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Tennessee football: Ranking head coaches of Vols’ 2021 opponents

By Caleb Calhoun

Alabama head coach Nick Saban greets Georgia head coach Kirby Smart after beating him in the SEC Championship Game at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday December 1, 2018.Sec20
Alabama head coach Nick Saban greets Georgia head coach Kirby Smart after beating him in the SEC Championship Game at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday December 1, 2018.Sec20 /
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Nov 23, 2019; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops looks on during the second half against the UT Martin Skyhawks at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2019; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops looks on during the second half against the UT Martin Skyhawks at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /

Pick Analysis. 9th season. Mark Stoops. 4. Scouting Report. Kentucky Wildcats. player. 833

Overall record: 49-50 (all at Kentucky)

I don’t care that he has a losing record. What Mark Stoops has done with the Kentucky Wildcats is nothing short of phenomenal. This is one of the hardest places to build a program that has lasting success, and Stoops has them in bowl contention year after year, regardless of the amount of attrition that comes with the program.

It’s obvious that UK won’t be able to build the type of depth other programs can in league play, and the last couple years, a couple of key injuries hurt. However, Stoops still had them enjoying success. Last year, his team went 4-6 in SEC play but then beat the No. 23 ranked N.C. State Wolfpack in the Gator Bowl, which was a great success for this program.

Stoops has UK on a five-year streak of making bowl games, and before having to play all Power Five teams last year, he had them on a four-year streak of winning records, highlighted by that 10-3 season and top 12 finish in 2018.

Obviously, last year, Stoops made a name for himself by blowing out Tennessee football at Neyland Stadium. That started the snowball for Jeremy Pruitt. This type of consistency at Kentucky should be impossible, but Stoops keeps pulling it off. As a result, he’s in the top tier of this list.

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