Kentucky names Zach Calzada starting quarterback ahead of 2025 season

Zach Calzada has officially been named Kentucky‘s starting quarterback for Week 1, per Pete Thamel. He’s been the presumed starter since he joined the program this offseason, and it’s now set in stone.

Calzada beat out the likes of Cutter Boley and Beau Allen, two natives of the Commonwealth to win the starting job. True freshmen Stone Saunders and Brennen Ward are also on Kentucky’s roster this season.

Ahead of fall camp, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops unofficially named Calzada the starter. He said, “If there was a game tomorrow Zach (Calzada) would be under center, but this whole depth chart is going to move before — well not the whole depth chart, but it’s all open to move by the first game. We have a lot of practices to go through.”

2025 marks four seasons removed since the program’s last 10-win season as Kentucky failed to win a single power conference game at home in 2024. In fact, they’re 2-11 in SEC home games since beating LSU in 2021.

Kentucky finished with four wins season last season, seeing them finish two games shy of bowl eligibility. This ended an eight-year bowl streak for the Wildcats under Mark Stoops — the longest in program history. Much of that had to do with UK’s poor offensive showing. Kentucky responded by signing the veteran Calzada out of the NCAA transfer portal.

“I wasn’t here last year,” Calzada said during an interview on the SEC Network in July. “A lot of these guys weren’t here last year, but  we can see and feel the pressure that’s with this upcoming season. I think just coming every day and putting our best foot forward from January to now, and as we roll into camp is important for us.”

Calzada has prior SEC experience as a quarterback for Texas A&M — where he has a win over Nick Saban’s Alabama — as well as Auburn before playing two seasons for Incarnate Word. Calzada had a breakout season for them last season throwing for 3,744 yards and 35 touchdowns, with only nine interceptions. He also rushed for 332 yards and five scores.

In the last two years, Calzada threw for 6,342 yards and 54 touchdowns, against 18 interceptions. He also ran for 389 yards and 10 touchdowns.

He’ll start his UK career during Week 1 against Toledo on Aug. 30. Kickoff is set for 12:45 p.m. ET live on the SEC Network.