Kentucky stunned No. 9 Texas A&M 31-21 Saturday at Kyle Field in College Station, handing first-year coach Will Stein his first Southeastern Conference road victory, Fox News reported Sept. 20, 2026.
Fox News said Kentucky’s defense, coordinated by Jay Bateman — a former assistant on Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko’s staff — kept the Aggies off balance, limiting quarterback Marcel Reed to 236 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Quarterback Kenny Minchey threw two touchdown passes and finished with 252 passing yards, the report said. On the first drive of the second half Minchey found Kenny Darby for a 42-yard touchdown that broke a 7-7 tie. Running back CJ Baxter had rushing touchdowns on Kentucky’s next two drives and finished with 19 carries for 87 yards.
Kentucky extended the lead to 31-14 on a 52-yard field goal with under nine minutes remaining. Texas A&M cut the margin to 31-21 when Reed connected with Micah Riley on a 5-yard touchdown with less than four minutes to go, but Kentucky defensive back Jordan Castell later intercepted Reed, the report added.
The Wildcats outgained Texas A&M 196-20 in the third quarter, according to Fox News. Kentucky’s last victory over a ranked opponent came on Sept. 28, 2024, when it beat then-No. 6 Ole Miss 20-17, the report noted.
Fox News said Texas A&M is scheduled to visit LSU next week and Kentucky is scheduled to return home to Lexington to host South Alabama. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
