Kentucky Labors to a 24-16 Win over Toledo

Kentucky fans waited 336 days to watch the Wildcats defeat an FBS foe. They were not rewarded with a beautiful win, but it was a win just the same.

Bush Hamdan’s offense labored for most of the afternoon before the Wildcats were eventually able to pull away with a season-opening 24-16 win over Toledo.

This offseason, Kentucky invested in the running game by adding a pair of backs and three new offensive line starters from the transfer portal. In the first half, the Wildcats averaged 3.0 yards per carry. Fortunately, they found some magic in the second half.

After Toledo cut the deficit to 17-9, Dante Dowdell provided some pop. The Nebraska transfer is known for his ability to gain hard yards in short-yardage situations. On the first play of the ensuing drive, he found a crease and sprinted 79 yards for a touchdown, the longest run of his career.

.@DanteDowdell turned on the jets and took off ✈️

📺 – SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/cH8v9Wxc3z

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) August 30, 2025

Dowdell finished the day with 129 yards on 14 carries (9.2 yards per carry) and a touchdown, the first 100+ yard game of his career. Seth McGowan added 78 yards to the total, and Zach Calzada rushed for a score.

Calzada did not light up the box score in his Kentucky debut. The seventh-year quarterback only completed 10 passes for 85 yards, but he did get the tight ends involved in the passing game. Josh Kattus and Willie Rodriguez combined for five catches and 74 yards.

It was not an inspiring performance, but a win’s a win.

Kentucky Defense Provides Pop

What the offense lacked in explosive plays, the defense provided. Steven Soles lived up to his ‘Sack Em’ nickname. The second-year Edge had a pair of strip sacks, although Kentucky was unable to fall on either fumble.

Another Edge helped create a turnover right away. On the second snap of the game, USC transfer Sam Greene pushed the Toledo offensive tackle into Tucker Gleason, forcing an errant pass that was picked off by JQ Hardaway, setting up a Calzada QB sneak for a touchdown.

The Kentucky defense did not completely blank the Rockets. Toledo got the ball inside the UK 5-yard line when Brad White’s defense did not break, stuffing a fourth-down run. It was one of three fourth-down stops inside Kentucky territory. Unfortunately, Zach Calzada was tackled in the end zone on the play after the fourth-down stop near the goal line for a safety.

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Box Score