LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Mark Stoops begins his 13th season at Kentucky with a chance to reset the narrative after a 4-8 campaign in 2024. But the opener is no soft launch: Toledo comes to Kroger Field fresh off an eight-win season, a bowl victory over Pitt and preseason buzz as the Mid-American Conference favorite.
The Rockets have beaten Mississippi State and Pitt in the last calendar year. Stoops is well aware.
"If we want to change the narrative, then we have to go play well," he said this week. "Our performance will dictate what's said about us."
Louisville | Kentucky | Indiana | Eric Crawford
Things to know about the matchup:
The Time
Saturday, Aug. 30, 12:45 p.m., Kroger Field (61,000), Lexington
How to Watch/Listen
TV: SEC Network (Taylor Zarzour, play-by-play; Matt Stinchcomb, analyst; Alyssa Lang, sideline)
Radio: UK Sports Network/630 WLAP, streaming at UKathletics.com (Tom Leach, play-by-play; Jeff Piecoro, analyst; Dick Gabriel, sideline)
The Line
Spread: Kentucky favored by 9.5 (DraftKings)
Over/Under: 48.5
Notes: Kentucky has won and covered its last four openers (outscoring opponents by at least 24) and is 9-3 straight up, 6-6 against the spread in openers under Stoops. The Wildcats have won 17 straight against the MAC (13-4 against the spread, most recently covering in a 41-6 blowout as a 19-point favorite last season).
The Coaches
Kentucky: Mark Stoops (13th season, 77-73 on field at UK). The SEC's longest-tenured coach, Stoops is Kentucky's all-time wins leader.
Toledo: Jason Candle (10th season, 73-40). One win away from becoming Toledo's all-time victories leader.
Last Meeting
Kentucky pulled away from Toledo in the second half of the 2019 season opener, turning a 14-14 halftime tie into a 38-24 victory. Terry Wilson had two TD passes in the game and RB Kavosiey Smoke broke it open with a 40-yard TD run.
Series History
Kentucky leads 1-0.
Records
Kentucky is coming off a 4-8 season that ended with a loss to Louisville. UK rebuilt its roster with 55 newcomers, including 27 transfers.
Toledo finished 8-5 in 2024, capped by a six-overtime bowl win over Pitt. Picked to win the MAC, the Rockets earned 13 points in the AP preseason poll.
Players to Watch
Kentucky:
QB Zach Calzada: The seventh-year transfer (Texas A&M/Auburn/Incarnate Word) was named starter Monday. He's 23-9 in his career as a starter.
WR Ja'Mori Maclin: The North Texas transfer led UK in receptions last year and is expected to be the top target on a rebuilt receiving corps.
DB Jordan Lovett: Veteran safety, one of four returning top tacklers.
Toledo:
QB Tucker Gleason: A returning starter with over 4,000 career passing yards and 36 TDs.
WR Junior Vandeross III: First-team All-MAC after 85 receptions in 2024, including 194 yards in the bowl win.
RB Chip Trayanum: The Ohio State transfer (and former UK back) brings size and experience to the ground game.
Quick Sideline Storylines
Kentucky has won 19 of its last 20 non-conference regular-season game, a streak that was broken with last season's loss to Louisville.
Kentucky has three running backs on the roster who led their teams in rushing last season: Jamarion Wilcox (Kentucky), Seth McGowan (New Mexico State) and Dante Dowdell (Nebraska).
Toledo has not had a losing season since 2009, the third-longest streak in FBS behind Boise State and Alabama.
Kentucky's rebuilt offensive line brings 166 combined career starts, third-most nationally.
Toledo's staff is the most stable in FBS — head coach and all four coordinators have been together six-plus years.
The Quote
"It's a team that's predicted to finish first in the MAC, I believe they're receiving already 13 or 14 AP Top 25 votes. They are a team you have to beat. They will not beat themselves. They are very sound, very well coached, and we're excited about that opportunity."
-- Stoops on Toledo
The Pick
Kentucky 24, Toledo 17 — Calzada manages the game, but the Rockets don't make it easy.
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