Kentucky's Stein earns first road win, upsets No. 9 Texas A&M - ESPN

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — 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 Ole Miss 20-17 on Sept. 28, 2024.

Stein also became the third first-year Kentucky coach to beat a top-10 SEC team, joining Joker Phillips in 2010 against No. 10 South Carolina and John Ray in 1969 vs. No. 8 Ole Miss, according to ESPN Research.

Stein had vowed to do better after Kentucky (2-1, 1-1 SEC) 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.

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 11½ 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.

Texas A&M (2-1, 0-1) was driving after that, but Jordan Castell intercepted Reed on the 7-yard line.

The Aggies cut the lead to 31-21