Incarnate Word was a disaster without Zach Calzada in Week 0 opener

Out of eight total games played to open the college football season in Week 0, two featured former Wildcats — both leading their new teams to victory at Western Kentucky and Nicholls State.

La’Vell Wright started his career in Lexington as a three-star out of North Hardin, spending three seasons at Kentucky where he appeared in 17 games at running back, racking up 238 yards and a touchdown on 48 total carries. Missing the 2023 season due to injury, the Louisville native transferred to Austin Peay for his redshirt junior campaign where he led the Governors in rushing for 609 yards and five touchdowns on 115 attempts.

With one season of eligibility remaining, he decided to return home to the Bluegrass State as a Hilltopper at WKU. In the team’s first game against Sam Houston, Wright found the end zone for six of the team’s 41 points, finishing with 22 yards and a touchdown on six carries in the 17-point win.

As for the Wildcat-turned-Colonel, Deuce Hogan managed to throw for 221 yards and a touchdown on 21/36 passing in the 20-6 victory over Incarnate Word. The 6-4 quarterback, you may remember, started his career at Iowa before transferring to Kentucky, playing in three games vs. Miami (OH), Florida and Iowa. He entered the portal in 2023, then made the move to New Mexico State in January 2024 with two years of eligibility remaining.

He threw 18 passes for 31 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions while taking three sacks in his lone season at NMSU. Needing a fresh start, he hit the portal again and decided to spend his final year of college ball at Nicholls.

It was a fresh start, indeed, as the Deuce got loose in his debut as a Colonel — highlighted by this 55-yard touchdown bomb against the fourth-ranked Cardinals (FCS).

COLONELS GOING KARAAZY IN THIBODAUX

DEUCE HOGAN FINDS KARAAZ JOHNSON WIDE OPEN AND NICHOLLS EXTENDS THE LEAD#GTL x @Nicholls_FB pic.twitter.com/Y0HyxWUOgV

— Southland Conference (@SouthlandSports) August 23, 2025

Wait a minute, Incarnate Word. Where have I heard that before?

Oh, that’s right, Kentucky just signed its starting quarterback from the Southland powerhouse. Zach Calzada threw for 6,342 yards and 54 touchdowns with 18 picks in his two seasons at UIW (2023-24) following his start at Texas A&M (2019-2021) and Auburn (2022).

The 6-4 righty out of Buford, GA was a monster at his previous stop after showing flashes in the SEC, and now, the Wildcats need him to be the guy that threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns in a win over No. 1 Alabama in 2021 as the new starter in Lexington.

Looking for some optimism he can get there? Incarnate Word was a disaster offensively in its first game without Calzada taking snaps. His QB1 replacement, Richard Torres, threw for 175 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions as the Cardinals combined for just 225 total yards of offense in the two-touchdown loss to Hogan’s Colonels.

Maybe Kentucky’s got a dude slinging the rock in 2025? He was included in the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List last week, after all.

A reminder of Calzada’s arm just six days before kickoff:

Time to see what you can do, No. 5.