LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky football's impressive road victory over then-ninth-ranked Texas A&M last weekend has the program moving in the right direction, but head coach Will Stein is emphasizing that the Wildcats cannot rest on their laurels, according to UK Athletics.

The Wildcats defeated Texas A&M 31-21 at Kyle Field in College Station, a road win Stein characterized as "really big" in a Tuesday media session. He credited the team's preparation and practice habits for the success on the field, noting a direct correlation between how the team practices and how it performs in games.

"Practice physical, play physical. Make plays in practice, make plays in the game," Stein said, emphasizing the importance of consistency in preparation.

Despite the significant win against a ranked opponent, Stein said there remains considerable room for improvement after the first three weeks of the season. He stressed that the team operates with a "one play, one game mentality" and has no time for looking back.

"I think now is our opportunity to coach these guys even harder and double down on our process," Stein said. "There's a reason why we were successful last game. We practiced really well."

When asked about the team's potential ceiling, Stein offered an optimistic but measured assessment, saying the Wildcats "can be as good as we want to be" but only if they maintain their focus on improvement and stay healthy.

The program faces its next test Saturday when Kentucky hosts South Alabama at Kroger Field at 12:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network. While the Jaguars lack the high-profile name recognition of recent opponents Alabama and Texas A&M, Stein indicated they should not be underestimated. He praised South Alabama as "a really good football team" that is physical and talented, and expressed respect for head coach Major Applewhite.

Stein's emphasis on maintaining the team's process rather than dwelling on the Texas A&M victory suggests the coaching staff believes consistency in preparation is key to sustained success moving forward.