Texas A&M Opens SEC Play With Kentucky Test At Kyle Field
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No. 9 Texas A&M opens SEC play Saturday against Kentucky with a chance to reach 3-0 and extend a strong early-season trend under Mike Elko.
The Aggies host the Wildcats at 2:30 p.m. CT at Kyle Field, where another crowd of more than 100,000 is expected after 107,523 attended last week’s 48-20 win over Arizona State. Texas A&M has now drawn at least 100,000 fans in 13 consecutive home games.
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This matchup also marks the beginning of the SEC’s new nine-game conference schedule for A&M.
The biggest reason for optimism is the defense.
Texas A&M forced four turnovers against Arizona State and returned two interceptions for touchdowns.
Through two games, the Aggies have already created six takeaways after producing only 10 all of last season.
That improvement has directly impacted the scoreboard. A&M has scored 31 points off turnovers in two games, including 24 against Arizona State.
Third down could be the key Saturday.
The Aggies have allowed opponents to convert just four of 22 third-down attempts, an 18.2 percent success rate.
Kentucky enters with the exact opposite problem, having converted only four of 22 opportunities itself.
That weakness showed up in Kentucky’s 45-17 loss to Alabama. The Wildcats led 17-13 at halftime before being shut out in the second half, and coach Will Stein pointed directly at third downs and turnovers afterward.
“We were not converting on third downs,” Stein said. “Can’t turn the ball over.”
Quarterback Kenny Minchey finished 18 of 31 for 146 yards and one touchdown in the loss, while Jason Patterson led Kentucky with 53 rushing yards.
A&M, meanwhile, has been strongest late.
The Aggies have outscored opponents 41-0 in the fourth quarter and 62-10 after halftime.
They’ve also scored 98 points through two games, their highest two-game opening total since 2016.
History suggests Saturday could still be tighter than expected. Texas A&M leads the all-time series 2-1, but no meeting has been decided by more than six points.
The last matchup came in 2018, when A&M escaped with an overtime victory.
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This time, the Aggies have a chance to make a different statement.
Protect the football, dominate third down and keep forcing mistakes, and Texas A&M should have a clear path to 3-0.
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