DALLAS (FWAA) – The Kentucky Wildcats scored 21 unanswered points in a dominant third quarter and stunned No. 9 Texas A&M, 31-21, before 105,186 fans at Kyle Field. For defeating a 16½-point favorite and delivering first-year head coach Will Stein’s first Southeastern Conference and ranked victory, Kentucky earned the Pop-Tarts Bowl Crazy Good Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Sept. 19, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.
Kentucky (2-1, 1-1 SEC) broke open a 7-7 halftime game by controlling every phase of the third quarter. The Wildcats scored touchdowns on all three of their possessions, outgained Texas A&M 196-20, collected 10 first downs while allowing none and possessed the football for 11:18.
Quarterback Kenny Minchey completed all eight of his third-quarter passes for 110 yards and finished 14-of-18 for 252 yards and two touchdowns. He completed his final 11 passes of the game.
Minchey opened the second half by connecting with true freshman Kenny Darby for a 42-yard touchdown, capping a seven-play, 75-yard drive. After the Kentucky defense forced a three-and-out, the Wildcats marched 83 yards in nine plays and extended their lead to 21-7 on C.J. Baxter’s 3-yard touchdown run.
The defense produced another short field by stopping Texas A&M on fourth down at the Aggies’ 33-yard line. Baxter scored again four plays later, giving Kentucky a commanding 28-7 advantage with 16 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Baxter rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns and added a 28-yard reception. D.J. Miller caught five passes for 96 yards, including a 53-yard reception that set up Kentucky’s first touchdown. Darby recorded 64 yards on two receptions in his first collegiate start.
Kentucky’s defense intercepted Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed twice and stopped the Aggies on three fourth-down attempts. Sam Greene made six tackles, intercepted a pass and delivered a tackle for loss on fourth-and-inches during Texas A&M’s opening possession. Jordan Castell added a game-high 13 tackles and sealed the victory by intercepting Reed at the Kentucky 7-yard line with 6:34 remaining.
Kicker Adam Zouagui supplied the Wildcats’ final points with a career-long 52-yard field goal that struck the left upright and caromed through, extending Kentucky’s lead to 31-14 with 8:22 to play.
“I’m just really proud of the guys. I’m proud of this team,” Stein said following his first road victory as a head coach.
Stein became the first Kentucky head coach to defeat an AP top-10 opponent on the road during his first season. The victory was the Wildcats’ second-highest-ranked win in a true road game against an SEC opponent and their second-largest margin of victory in a true road game against an AP top-10 team.
This is the fourth time Kentucky has earned the FWAA’s National Team of the Week honor. The Wildcats were previously recognized following victories at Arkansas in 2007, at Florida in 2018 and at No. 9 Louisville in 2023.
Kentucky returns home to face South Alabama on Saturday at 12:45 p.m. ET at Kroger Field. The SEC Network will televise the game.
The FWAA has recognized a National Team of the Week since the 2002 season. Weekly candidates are evaluated by the FWAA All-America Committee with supporting data analysis from the Iron Football app. Today's announcement will also be featured on the the Cover 3 Podcast, hosted by Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Kanell and Bud Elliott of CBS Sports.
Each honored team will receive a delivery of assorted Pop-Tarts and a custom-crafted game ball from Big Game USA, the Dallas-based manufacturer of handcrafted American-made footballs.
Florida Citrus Sports is a not-for-profit event-management organization dedicated to positively impacting the Orlando region while enhancing the quality of life in Central Florida through world-class events. Its annual events include the Citrus Bowl, the Pop-Tarts Bowl, the Florida Blue Florida Classic, the Camping World Kickoff and the FC Series. For more information, visit FloridaCitrusSports.com.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of approximately 1,200 men and women who cover college football. Its membership includes journalists, broadcasters, publicists and key executives involved in the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.