(LEXINGTON, Ky.) – Even with Kentucky’s 24 – 16 win over a good Toledo team, quarterback Zach Calzada’s less-than-stellar play against the Rockets had to be disconcerting. The seventh-year graduate transfer’s stats were—well—pedestrian. Ten completions on twenty-three attempts for a paltry 85 yards with a single touchdown would make even Lois Lane blush. Prior to the game, Calzada quipped, “I just have to be Clark Kent until it’s time to be Superman.” Unfortunately, in his Wildcat debut, he looked more like Jimmy Olsen fumbling around for a notepad.
And yet, Kentucky won. Why? Because the defense rose up in true superhero form.
Now comes Ole Miss—a program that doesn’t just stroll into town, but rather crashes the gates like a frat party after their 63 – 7 thrashing over an overmatched Georgia State. Lane Kiffin, the rebel ringleader himself, will arrive at Kroger Field still seething after last year’s 20 – 17 upset loss to the Wildcats in Oxford. Remember, Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees was topping the charts the last time Kentucky walked out of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium with a win. The defeat had to sting, and if you know anything about Kiffin, it’s that he has the memory of an elephant when it comes to payback.
Expect him to come into Kroger Field on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 pm, breathing fire and scoring points.
This is a coach who relishes the role of outlaw. He tweets snarky memes, calls out opposing fans, and schemes offensive plays that look like they were scribbled down by a mad scientist hopped up on Red Bull. Losing to Kentucky—Kentucky!—isn’t just a blemish on his record, it’s a dagger to his ego. It most likely cost Ole Miss a spot in the college football playoffs. So yes, Big Blue Nation, Ole Miss is coming at you with vengeance on its mind.
Which means Calzada can’t be tripping over his cape again.
The bad news is that against Toledo, Kentucky’s receiving corps looked like it was tripping all over their own feet. Routes were limp, separation was nonexistent, and no one stepped up to make a big play. The air raid wasn’t just temporarily grounded—it was on life support. If Kentucky’s offense relies on Superman, it’ll be a long night of Kryptonite.
The good news? This defense is for real.
Brad White’s unit tackled well, played physical, and made the big stops along the line of scrimmage. They held the Rockets scoreless for three quarters, clamping down when it mattered most. The defensive line clogged running lanes like bad cholesterol, the linebackers helped create havoc with the pass rush, and the secondary—led by veterans who play with swagger—kept the rockets passing attack from blasting off. Alex Afari Jr., with his 13 tackles, was the best player on the field.
If Kentucky is going to beat Ole Miss, the formula isn’t complicated: defense plus running game equals victory.
The Wildcats have the backs to do it. The offensive line—maligned last season as the “Big Blew Wall”—looked sturdier against Toledo, protecting the quarterback while opening up holes for a resurrected running attack. Dante Dowdell (14 carries for 130 yards and a touchdown) and Seth McGowan (18 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown) have the makings of a two-headed backfield monster. Pound the rock, control the clock, and keep Lane Kiffin’s mad scientist contraption of an offense cooling its jets on the sideline.
It’s not sexy. It won’t make ESPN’s Top Ten. It won’t be easy scheming against the likes of Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons (20-of-31 passes for 341 and three touchdowns versus Georgia State), or running back Kewan Lacy (16 carries for 108 yards and three touchdowns), or former Penn State wideout Harrison Wallace III (five receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown). But it’s winning football if successful.
The larger question, of course, is whether Calzada can at least be serviceable. Nobody’s asking him to throw for 400 yards or channel his inner Tim Couch. But if he can simply manage the game—avoid turnovers, hit a couple of third-down throws, and occasionally keep Ole Miss from stacking nine in the box—then Kentucky has enough in the tank to grind this one out.
Because make no mistake, this game is a fulcrum on which the season tilts. Win, and the Cats surge into the meat of the conference schedule with a bolus of momentum, confidence, and a legitimate shot at a winning campaign. Lose, and suddenly the narrative shifts back to “same old Kentucky,” with a coach on the hot seat, a demoralized fan base resigned to basketball, and a football team once again unable to compete with the big boys in the SEC.
So, will we see Superman this week?
“I guess we’ll see,” Calzada answered. “Whatever we need. Whatever we need to win.”
Calzada has to be better. But he doesn’t need to be Superman. He just needs to stay out of Jimmy Olsen territory. He can leave the cape-wearing to a defense that has already shown it can save the day.
As kickoff looms, picture the Kroger Field faithful roaring their approval as the Rebels realize—once again—that in the Bluegrass, vengeance doesn’t always get served.
Sometimes, it just gets sacked.
Kentucky 24, Ole Miss 20.
Dr. John Huang is a retired orthodontist, military veteran, and award-winning author. He serves as a reporter and columnist for Nolan Group Media. Follow him on social media @KYHuangs and find his books, including the soon-to-be-bestselling WHINING FOR POSTERITY, here: https://www.Amazon.com/stores/Dr.-John-Huang/author/B092RKJBRD
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