Auburn Drops No. 15 Texas A&M in 4 Overtime Stunner

© Jake Crandall/Advertiser/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Auburn Tigers (5-6, 2-5 Southeastern Conference) defeated the No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies (8-3, 5-2 SEC) 43-41 in four overtimes on Nov. 23 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. Auburn jumped out to an early lead, but Texas A&M clawed back and took control for much of the game. The Tigers tied the game late, then outlasted the Aggies.

In the fourth OT, Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne (301 yards passing, 2 touchdowns) found wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the back of the end zone for a 43-41 lead. Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed (297 yards passing, 3 TDs, 66 yards rushing) took a pitch from wide receiver Terry Bussey and tossed a pass to running back Amari Daniels. Daniels (27 carries, 90 yards, 1 TD) was wide open in the end zone but dropped Reed's pass, sending Auburn fans rushing onto the field.

Game Summary

Auburn came out swinging. The Tigers scored TDs on their first three possessions, including a 63-yard bomb from Thorne to WR Cam Coleman. Coleman scored again within the first two minutes of the second quarter, giving the Tigers a 21-0 lead. From the 13-minute mark in the second quarter onward, it was all Aggies. Texas A&M went on a 31-7 scoring run until Auburn capped a 15-play, 74-yard drive with a 29-yard field goal from kicker Ion Vachon. Vachon missed an earlier FG attempt in the third quarter. But his kick with 5 seconds left in regulation sent the game into OT.

Both teams exchanged TDs in the first OT. Auburn settled for a Vanchon FG on the opening possession of the second overtime. A promising Tigers drive stalled due in part to questionable officiating. In the third OT, both teams failed on their first two-point conversion. Lambert-Smith made the catch of the game in the fourth OT for Auburn. Texas A&M had a chance to tie the game but failed.

Play of the Game

The game's final two plays were the icing on the cake of a game full of high-octane plays. Lambert-Smith had 2 receptions for 102 yards heading into OT. His catches led to Auburn points. But his biggest catch of the game, and perhaps of his Auburn career, was a contested ball in the back of the end zone. That was in the fourth OT and put the Tigers ahead for good.

Texas A&M's ensuing play was not only key in this game but for the Aggies' season. Daniels' drop of Reed's pass sunk Texas A&M's chance at an SEC Championship and put the Aggies' path to a College Football Playoff berth in jeopardy.

© John Reed-Imagn Images

Looking Ahead: Auburn

With the victory over Texas A&M, Auburn is in a position to become bowl-eligible with a victory over archrival No. 7 Alabama (8-3, 4-3) in the annual Iron Bowl on Nov. 30. Alabama will be ornery after falling 24-3 to Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5), but the Tigers will be playing for more than just to ruin the Tide's postseason hopes.

Looking Ahead: Texas A&M

The loss to Auburn puts the Aggies' hopes of a CFP appearance at serious risk. The door isn't completely shut, but Texas A&M has zero room for error against the No. 3 Texas Longhorns (10-1, 6-1). Those old rivals clash at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas on Nov. 30.