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Mark Stoops Comments on Kentucky QB Zach Calzada After 'Frustrating' Win Over Toledo

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nikki Chavanelle | Last updated Sep 1, 2025 3:28 PM ET

If Kentucky Wildcats fans were hoping for a definitive answer at starting quarterback, they didn't get one on Saturday against the Toledo Rockets. Senior transfer Zach Calzada started and led the team to a 24-16 victory, but his performance left the door open for questions about whether he's the optimal choice moving forward.

The team has another quarterback, redshirt freshman Cutter Boley, waiting in the wings, but according to head coach Mark Stoops, it's not time to explore a change. Stoops opened up about Calzada and how he seemed to be "pressing" against Toledo during a press conference on Monday.

"It's something we evaluate all the time," Stoops said, via KSR, in regards to giving Calzada an opportunity to prove himself before moving to Boley. "We still have a lot of confidence in Zach, and we have confidence in Cutter. It would have been premature to pull the plug right there. I mean, I really believe Zach's going to do very well. And we strongly believe in Cutter."

On Saturday, Kentucky got off to a decent start, with Calzada leading the offense down the field for a score on its second drive. However, the next three drives ended with an interception, then a safety, then a fumble. Stoops acknowledged how the mistakes impeded the team's momentum against the Rockets.

"I think Saturday felt frustrating to a lot of people," Stoops said. "We get a touchdown drive. The next three possessions really got us off track. I mean, it was just frustrating, I'm sure to Zach, to our team and certainly to us and the fans. I mean, whatever the order is, it's interception, safety, fumble, you know, and that sequence just took us completely out of rhythm. And that'll do that. That's three wasted possessions right there."

Kentucky is Calzada's fourth program in his career, which began in 2019. He started out with the Texas A&M Aggies, where he found some success before moving to the Auburn Tigers, then Incarnate Word Cardinals.

The Georgia native finished Week 1 of the season with the fewest passing yards among SEC starting quarterbacks. He posted 85 passing yards on 10 passes with 23 attempts and threw one interception. Calzada also had 14 total rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.

The Wildcats enter SEC play early this season with a matchup against the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. It will be a test of great significance for Calzada, who has a good deal to improve upon after watching the tape of Week 1.

"He put the ball in some places that we need to convert ... and then there were some that he missed and some decisions that I'm sure he's going to look at this tape and want over," Stoops said. "So there's a lot that he can improve on, but a lot around him as well. We'll get it fixed."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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