In honor of the 10th meeting of Auburn vs Texas A&M we’re taking a look back at the 3 most pivotal football games between the two.
Auburn and Texas A&M will face off for the tenth time on Saturday. The two never regularly played until Texas A&M joined the SEC in 2012. Before 2012 the two faced off only twice with Texas A&M winning both games (1911 and 1986). Texas A&M currently leads the series 5-4 and the largest margin of victory came when the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012 led by Heisman quarterback Johnny Manziel. The Aggies obliterated the Tigers 63-21.
The following games are the most prolific games in the series. Not all of them are Auburn wins, for the losses were defining of their seasons.
Important note: Auburn has never lost in College Station.
Auburn, Alabama November 8, 2014 Texas A&M 41 #3 Auburn 38
This was my junior year at Auburn and probably the most frustrating and maddening game I’ve ever sat through. Auburn dominated this game offensively. If you looked at this game on paper, Auburn had 582 total yards of offense to Texas A&M’s 453. Auburn dominated the clock by maintaining possession for 32:40 of the game.
But alas, the Tigers fumbled the ball once in the 3rd quarter. And then twice in the 4th quarter, once on the Texas A&M 2. That fumble wasn’t even the last fumble either. On their next drive Auburn would fumble after getting the ball to the Texas A&M 28 yard line with one minute remaining.
I stood through that game with a broken toe. When the Tigers fumbled for the third time with one minute remaining the student section filled with mass anger. Drinks went flying, shakers were broken in half, and the colorful vernacular of all students filled the air. The playoff hopeful Tigers were knocked out of contention by an unranked opponent on their home turf. Yikes.
College Station, Texas October 19, 2013 #24 Auburn 45 #7 Texas A&M 41
2013, the magical season. The #24 ranked Tigers traveled to College Station to take on the #7 ranked Aggies led by the same Heisman quarterback that dominated them just the year before. This game was one for the ages. Both teams had over 600 yards of total offense, Texas A&M dominating in the passing game and Auburn dominating in the run game.
It came down to the trenches. Auburn capitalized on interceptions thrown by Johnny Manziel, but at 18 seconds remaining we saw what was possibly the highlight of Ellis Johnson’s career at Auburn. It was 3rd and 18 for Texas A&M on the Auburn 26. Johnny Manziel tried to scramble for the first down but could only gain five yards. The Tigers took over on downs and ran the clock out with 11 seconds remaining.
That game was incredibly stressful too! Notice a pattern with all of these? I laid on my floor to watch this game and my dog was so freaked out she barked at me almost the entire time. Sorry Gracie (RIP in peace).
Auburn, Alabama October 27, 2012 #20 Texas A&M 63 Auburn 21
Good lord this is one I’d rather forget. I’m not even gonna lie here. At halftime the Aggies were beating Auburn 42-7 and it was freezing cold. My friends and I decided this game was not worth catching pneumonia over, so we left to go to a restaurant that shall not be named and nearly got food poisoning there instead.
2012 was Johnny Manziel’s Heisman season and he made an example out of Auburn that night. The Aggies had nearly 700 yards of offense. Thank you for nothing, Scot Loeffler. It was clear at this point of the season that the entire 2012 Auburn coaching staff needed to be placed in a dumpster. And they were.
I mean, here’s highlights. Watch them if you want to feel sad.
There’s still plenty of history between these two teams left to be written. Hopefully history will point in the favor of Auburn on Saturday. The Aggies are currently a four point favorite.