Kentucky absolutely stunned No. 9 Texas A&M, racking up 21 unanswered points in the third quarter on their way to a 31-21 upset win over an Aggies team that was favored by a massive 17 points. This wasn’t just a win, it was a statement that echoed across college football, especially after last week’s second-half collapse against Alabama.
The Third Quarter That Broke the Aggies
The Wildcats came out of halftime and just straight up punched Texas A&M in the mouth. We’re talking 21 points in a single quarter! CJ Baxter snagged his second rushing touchdown of the game with just 16 seconds left in the third, putting Kentucky up by 21. That score capped a quick 33-yard drive, which only happened because A&M couldn’t convert a crucial fourth-and-short. You just cannot let that happen against a surging team. Sure, Texas A&M managed to cut the lead back to 14 with a Marcel Reed TD run, but then Adam Zouagui stepped up and nailed a bank-shot 52-yard field goal with 8:22 left. Seriously, that ball barely cleared the crossbar after dinging the upright! What a kick, pushing the lead back to three scores. And just to put the cherry on top, Florida transfer Jordan Castell sealed the deal, picking off Reed with less than seven minutes to play. That was Reed’s second interception, and it slammed the door shut.
Will Stein Said “Because of Me” and Then Proved It
New Kentucky coach Will Stein, the former Oregon offensive coordinator, walked into this job with a ton of swagger. Remember when he said, “I think we can win here because of me”? Yeah, he actually said that. And after this upset? He wasn’t backing down. “I’m not shocked,” Stein told ESPN post-game. “This is how our guys practice every single day. This is what Kentucky football is supposed to look like.” Talk about putting your money where your mouth is! Stein was hired after Mark Stoops’ 13-season run, which, while seeing two 10-win seasons, ended with just 23 wins over his last four years and only nine combined in 2024 and 2025. UK’s offense was abysmal, 119th in points per game in 2024 and 101st in 2025. Stein, who built prolific offenses in Eugene and brought in former Notre Dame QB Kenny Minchey, is already changing that narrative. Last week’s 32-0 second-half shutdown by Alabama made his rebuild look huge, but this win? Not so much anymore. Even A&M coach Mike Elko was caught telling Stein, “your guys kicked our ass.”
A&M’s Rough Night and What It Means
Look, the Aggies walked into this game already thin at wide receiver with Ashton Bethel-Roman out. Then, on the opening kickoff, Terry Bussey, their second-leading receiver, went down with a right leg injury after planting his foot, getting carted off the field. Mario Craver, their reception leader, also appeared to twist his right ankle, though he toughed it out. Without Bethel-Roman and Bussey, Reed had limited options, consistently looking for only Isaiah Horton and Craver. This loss isn’t just a tough pill to swallow; it severely dents Texas A&M’s playoff hopes early in the season. For Kentucky, though, this feels like the start of something big under Stein.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply