Kentucky Stuns No. 9 Texas A&M 31-21 Behind 21-Point Third Quarter

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Kentucky handed No. 9 Texas A&M a 31-21 defeat at Kyle Field on Saturday, erasing an early deficit with a 21-point third quarter and dealing first-year coach Will Stein the signature win of his young tenure. The Aggies had entered the SEC opener as 16.5-point favorites.

Texas A&M led 7-0 in the first half before the game turned decisively. Kentucky scored touchdowns on all three of its third-quarter possessions — drives of 75, 83 and 33 yards — to build a 28-7 lead. A late Aggies push cut into the margin but never seriously threatened the outcome.

Wildcats quarterback Kenny Minchey completed 14 of 18 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, averaging 14 yards per attempt and 18 yards per completion. Running back CJ Baxter added 86 rushing yards and two scores as Kentucky finished with 411 total yards, a week after managing 209 against Alabama. The Wildcats rushed for 159 yards against a Texas A&M front that was repeatedly pushed off the ball.

Marcel Reed completed 26 of 44 passes for 236 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, and added 53 rushing yards and a score on eight carries. The first interception ended a promising drive in Kentucky territory; the second closed the door on a comeback. Reed was 2 of 7 on throws of 20-plus yards, and one of his interceptions came on a short throw of five yards or fewer. Wide receiver Mario Craver was the Aggies' most productive option with 11 catches for 119 yards. Texas A&M finished with 423 total yards but failed to convert a fourth down and came away empty on two drives inside Kentucky territory.

Elko searches for answers

Coach Mike Elko attributed his quarterback's struggles in part to pressing. Reed entered the season without four starting offensive linemen, a first-round wide receiver and his offensive coordinator, and the Aggies were already without running back Jamarion Morrow and receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman before kickoff.

I think it's a plethora of things. More than anything, it's a kid who is pressing. He is feeling like he has to defend himself a lot. You can see the stress hit him. I have been trying to get him to relax.

— Texas A&M coach Mike Elko

The injury list grew Saturday. Receiver Terry Bussey was carted off after being hurt on the opening kickoff return and returned to the sideline in street clothes in the second quarter, with Elko saying there were no signs indicating the news was good and that the team would wait until Monday. Freshman running back KJ Edwards, who averaged 5.6 yards on five carries, also left the game without an update on severity.

After the final whistle, Stein embraced his father, Matt, a former Kentucky player, on the field. Kentucky moved to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the SEC, with a nonconference home game against South Alabama next, while Texas A&M fell to 2-1 and 0-1 ahead of a trip to Baton Rouge to face LSU, which lost 32-24 at Ole Miss on Saturday night.