Can Zach Calzada Turn Kentucky Football Around?

A Well-Traveled Career Brings Experience

Calzada’s journey to Kentucky has been anything but conventional. The former Texas A&M recruit from the class of 2019 started 10 games for Jimbo Fisher in 2021, including a memorable victory over Alabama. He later transferred to Auburn in 2022 but was sidelined for the season due to an injury in his non-throwing shoulder. Undeterred, Calzada moved to Incarnate Word, where he spent two productive seasons and led his team to the FCS playoffs in 2024.

Now in his seventh collegiate season, Calzada arrives in Lexington with a wealth of experience. Across 32 career starts, he boasts a 23-9 record, 8,660 passing yards, 708 non-sack rushing yards, and 84 total touchdowns. His time at Incarnate Word showcased his ability to command an offense efficiently, completing 65% of his passes for 3,744 yards and 35 touchdowns while throwing just nine interceptions in 2024. He also contributed 332 rushing yards and five scores on the ground.

Fixing Kentucky’s Offensive Issues

Before Calzada can find success, Kentucky needs to address key offensive shortcomings from last season. The Wildcats struggled in multiple areas but added to the receiving and defensive room in the transfer portal as well. Stoops and offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan turned to the transfer portal to bolster these positions, hoping to provide Calzada with a more stable supporting cast after losing multiple players.

Hamdan, entering a crucial year as Kentucky’s play-caller, faced challenges in 2024, frequently switching quarterbacks in search of a true QB1 for Kentucky. This season, the plan is different. Kentucky is fully committed to Calzada as its starter, putting pressure on both the quarterback and Hamdan to deliver significant offensive improvement. With one of the worst-performing offenses in the Power Five last season, the Wildcats must see immediate results.

Calzada’s Role in the Wildcats’ Rebuild

While roster improvements will help, Kentucky’s 2025 success largely hinges on Calzada’s ability to provide poised and accurate quarterback play. His experience and leadership should help stabilize the offense, but execution will be key. Hamdan’s job is to craft a system that maximizes Calzada’s strengths, something the Wildcats struggled to do with their quarterbacks last year.

During a February ESPN SportsCenter visit to promote the Kentucky-Tennessee basketball game, Stoops emphasized the need for his team to get “bigger, stronger, and mentally tougher.” That mindset applies to the offense as much as it does to the weight room. Kentucky knows what’s at stake in 2025, and with Calzada at the helm, the Wildcats are hoping for a much-needed resurgence in the SEC.