Before the season, the promise was clear: the Kentucky offense wanted to play with more tempo. Yet, on the very first drive of the new season against Toledo, a critical moment showed that old habits may die hard, costing the Wildcats a massive play before the offense could even get rolling.
The flash of brilliance
With the offense facing a 3rd and 10, quarterback Zach Calzada dropped back and uncorked a beautiful deep pass down the sideline to wide receiver JJ Hester. Hester went airborne, securing the ball for a gain of over 30 yards while masterfully tapping his foot inbounds as he fell to the turf.
First big play of the season for UK: Calzada with a beautiful sideline ball for 32 yards, high-pointed by transfer WR JJ Hester. BUT… the play is overturned after a lengthy replay review. Cat will have to punt on their first series.
— Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) August 30, 2025
It was an explosive, highlight-reel play—the exact kind of moment that can set the tone for a game and energize a team. The Wildcats had a fresh set of downs and were suddenly knocking on the door of scoring territory. Or so it seemed. But the same issues from previous seasons, of slow plodding offense bit them again.
Where the promised tempo disappeared
This was the perfect situation to use the promised up-tempo attack. On a play that was undeniably close, a fast-paced offense would have sprinted to the line of scrimmage to get the next play off before the replay official in the booth had a chance to buzz down for a review. Even a slower paced team runs up and takes a quick run up the middle, something Stoops loves anyway.
Instead, Kentucky did the opposite.
The offense casually got to the line and stood in formation for roughly five seconds, only attempting to snap the ball with 11 seconds remaining on the play clock. That deliberate pace was a critical error. It gave the officials all the time they needed to stop the game and take a long, frame-by-frame look at Hester's catch.
A familiar and frustrating story
After a lengthy delay, the replay official overturned the call. The catch was ruled incomplete. The drive, which had lasted a grinding 4 minutes and 9 seconds, stalled. Instead of a first down near the red zone, Kentucky faced a 4th and 10 and was forced to punt.
A potential scoring chance was erased not by the opponent, but by a self-inflicted wound.
For fans, it’s a frustratingly familiar story. The same old tempo issues that have plagued the offense in the past persisted on the opening drive of a new year. A moment of individual brilliance was negated by a lethargic team process, turning a huge gain into just another punt.
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