No. 9 Texas A&M walked into its SEC opener at Kyle Field expecting a clean start and instead got blindsided by Kentucky, a 31-21 loss that flipped the afternoon on its head after a flat beginning.
The Aggies actually opened the scoring and spent much of the first half stacking up better numbers than the Wildcats, but the halftime score still sat tied at 7-7. Kentucky then took control in the third quarter and never really loosened its grip, turning the game into an upset that was already out of reach by the time Texas A&M tried to claw back.
There was at least one bright spot for the home side: Mario Craver. He looked every bit like a receiver capable of handling WR1 duties, hauling in five catches in the first quarter alone and finishing with 11 receptions for 119 yards. That production stood out even more because he was dealing with a potential injury in the first half.
Texas A&M’s injury situation kept piling up, too. Wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman and running back Jamarion Morrow were listed as out on the SEC injury report, while Terry Bussey was banged up on the first play of the game and never returned.
He was later seen on the sideline in street clothes before halftime. Craver and Isaiah Horton also had moments where they were slow to get up, though neither appeared to suffer severe damage during the game.
The third quarter was the kind of stretch that can bury a team in a hurry. Kentucky had three possessions and finished each one with a touchdown, including two scoring runs from CJ Baxter. Meanwhile, Texas A&M came away with a punt and then a turnover on downs after Marcel Reed missed a throw to a wide-open Carsyn Baker on fourth and short.
The Aggies did manage to put 14 points on the board in the fourth quarter, but by then a large chunk of the 105,000 in attendance had already headed for the exits.
Texas A&M now turns to its first road game of 2026, a trip to Baton Rouge to face Lane Kiffin and LSU.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Suddenly Has A Terry Bussey Concern It Feared
Terry Busseys night took an immediate turn in the opening moments against Kentucky, and Texas A&M was forced to absorb a blow it did not need. On the kickoff, Bussey fumbled and Kentucky recovered, then he was hurt on the same play and had to leave the field on a cart after being unable to put pressure on his right leg.
The timing made it worse for the Aggies, who were already dealing with another top receiver being out for the game. Busseys absence only sharpens the concern about Texas A&Ms offensive depth, leaving the staff to piece together more of the passing game than it planned to this early in the contest. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Now Has A Response Problem Fans Wont Ignore
Texas A&Ms latest setback came with a familiar sting, as Kentucky walked into College Station and left with a 31-21 win that looked like more than just an early-season upset. The Wildcats rolled up 409 yards of offense and got big plays from quarterback Kenny Minchey, who threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns, while CJ Baxter added 87 rushing yards and two more scores to keep the Aggies on their heels.
For a Texas A&M team trying to settle into SEC play, the bigger concern is how often opponents have been able to answer every push with one of their own. Kentucky also forced two interceptions and improved to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play, leaving the Aggies to sort through a loss that exposed just how much work still remains on both sides of the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Suddenly Has A Marcel Reed Problem Before LSU
Texas A&M walked out of the Kentucky game with more questions than answers, and most of them trace back to a night that never really settled in for the Aggies. Injuries complicated the picture, but the bigger issue was how uneven the team looked on both sides of the ball, especially after halftime when drives kept ending without points and the defense was asked to absorb far too much pressure.
Marcel Reed was part of that broader offensive unevenness, and it leaves Texas A&M heading into LSU with real uncertainty at the most important position. The loss did more than dent the record. It exposed how fragile the Aggies can look when the offense stalls and the defense is forced to spend too much time on the field, which is not the kind of backdrop you want before a marquee SEC test. [Read more 🡒]