Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Zach Calzada has gone viral this week for all the wrong reasons, responding to a troll on social media by counting out thousands of dollars in 100s one by one on video.
The video was bad enough. Now, dirt has been dug on how much money Calzada has cost the University of Kentucky to produce 25 completions in 53 attempts and an interception. Or, as KSR's Nick Roush framed it, $50,000 per completion.
"Calzada only played 7.5 quarters of football for Kentucky this season. He completed 25-53 passes (47.2%) for 234 yards and an interception before suffering a shoulder injury against Ole Miss. In short, Kentucky paid Calzada $50,000 per completion," Roush wrote.
"Kentucky needed some insurance at the quarterback position, but they also had to bring in essentially an entire new offensive line, rebuild the wide receivers room, and fortify the defensive trenches. That’s costly. Calzada felt like a decent insurance plan at quarterback. He was a vet with SEC experience who you didn’t need to pay a premium for. It turns out, they didn’t really get him 'on the cheap.'"
Calzada has apologized for the video, but that's not going to undo the damage. It will prompt commenters to check to see if it was an AI-generated response, though.
Zach Calzada puts out an apology pic.twitter.com/erk9rTDwNy
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 7, 2025
Mark Stoops would've been fired had Kentucky lost to Auburn
Even when he wins, Stoops loses. While he survived a firing after his Wildcats knocked off the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Stoops now has a new PR fire he'll have to put out. Only, this one might not go out in time for some face to be saved.
He didn't spend Kentucky's money right. Just as Mike Gundy didn't with the Oklahoma State Cowboys, or Brian Kelly with the LSU Tigers. Notice a pattern here?
Jon Sumrall is the coach-in-waiting at Kentucky if they let him be. Otherwise, Auburn and the LSU Tigers loom to swoop in on UK's dream candidate.
Stoops is the sitting duck. And he may soon take flight and leave Lexington for his next football chapter, though not by his choice.