Mark Stoops. Kentucky spring football media day. Elliott Hess | UK Athletics
College football season is finally here, and both Kentucky and Toledo are walking into Kroger Field on Saturday afternoon with plenty to prove. Kickoff is set for 12:45 p.m. on the SEC Network.
Kentucky comes off a rough 2024 campaign (4-8, 1-7 SEC), but Mark Stoops isn’t wasting time talking about the past. In his Monday press conference, Stoops emphasized that his team is focused on putting this version of Kentucky football on display. “If we want to change the narrative, then we have to go play well,” Stoops said. “Our performance will dictate what is said about us, and it’s time to tee it up and go play.”
The challenge in front of them is no pushover. Toledo, fresh off an 8-5 season and a six-overtime bowl win over Pitt, was picked to win the MAC this year and even picked up 13 AP Top 25 votes in the preseason. Head coach Jason Candle has turned the Rockets into one of the most consistent Group of Five programs in the country, and with a veteran roster returning, they’re eyeing another upset of a Power Four team after knocking off Mississippi State last fall.
The Matchup to Watch
Kentucky’s secondary vs. Toledo’s passing attack. Senior quarterback Tucker Gleason threw for over 2,800 yards and 24 touchdowns last season, and he has a dangerous duo at receiver with Junior Vandeross III (85 catches, 957 yards in 2024) and NIU transfer Trayvon Rudolph. Stoops knows Gleason is more than just an arm. “They have designed quarterback runs that he gets the tough, aggravating yards and critical first downs,” Stoops said. “He also does a nice job of buying time.”
On Kentucky’s side, the defense has to play disciplined in its pass rush and win enough one-on-one matchups on the back end. Toledo boasts one of the MAC’s top secondaries themselves, with Avery Smith and Nasir Bowers at corner and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren at safety. That group helped the Rockets lead the MAC in passing defense efficiency last season.
New Faces in Key Roles
Kentucky will turn to Zach Calzada as the starting quarterback after he edged out freshman Cutter Boley late in camp. Stoops pointed out that Calzada has worked to balance his gunslinger mentality with better decision-making and consistency. In the backfield, former Wildcat Chip Trayanum is back in Lexington — this time wearing Toledo colors. If healthy, he gives the Rockets a physical option to keep Kentucky’s defense honest.
Special teams could quietly decide this one. Kentucky struggled at times last year in punt return decisions, but Stoops praised Ty Bryant’s baseball background for giving him a good read on the ball. For Toledo, Bryson Hammer averaged 13.4 yards per return last year and was second-team All-MAC.
History and Stakes
Kentucky won the only prior meeting in 2019, 38-24, but Toledo has a history of SEC upsets — Arkansas in 2015, Mississippi State just last season. Candle is also one win away from becoming the Rockets’ all-time leader in coaching victories, which only adds fuel to his team’s fire.
At the end of the day, this is the type of Week 1 matchup that will test both teams right away. Kentucky wants to re-establish itself in the SEC, and Toledo wants to keep building its case as the Group of Five’s playoff hopeful. Expect a hard-fought, four-quarter battle in Lexington.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
