KeAndre Lambert-Smith’s two-point conversion catch in the fourth overtime gave Auburn a 43-41 victory over No. 15 Texas A&M on Saturday night at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Amari Daniels cut the score that would have been tied to give the Tigers the win.
Despite the loss, which drops the Aggies to 5–2 in the conference and 8–3 overall, Texas A&M can still reach the SEC title game and keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive with a win next week against Texas.
In the first overtime, Jahdae Walker caught a 12-yard touchdown that gave the Aggies a 38-31 lead. Still, Auburn answered on its ensuing possession, aided by a pass interference penalty on Jayvon Thomas that put the Tigers at the 2-yard line. Jarquez Hunter scored a TD two plays later to send the game into a second OT.
The two teams traded field goals in the second overtime, with Auburn’s Ian Vachon hitting a 41-yarder and Texas A&M’s Randy Bond answering with a 42-yarder.
What looked like a potential blowout for the Tigers turned into an exciting shootout. The Aggies looked done after falling behind 21-0 in the first quarter. But they battled back and tied the score at 21-21 midway through the third quarter, with Noah Thomas turning a 10-yard slant into a 73-yard touchdown.
However, Auburn took the lead two possessions later, propelled by a 44-yard touchdown run by Lambert-Smith. Jarquez Hunter ran the remaining 10 yards on three carries to put the Tigers back on top 28–21.
However, Payton Thorne’s interception early in the fourth quarter gave the Aggies the break they needed to finally come out on top. Randy Bond hit a 32-yard field goal after the turnover to cut Auburn’s lead to four points. The Texas A&M defense then forced the Tigers into two consecutive three-and-outs to put the offense in position to take the lead.
Daniels scored on an 8-yard touchdown run with 4:05 left in regulation and it appeared Texas A&M had completed a stunning comeback to keep their conference title hopes alive.
The Tigers drove for the tying or go-ahead score on their final possession, going 79 yards in two minutes. Two consecutive 11-yard runs by Hunter got Auburn to the 7-yard line, but two false start penalties and a Damari Alston slip and fall on a 4-yard gain forced the Tigers to settle for a field goal. Vachon’s 29-yard field goal sent the game into overtime.
Thorne finished with 301 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 19-of-31 passing. Hunter rushed for 130 yards and three scores on 28 carries. Cam Coleman led Auburn with seven receptions for 128 yards and two TDs, followed by Lambert-Smith’s two catches for 104 yards.
For Texas A&M, Marcel Reed threw for 297 yards, three TDs and a pick, completing 22 of 35 passes. He also rushed for 66 yards on 21 carries. Edwards had 90 yards and a score on 26 rushes. Thomas had five catches for 124 yards and two TDs, while Walker added 69 yards and a TD on seven receptions.