For Mark Stoops and the Big Blue Nation, 2024 was a season to forget. The 4-8 record was the worst since the UK head man’s first season in 2013. In addition, they lost the Governor’s Cup to Louisville for the first time since 2017. Heading into 2025, not a lot is expected out of Kentucky by the national pundits. Every year, there are a couple of schools that surprise college football. In 2025, as one of the program motto’s says, “Why Not Kentucky?” To do that, they’ll need several things to happen, mostly on offense. Can Kentucky Prove Doubters Wrong? Let’s take a look.
Wildcats Look To Surprise The Nation
Doing What They Do Best
A signature facet of Stoops’ best teams has been a strong running game. From 2016-2023 Stanley “Boom” Williams, Benny Snell. Chris Rodriguez and Ray Davis ran for over 1,000 yards. However last season the rushing game fell to 81st in the country and 12th in the league only gaining 145 yards per game. In addition their 11 rushing touchdowns were last in the league and tied for fourth worst in college football. Jamarion Wilcox led they way with 590 yards while Demie Sumo-Karngbaye had 586.
Moving ahead to this season, Wilcox is currently listed third on the depth chart. The likely starter on August 31st is Dante Dowdell. A Nebraska transfer, Dowdell ran for 614 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Cornhuskers. In fact, his touchdown number put in fifth in the Big Ten.
Behind Dowdell is New Mexico State transfer Seth McGowan. Last season, he finished fifth in Conference USA with 823 yards on the ground and a 5.4 average yards per rush. The Cats also have redshirt freshman Jason Patterson in the mix for playing time.
For Kentucky to get back to bowl eligibility in 2025, they must have a strong running game. Continuing with Can Kentucky Prove Doubters Wrong? Let’s look at another heavily scrutinized position.
Taking The Next Step
One of the biggest questions on the upcoming Wildcat team is at quarterback. Last season’s starter, Brock Vandagriff, abruptly retired after the 2024 campaign. Stoops and offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan believe they found their guy in Zach Calzada. The seventh-year player comes to Lexington from Incarnate Word in Texas. Calzada originally signed with Texas A&M way back in 2019. 247 Sports ranked him as the 34th-best quarterback prospect in the nation.
In 2021 he led the Aggies to a win over top ranked Alabama. After that season he transferred to Auburn. He never played for the Tigers after suffering a shoulder injury. From there he transferred to the FCS Cardinals.
The 2024 season was a huge one for not only Calzada. Named Southland Conference Player Of The Year he threw for 3,751 yards, 35 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His yards and touchdowns ranked fifth and second respectively in FCS.
What everyone wants to know is can Calzada have that same success going up against SEC schools week after week. After all he’s only played the equivalent of one season of major college football.
Kentucky lost its top two receivers from last year in Barion Brown and Dane Key. Find a good rhythm with his pass catchers and put up numbers comparable to what he did at the FCS level then the Cats could be in business. If not, it may be another long season.
There’s one more area to examine to show Can Kentucky Prove Doubters Wrong? And that’s upfront.
Back To What They Used To Be
In 2021, the Kentucky offensive line was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, signifying the best group in college football. Since then, the wheels have come off with Wildcat signal callers constantly running for their lives. Last year, Kentucky played nine games against Power Five schools. They allowed at least three sacks six times. In three of the games, the UK signal callers were sacked five times or more. Compare that to 2021, when Will Levis was sacked more than three times one time.
Since the end of the 2024 campaign, Kentucky has had eight offensive linemen transfer and three others graduate. As a result, offensive line coach Eric Wolford brought in six transfers and four high school recruits. Given the struggles of last season, bringing in mostly new players can only help. The Big Blue Wall must be better this season, or there is not much hope of improving. Without that, the quarterback play and improved running game aren’t happening.
Final Thoughts
The word Stoops has used the most coming into 2025 is “motivated.” He wants to prove last season was just a “blip” and not a pattern. Right now most early predictions have the Cats at 4-5 wins. The school only needs to look at South Carolina’s success as a blue print.
In 2024, the Gamecocks were picked to win five games. However, they ended up 9-4, nearly making the College Football Playoff. Should things click similarly for UK in 2025, they could be a surprise team.
Thanks for looking at Can Kentucky Prove Doubters Wrong here at Last Word On College Football.
Main Image: Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The post Can Kentucky Prove Doubters Wrong? appeared first on Last Word on College Football.