Kenny Minchey and CJ Baxter turned Kentucky’s trip to College Station into a statement win, and they did it with one ruthless third quarter.
Minchey threw two touchdown passes, Baxter ran for two scores, and Kentucky stunned No. 9 Texas A&M 31-21 on Saturday after flipping a tight game with a runaway stretch after halftime.
The Wildcats, now 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the Southeastern Conference, beat a ranked opponent for the first time since knocking off No. 6 Mississippi 20-17 on Sept.
28, 2024.
For rookie coach Will Stein, it was the kind of response he had been looking for after last week’s collapse against Alabama. Kentucky led then-No.
12 Alabama 17-13 at halftime before getting outscored 32-0 in the second half of a 45-17 loss. This time, the Wildcats took the punch and kept throwing.
The game also brought a familiar face back into the spotlight on Kentucky’s sideline. Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, who spent the previous two seasons in the same role at Texas A&M, had the Aggies uncomfortable from the start. He helped hold Marcel Reed to 26 completions on 49 attempts for 236 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, and the Aggies never found a clean rhythm.
After a 7-7 halftime tie, Kentucky came out and seized control immediately. Minchey, the Notre Dame transfer, hit Kenny Darby wide open for a 42-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the second half. From there, Baxter took over the next two possessions, punching in touchdown runs that pushed the Wildcats ahead 28-7.
Texas A&M had no answer during that stretch. Kentucky outgained the Aggies 196 yards to 20 in the third quarter alone, and the Wildcats kept building the margin when Baxter finished off a 2-yard run late in the period for his second touchdown.
The Aggies finally responded when Reed scored on a 5-yard run with about 11 1/2 minutes left, trimming the deficit to 28-14. Kentucky answered with Adam Zouagui’s 52-yard field goal, a kick that bounced off the upright and still went through to make it 31-14 with less than nine minutes remaining.
Texas A&M still had life after that, but Jordan Castell shut the door with an interception at the 7-yard line while the Aggies were driving. Reed later found Micah Riley for a 5-yard touchdown with less than four minutes to go, but by then Kentucky had already done the damage.
Minchey finished 14 of 18 for 252 yards, while Baxter carried 19 times for 87 yards. Kentucky’s offense was sharp when it mattered, and the defense kept Texas A&M chasing all afternoon.
The Aggies, now 2-1 and 0-1 in SEC play, had taken a 7-0 lead on Carsyn Baker’s 2-yard touchdown run, which capped a 14-play, 79-yard drive with about five minutes left in the first half. Kentucky answered before the break, tying it on Minchey’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Henry Boyer with about two minutes to go. That scoring drive was set up by DJ Miller’s 53-yard catch two plays earlier.
Texas A&M now faces a tough reset after losing at home to an unranked opponent, while Kentucky returns home to host South Alabama next Saturday. The Aggies visit No. 7 LSU next Saturday night.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Suddenly Has Two Problems Fans Cant Ignore
Texas A&Ms SEC opener in Lexington brought a reality check, and it came in a game the Aggies were expected to handle. Kentucky controlled enough of the evening to hand A&M a 31-21 loss, leaving the group with immediate questions on both sides of the ball after entering the matchup as the favorite.
Mario Craver and KJ Edwards provided some encouraging signs on offense, but Marcel Reeds interceptions and a defense that surrendered too much yardage and too many points, especially in the third quarter, stood out for all the wrong reasons. For an Aggies team that needed a clean start to conference play, the loss was more than just a setback because it exposed problems that cannot be brushed aside. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Suddenly Has A Mike Elko Problem Before LSU
Texas A&Ms trip to the top 10 came apart quickly on Saturday night, when the Aggies lost 31-21 at home to unranked Kentucky. It was the worst defeat so far in Mike Elkos tenure, and it came with the kind of defensive letdown that makes a ranking drop feel inevitable. Kentucky piled up 408 yards, and the Aggies slid from No. 8 to No. 20 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll.
Now the attention turns to LSU, and the timing could hardly be less forgiving for Elkos team. A home loss like this raises obvious questions about consistency and resilience, especially with a rivalry game next on the schedule. Texas A&M still has plenty of season left to repair the damage, but the margin for error suddenly looks a lot thinner than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Terry Bussey News Leaves Texas A&M With A Huge Offensive Problem
Terry Busseys season is over, and Texas A&M is now dealing with a problem that goes well beyond simply replacing one receiver. Mike Elko confirmed in a press conference that Bussey will miss the rest of the year after suffering a lower body injury in the Kentucky game, taking away one of the Aggies more important offensive pieces and a regular presence on kickoff returns.
For a team trying to keep its passing game moving, the timing stings. Texas A&M does have other receivers available, but Busseys versatility made him difficult to replace in one spot, let alone all the ways the Aggies used him. The next few games will show how much the offense can absorb before his absence starts to reshape the whole rotation. [Read more 🡒]