The eye test told the story of a broken passing game, but the history books have confirmed it. The 85 passing yards produced by Kentucky’s offense against Toledo wasn’t just bad—it was the single worst aerial performance in a season opener in Mark Stoops’ 13-year tenure as head coach.
In a must-win game to start a critical season, the offense delivered a historic meltdown through the air. It was extremely boring football, but it resulted in a win.
Putting the numbers in perspective
Zach Calzada’s final line of 10-of-23 for 85 yards stands in stark contrast to every other season opener under Stoops. Let’s take a look back:
Zach Calzada today:
— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerOn3) August 30, 2025
• 10/23 PASSING
• 85 PASS YDS, 14 RUSH YDS
• 0 PASS TD, 1 RUSH TD
• 1 INT pic.twitter.com/IORPtwfaOM
- 2024: Brock Vandagriff - 169 yards
- 2023: Devin Leary - 241 yards
- 2022: Will Levis - 303 yards
- 2021: Will Levis - 367 yards
- 2020: Terry Wilson - 239 yards
- 2019: Terry Wilson - 246 yards
- 2018: Terry Wilson - 78 yards*
- 2017: Stephen Johnson - 176 yards
- 2016: Drew Barker - 323 yards
- 2015: Patrick Towles - 257 yards
- 2014: Patrick Towles - 377 yards
- 2013: Maxwell Smith/Jalen Whitlow - 203 yards combined
The only performance that even comes close is Terry Wilson's 2018 opener, but he left that game with a shoulder injury and was replaced by Gunnar Hoak, who threw for 50 yards. Their combined total of 128 yards is still significantly higher than what the offense produced on Saturday.
They had a whole off-season to get ready, to look like a functioning passing attack, instead they did the exactly opposite.
An unacceptable performance
For a program in its 13th year under the same head coach, and with a 7th-year senior at quarterback, delivering the worst opening day passing performance of the era is simply unacceptable.
Whether the blame falls on bad throws, dropped passes, or an inability to get open, the result is the same. The aerial attack was completely neutralized by a MAC opponent, a fact that should send alarm bells ringing throughout the Joe Craft Football Training Facility as the team prepares for a much more formidable Ole Miss defense.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time, he spends time with his family, and watching Premier League soccer. #UpTheAlbion