2026 Kentucky vs 2026 Texas A&M

Kentucky
5–1 · 8.0 (46th of 138)
vs
Texas A&M
3–3 · SP+ 8.0 (46th of 138)

Hypothetical

Texas A&M by 7.2

69% to win

High confidence — 5 games in — see our accuracy

Hypothetical forecast · SBR sbr-2r

Why this number

KentuckyIn-season results +7.5Preseason baseline +6.5
Texas A&MPreseason baseline +24.6In-season results −5.8
Texas A&M home field +2.5

How they're built

0–100 percentile · higher is stronger

Compare the whole profile, then explore each dimension.

2026 Kentucky Offense · SP+ 2026: 33.1, 77th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Kentucky Defense · SP+ 2026: 25.0, 56th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Kentucky Special teams · SP+ 2026: −0.1, 28th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Kentucky Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 197.2 pts, 57th percentile (2026 signing class)2026 Kentucky Experience · returning production 2026: 19% returning, 26th percentile (2026 roster)2026 Texas A&M Offense · SP+ 2026: 29.3, 64th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Texas A&M Defense · SP+ 2026: 21.4, 76th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Texas A&M Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.1, 50th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Texas A&M Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 283.1 pts, 93rd percentile (2026 signing class)2026 Texas A&M Experience · returning production 2026: 73% returning, 87th percentile (2026 roster)0100Offense · SP+ 2026Defense · SP+ 2026Special teams · SP+ 2026Recruiting · 2026 signing classExperience · returning production 2026
  • 2026 Kentucky Offense · SP+ 2026: 33.1, 77th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Texas A&M Offense · SP+ 2026: 29.3, 64th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Kentucky Defense · SP+ 2026: 25.0, 56th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Texas A&M Defense · SP+ 2026: 21.4, 76th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Kentucky Special teams · SP+ 2026: −0.1, 28th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Texas A&M Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.1, 50th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Kentucky Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 197.2 pts, 57th percentile (2026 signing class)
  • 2026 Texas A&M Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 283.1 pts, 93rd percentile (2026 signing class)
  • 2026 Kentucky Experience · returning production 2026: 19% returning, 26th percentile (2026 roster)
  • 2026 Texas A&M Experience · returning production 2026: 73% returning, 87th percentile (2026 roster)
Emphasize a team

Offensive production relative to that season’s field. Compare an offense with the opposing defense in the scouting report.

Recruiting and experience add context; the five axes aren't equal weights in the forecast.

The numbers behind the profiles

Measure2026 Kentucky2026 Texas A&M
Offensive / play0.2169th percentile0.0420th percentile
PPA allowed / play0.0458th percentile0.0070th percentile
Points per game34.768th percentile6 games27.542nd percentile6 games
per game28.020th percentile6 games20.069th percentile6 games

Programs don't stand still

SP+ percentile among FBS teams, by season. The marked point is each compared season.

2026 Kentucky2026 Texas A&M
Kentucky 2026: 66th percentileTexas A&M 2026: 66th percentile2000200520102015202020250255075100

Momentum

Kentucky→ steady (+1 pctl over 3 seasons)
Texas A&M↘ falling (−25 pctl over 3 seasons)

Talent in, results out

Recruiting-class percentile feeding each roster, compared with its SP+ result.

2026 Kentucky
Average signing-class percentile, classes 2023–2026
74th percentile
SP+ percentile, 2026
66th percentile
Matching its talent (−7)
2026 Texas A&M
Average signing-class percentile, classes 2023–2026
91st percentile
SP+ percentile, 2026
66th percentile
Underperforming its talent (−24)

Campus distance

845 miles apart

There's more to the matchup.

Supporting context, ready when you want it.

In the trenches · both directions
MatchupO-lineD-line
2026 Kentucky OL vs 2026 Texas A&M DL320.2 lbs275.7 lbs
2026 Texas A&M OL vs 2026 Kentucky DL318.7 lbs285.8 lbs

2026 Kentucky line yards 3.27 · 2026 Texas A&M stuff rate 18.6%

2026 Texas A&M line yards 3.10 · 2026 Kentucky stuff rate 18.7%

Fans swear big lines win games. They're half right — big-line teams do win more, but only because good programs recruit big linemen. Once we account for talent and last season, line size adds nothing to the prediction. Across 11 seasons, no measurable effect on margin.

Roster size is context. It isn't a forecast advantage.

Backtested effect: 0.42 pts at 1σ.

Head-to-head · series tied 1–1 since 2000

Kentucky has won 1 straight

SeasonScoreVenue
2026Kentucky 31–21 Texas A&MKyle Field · Texas A&M home
2018Kentucky 14–20 Texas A&MKyle Field · Texas A&M home
Coaching & program context
2026 Kentucky

HC

  • Will Stein (First season as Kentucky's head coach)

OC

  • Joe Sloan

career average +36.8 SP+ offense

Scheme: Pro spread (listed on Wikipedia)

Style: Balanced, average pace (threw on 46% of its run–pass plays, 48th percentile of 2026 FBS; 66.7 plays a game, 45th percentile)

DC

  • Jay Bateman

career average +30.5 SP+ defense

Scheme: 4–2–5 (listed on Wikipedia)

2026 Texas A&M

HC

  • Mike Elko

OC

  • Holmon Wiggins

career average +36.0 SP+ offense

Scheme: Pro spread (listed on Wikipedia)

Style: Balanced, up-tempo (threw on 47% of its run–pass plays, 55th percentile of 2026 FBS; 71.7 plays a game, 80th percentile)

DC

  • Elijah Robinson (co-DC)
  • Lyle Hemphill

career average +26.1 SP+ defense

Scheme: 4–2–5 (listed on Wikipedia)

A new coordinator feels like it should swing a game. Across 11 seasons, the change doesn't move the final margin beyond what the roster already tells us. Shown as context, not a factor in our number.

Run-heavy team meets a defense that can't stop the run — feels like extra points waiting. Across 7 seasons the matchup adds nothing beyond what the two ratings already say; if anything the point estimate leans the other way.

Scouting reports

No upcoming game between these teams is on the schedule.

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