Had Kentucky beaten Louisville, Mark Stoops would probably still be UK’s head coach. So, you’ll forgive Cutter Boley if he’s got a little bit of whiplash. Kentucky’s star quarterback told John Brice at Football Scoop that he was caught off guard by the news that Stoops was out after 13 seasons, which broke on Sunday night. Kentucky reportedly held a team meeting Monday morning, after which Mitch Barnhart made the move official.

“I’m still in, like … I’m still processing it a little bit,” Boley said. “It kind of came as a bit of a surprise to, I feel like, everybody here.”

Boley publicly supported Stoops throughout the 2025 season, even during Kentucky’s four-game losing streak in October. After Saturday’s loss at Louisville, the Hodgenville, Ky. native made it clear that he wants to be at Kentucky. Now that Stoops, and, presumably, Bush Hamdan, are out, Boley wants to step back and evaluate all of his options, including whoever takes the job in Lexington.

“I think just moving forward, I’m trying to find the best place, wherever that may be, whether it’s here,” said Boley, “or wherever I can kind of showcase what I can do in the best system for me.”

That’s a wise move for Boley, who finished his redshirt freshman season with 198 completions for 2,160 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 12 turnovers. He struggled vs. Louisville, totaling just 100 yards and two interceptions, but this season, Boley set the new UK freshman record for completion percentage, 65.8% (198-301), breaking Jared Lorenzen’s mark of 57.4% set in 2000. Boley also broke Lorenzen’s old UK freshman record for touchdown passes in a season in SEC games. Boley had 12 to Lorenzen’s 10.

Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein and Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline are the frontrunners for the Kentucky job. Both run systems which should appeal to Boley — although you never know who could follow them to Lexington. Hartline could have an in with Boley thanks to his brother Mike, who played quarterback for Kentucky from 2006-10 and was a key resource to Boley this season as an analyst on Stoops’ staff. Stein could also appeal to Boley as a fellow Kentuckian who grew up dreaming of playing for the Cats, even if he wound up at Louisville.

Either way, Boley’s going to take his time with his decision (the transfer portal doesn’t open until January, after all). Hopefully, he likes whoever Kentucky picks.