Photo by: Sam Craft/Texas A&M Athletics
What To Watch For | Texas A&M vs. Kentucky
Oct 04, 2018 | Football
2018 TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL
GAME 6 | vs. KENTUCKY
SATURDAY, OCT. 6, 2018
GAME TIME: 6:00 PM CT | SITE: KYLE FIELD | TV: ESPN
WHAT TO WATCH FOR #UKvsTAMU:
- Texas A&M and Kentucky face off on the gridiron on Saturday for the first time in 65 years and for the first time as members of the Southeastern Conference.
- The last time the two teams met was the early 1950s when both road teams won in a homeand-home arrangement. The Wildcats, then coached by future Texas A&M head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, beat the Aggies, 10-7, in College Station in 1952, while Raymond George's Aggies returned the favor, 7-6, in Lexington in 1953.
- Kentucky is one of two conference schools that Texas A&M hasn't faced on the gridiron since joining the elite league in 2012 (Georgia).
- This is the first SEC home game for head coach Jimbo Fisher as the Aggies take on the Wildcats.
- UK head coach Mark Stoops served as Fisher's defensive coordinator on his first three Florida State teams in 2010-12.
- It will be the fifth straight night game at Kyle Field dating back to 2017 with kickoff set for 6 p.m. on ESPN. Seven of the Aggies' last eight home games have been at night.
- Texas A&M is seeking to snap a six-game losing streak to Associated Press Top 25 teams. The Aggies' most recent AP Top 25 victory was a 45-38 overtime win over No. 9 Tennessee on Oct. 8, 2016.
- Texas A&M carries a 32-game streak of scoring at least 14 points into Saturday's game, which is the longest such streak in the SEC and ranks third among Power 5 schools (Oklahoma, 45 & West Virginia, 36).
SETTING THE SCENE: TEXAS A&M vs. KENTUCKY
- KICKOFF: 6:00 p.m. (CT)
- SERIES VS. KENTUCKY: Tied 1-1
- 9/19/1953: Lexington | W, 7-6
- 10/4/1952: College Station | L, 7-10 - SITE: Kyle Field, College Station, Texas (Capacity: 102,733)
- RANKINGS: Texas A&M: RV (AP), RV (Coaches) | Kentucky: #13 (AP), #15 (Coaches)
- TELEVISION: ESPN (National)
Sean McDonough, play-by-play
Todd Blackledge, analyst
Holly Rowe, sideline - RADIO:
Texas A&M Radio Network (Regional) - The Texas A&M Radio Network provides coverage via nearly 60 stations across the state of Texas.
Andrew Monaco, play-by-play
Dave Elmendorf, analyst
Will Johnson, sideline
Texas A&M Spanish Network (Regional) - Texas A&M's Spanish broadcast can be heard on radio stations in Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, El Paso, Brownsville and McAllen, Texas. Locally, the TAMU Spanish Network can be heard on 1550 AM.
Pedro Vela Almaguer, play-by-play
Noel Orellana, analyst
SIRIUS XM: The Texas A&M Radio Network call of the game can be heard on SiriusXM at Sirius 105 / XM 190 / Internet 961.
MILESTONES TO WATCH:
- RB Trayveon Williams is within range of multiple Texas A&M legends on the Aggies' all-time career rushing list. With 2,437 career yards, the junior needs six yards to pass Leeland McElroy (2,442, 1993-95), 35 yards to pass Roger Vick (2,471, 1983-86) and 151 to surpass Johnny Hector (2,587, 1979-82.
- Just 30 games into his career, when Williams passes McElroy the only remaining threeyear player ahead of him will be Greg Hill, who gained 3,262 from 1991-93 before turning pro.
- Just 16 games into his career, QB Kellen Mond needs 404 passing yards to become the 17th player in school history to reach 3,000 career passing yards.
- With his next receiving TD, first-year TE Jace Sternberger will match the Texas A&M record for touchdowns by a tight end (5 by Rod Bernstine, 1986 and Jamie McCoy, 2008).
QUICK HITS:
- Texas A&M's defense ranks fourth nationally in third-down conversions, holding opposing teams to just 24.6%.
- The Aggie defense is holding opposing offenses to 85.0 rushing yards per game, which is the best in the SEC and sixth in FBS.
- Texas A&M has dominated possession in the first five games averaging 35:52 per game. The tally ranks first in the SEC and is tops among Power 5 schools.
- The Maroon & White average 511.8 yards of offense per game, which ranks 13th nationally.
- Texas A&M has accumulated 143 first downs, the most in the SEC and fourth in FBS.
LIMITING OPPONENT CHANCES:
- Through five games, including two vs. AP top 5 teams, the Texas A&M defense has faced an average of just 55.6 plays per game, which is easily the lowest in the SEC.
- Among teams that have played five games, only Army (252) and Charlotte (275) have faced fewer opponent plays than the Aggies (278).
- Additionally, Texas A&M has limited opponents to just a 24.6 percent success rate in third down situations and has allowed only 14 third down conversions in five games (2.8 per game).
- Texas A&M has allowed 77 first downs through five games (15.4 per game), which is tied for fewest in the SEC (with Georgia).
- The 55.6 plays faced per game in 2018 is an enormous turnaround from last season when the Aggies faced an average of 72.5 plays per contest. Through five games in 2017, the Aggies were facing an average of 79.0 plays per game.
- "On Pace Guy" notes a 55.6 average for a 13-game season in 2018 would mean the Aggies would face 219 fewer plays than in 2017 (or basically the equivalent of three 73-play games).
THROWBACK UNIFORMS:
- On Saturday, the Aggies will don the "'98 Aggies" Primeknight A1 throwback uniform to celebrate the 20th anniversary of an outstanding 11-3 season and the team's double-OT victory over Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship game.
- Inspired by the team's story of perseverance, Texas A&M's throwback uniform pays homage to the storied final games of the season.
- Going into the 1998 Big 12 Championship game, A&M was coming off a bitter loss to the Longhorns and the newly No. 10 ranked Aggies were set to face the No. 1 Kansas State. Down 27-12 in the third quarter, A&M bounced back to secure two huge touchdowns in the fourth quarter, tying the game 27-27. After two consecutive overtimes, the underdog Aggies pulled ahead to secure a 36-33 win and a bid to the '99 Sugar Bowl.
- More than 60 members of the 1998 Aggies will be in Aggieland this weekend for the 20-year anniversary and reunion of the 1998 Big 12 Championship team.
- Texas A&M was granted permission by the Southeastern Conference to use a throwback conference pennant logo on the jersey and helmet. Similarily, Texas A&M was granted permission by the College Football Playoff to use/wear the old Bowl Championship Series logo.
- With retro detailing the "'98 Aggies" uniform pays homage to the vintage mesh jerseys worn in the 90's.
- The throwback alternate uniforms are based on the iconic Texas A&M uniform style utilized from the mid-1980s until the early 2000s.
- The jersey features a larger "TEXAS A&M" across the chest.
- One of the most notable features of the uniform is the use of the "southwestern print" collar on the jersey worn by the Aggies from 1996 until the early 2000s.
- The helmet features the return of the white facemask, as well as the metallic maroon paint that was used until 2012.
- The helmet will also feature a memorial decal honoring a member of the 1998 team, Taylor Whitley, who passed away suddenly in August of this year.
Players Mentioned
Spring Football Media Availability: Isaiah Horton, Wilkin Formby
Thursday, April 02
Spring Football Media Availability: Holmon Wiggins
Thursday, April 02
Spring Practice Media Availability: Lyle Hemphill
Thursday, March 26
Spring Practice Media Availability: Mario Craver, TJ Searcy
Thursday, March 26
