucky was nowhere to be found among the top-10 teams — a position many would have found unfathomable given Stoops’ salary and the Wildcats’ competitive performances in recent seasons.
Kentucky’s absence from the top-10 spots highlights the intense competition in the SEC and the challenges of breaking into the upper echelons of college football. The SEC, widely regarded as the most powerful conference in college football, is home to several perennial powerhouses like Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Tennessee. As a result, teams like Kentucky, despite improving greatly under Stoops, often find themselves fighting for a position in the lower half of the conference standings, which translates into tougher paths to the playoff.
Moreover, while Kentucky has had moments of brilliance, such as notable wins against ranked teams and upsets over SEC giants, their overall consistency has been lacking. To break into the CFP conversation, teams need to not only win games but also perform at an elite level week in and week out. Kentucky has had difficulty competing against the SEC’s most dominant programs on a regular basis, and their occasional losses to unranked opponents only further hinder their playoff aspirations.
Another factor at play is the nature of the CFP selection committee’s criteria. While strength of schedule and head-to-head victories play a significant role in determining playoff rankings, teams from Power Five conferences like the SEC can sometimes be penalized for not having enough “statement wins” to validate their position. Kentucky, despite strong individual performances, may not have had the necessary marquee victories to impress the committee enough to earn a top-10 ranking.
Still, Kentucky’s absence from the top-10 rankings shouldn’t overshadow the program’s progress under Stoops. The Wildcats have made significant strides in recruiting, and their defense remains one of the toughest in the SEC. Although a CFP berth may remain out of reach for now, Stoops has continued to build a solid foundation, which could lead to bigger opportunities in the future.
For now, Kentucky football finds itself at a crossroads. They are far from a playoff contender, but the team remains competitive, and with Stoops leading the charge, the Wildcats are still a program to be reckoned with. The 2023 season, however, will serve as a reminder that even a top-paid coach like Stoops faces an uphill battle in a league where the stakes — and the competition — are ever-rising.
