The series between the Texas A&M and Auburn football teams dates back to 1911, but Saturday’s matchup will be just the fifth time the schools have met on the gridiron. Half of the games to date have come as conference opponents since the Aggies joined the SEC prior to the 2012 season. Prior to becoming division rivals and aside from a 16-0 Aggies win in 1911, the program’s only other meeting came in the 1985 Cotton Bowl.
And while the Tigers and Aggies may not have a deep seeded hatred for one another due to decades of rivalry showdowns, the 2013 game was a very important one for Auburn. In fact, head coach Gus Malzahn has mentioned several times that he first believed the 2013 Tigers could win the SEC and the national title after beating No. 7 Texas A&M 45-41 at Kyle Field.
Betsided
Auburn entered the SEC West battle 5-1 overall, 2-1 against Southeastern Conference foes, and ranked for the first time at No. 24. The Aggies were also 6-1 and 2-1 with the lone loss coming to No. 1 Alabama.
A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel was the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, and he certainly played like it against the Tigers. Johnny Football completed 28 of 38 passes for 454 yards and four touchdowns and added 48 rushing yards on 18 carries and another score. Overall, the Aggies compiled 602 total yards, a school record 287 of which went to receiver Mike Evans, who also scored four times.
However, the Tigers intercepted Manziel twice and a Dee Ford sack on fourth down sealed the win for Auburn.
The Tigers relied on a high-octane rushing attack to pound out 615 yards of offense, including 379 on the ground. Tre Mason was the star as he carried the football 27 times for 178 yards and a game-winning touchdown with 1:19 on the clock. Nick Marshall added 100 rushing yards and two TDs to his 11-for-23 passing performance. Marshall threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns and was not intercepted.
Sammie Coates caught five of Marshall’s passes for 104 yards and a 43-yard third quarter touchdown that tied the game at 24. Texas A&M took a ten-point lead in the fourth quarter after a 20-yard field goal, but touchdown runs by Marshall and Cameron Artis-Payne put the Tigers back in front 38-34 just five minutes later.
Manziel orchestrated a 75-yard scoring drive with 5:05 left on the clock, but Auburn answered quickly. And despite allowing more points than they would in any other game, the defense came up with a big play at just the right moment.
The win made Malzahn believe. It also pushed the Auburn football team to 11th in the polls the following week, and was the third of an eventual nine consecutive victories that ended with an SEC Championship and a berth in the BCS National Championship Game.
All-Time: Texas A&M leads the series 3-1
At Jordan-Hare Stadium: Texas A&M leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Auburn won 45-41 in 2013
2013: Auburn 45, Texas A&M 41 (College Station, TX)
2012: Texas A&M 63, Auburn 21 (Auburn)
1985: Texas A&M 36, Auburn 13 (Cotton Bowl – Dallas, TX)
1911: Texas A&M 16, Auburn 0 (Dallas, TX)
Next: Week 11 SEC Football Power Rankings
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