Kentucky stuns No. 9 Texas A&M 31-21 in coach Will Stein’s first road game

Kenny Minchey threw two touchdown passes and CJ Baxter added two scoring runs as Kentucky used a huge third quarter to stun No. 9 Texas A&M 31-21 on Saturday.

Led by rookie coach Will Stein in his first road game, Kentucky beat a ranked opponent for the first time since downing No. 6 Mississippi 20-17 in 2024.

Stein had vowed to do better after Kentucky (2-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) led then-No. 12 Alabama 17-13 at halftime last week before being outscored 32-0 in the second half of a 45-17 loss.

After being tied at halftime on Saturday, Minchey said the Wildcats were determined not to have a repeat of last week.

“We just basically put our foot down and said we’re not going to be denied,” he said. “We’re going to take it.”

The game pitted Texas A&M’s offense against Kentucky defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, who spent the last two years in the same position with the Aggies. He seemed to have Texas A&M’s number, keeping the Aggies off-balance all day and limiting Marcel Reed to 26 of 49 passing for 236 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Minchey, a transfer from Notre Dame, found Kenny Darby wide open for a 42-yard touchdown on the first drive of the second half to break a 7-all tie.

Baxter’s two touchdown runs came on the next two possessions to extend Kentucky’s lead to 28-7.

The Aggies had been stopped on three straight possessions when Reed scored on a 5-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 28-14 with about 11 1/2 minutes remaining.

The Wildcats made it 31-14 on a 52-yard field goal by Adam Zouagui that deflected off the upright and through with less than nine minutes remaining.

Minchey was 14 of 18 for 252 yards and Baxter had 19 carries for 87 yards.

The Wildcats could get a spot in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2023. 

Kentucky hosts South Alabama next Saturday.



(AP Photo David J. Phillip)