{"id":343952,"date":"2026-06-20T10:28:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T10:28:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/343952\/"},"modified":"2026-06-20T10:28:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T10:28:09","slug":"sec-summer-school-texas-am-aggies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/343952\/","title":{"rendered":"SEC Summer School: Texas A&M Aggies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Big Blue Nation has been locked in for every move\u00a0Will Stein<\/a>\u00a0has made during the Kentucky football offseason. But what about the rest of the SEC? Kentucky plays a Top 10 schedule in college football. The logos are daunting, but what\u2019s really going on with each program? Take a step into KSR\u2019s SEC Summer School to learn more about the Wildcats\u2019 2026 opponents. Up next, the first SEC road trip for Will Stein, to Bryan-College Station for a date with Texas A&M at Kyle Field.<\/p>\n

SEC Summer School:\u00a0Tennessee Volunteers<\/a>, Missouri Tigers<\/a><\/p>\n

Texas A&M: By the Numbers<\/p>\n

Returning<\/a>\u00a0Production: No. 14 (65%)
SP+<\/a>\u00a0Ranking: No. 9
ESPN<\/a>\u00a0Post-Spring Top 25: No. 9
On3<\/a>\u00a0SEC Power Rankings: No. 5<\/p>\n

Returning Star Power for Texas A&M <\/p>\n

The Aggies have a big hole to fill on defense after Cashius Howell<\/a>, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of last spring\u2019s NFL Draft. Texas A&M tied a program record with 10 total draft picks, but the best of the best are still in College Station. <\/p>\n

Mario Craver<\/a> is one of the best wide receivers in the SEC. Last year, he was just shy of 1,000 yards, tallying 917 and four scores on 59 receptions. If people didn\u2019t know the elusive playmaker before, they learned about No. 1 when he went for 200+ yards at Notre Dame. <\/p>\n

He\u2019ll be Marcel Reed<\/a>\u2018s go-to target this fall. Ultimately, your opinion of Marcel Reed will define how good you think this team can be. He\u2019s been a very good quarterback, but can he be a difference-maker and put them over the top in a close game? Reed did it once at Notre Dame. Will he take another step forward this fall and compete to be the top-QB in the SEC? I admittedly am a bit skeptical, although that\u2019s still probably enough to win a CFP game or two. <\/p>\n

3 Potential Breakout Players<\/p>\n

LB Daymion Sanford<\/a> \u2014 The talented linebacker flashed with 53 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks last fall. Despite suffering an injury in the spring game, his talent and experience can make him one of the top tacklers in the SEC. <\/p>\n

DT DJ Hicks<\/a> \u2014 Texas A&M is one of the few places where five-star talents will still bide some time before it\u2019s their turn to step into a major role. That\u2019s the case for Hicks, who is finally getting a chance to start after three years in the program. Last fall, he still had 6.5 TFLS and 3.0 sacks as a rotational player. <\/p>\n

S Dalton Brooks<\/a> \u2014 A two-year starter in the secondary, Brooks was third on the team last fall with 62 tackles. A playmaker in the middle of the field who creates havoc, he can turn the momentum of the game to Texas A&M at a moment\u2019s notice. <\/p>\n

The Most Difficult Game on Kentucky\u2019s Schedule<\/p>\n

There are plenty of challenging games on this Kentucky football schedule, but judging by SP+<\/a>, this is the most challenging, as the Wildcats are a projected 19.5-point underdog. The game will be played in the middle of a hot September afternoon in Texas in front of 100,000+ fans at Kyle Field. Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman<\/a> should bring some familiarity with him to Lexington after two years in College Station, but how much can it really help? Kentucky\u2019s first true road game is against a group of vets with CFP experience in their first SEC game of the season. Buckle up. <\/p>\n

DateOpponentLocationSept. 5, 2026Missouri StateHome Sept. 12, 2026Arizona StateHomeSept. 19, 2026KentuckyHomeSept. 26, 2026LSUAwayOct. 3, 2026ArkansasHomeOct. 10, 2026MissouriAwayOct. 17, 2026The CitadelHomeOct. 24, 2026AlabamaAwayOct. 31, 2026BYENov. 7, 2026South CarolinaAwayNov. 14, 2026TennesseeHomeNov. 21, 2026OklahomaAwayNov. 27, 2026 (Friday)TexasHome
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