Auburn’s Payton Thorne tossed a two-point scoring pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the fourth overtime to give the host Tigers a 43-41 upset of No. 15 Texas A&M on Saturday night in Southeastern Conference play.
The Aggies had a chance to force another extra session, but Amari Daniels dropped Marcel Reed’s pass in the end zone.
The setback severely hurts the chances of Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2 SEC) being part of the 12-team College Football Playoff field.
Auburn blew a 21-point lead and later forced overtime on Ian Vachon’s 29-yard field goal with five seconds left in regulation.
Thorne was 19-of-31 passing for 301 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for the Tigers (5-6, 2-5). Jarquez Hunter rushed for 130 yards and three touchdowns on 28 rushes, Cam Coleman had seven receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns, and Lambert-Smith had 104 receiving yards on two catches for Auburn.
Reed completed 22 of 35 passes for 297 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for the Aggies. Noah Thomas caught five passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns, Jahdae Walker had a receiving score and Terry Bussey added a rushing touchdown for Texas A&M.
The Aggies never led until Daniels scored on an 8-yard run up the middle with 4:01 remaining in regulation. Daniels rushed for 90 yards on 27 carries.
Texas A&M had first possession in overtime and scored when Reed tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Walker. Auburn answered with Hunter’s 2-yard scoring run.
The Tigers settled for a 41-yard field goal by Vachon in their second possession. Randy Bond kicked a 42-yard field goal for the Aggies to tie it at 41.
In the third overtime, when teams solely go for two points, both squads threw incomplete passes.
In the fourth overtime, Lambert-Smith made a superb catch to put Auburn ahead, before Daniel couldn’t keep control for Texas A&M.
Auburn was sharp offensively while scoring three touchdowns over the first 17 minutes.
Hunter scored on a 2-yard run and Thorne threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Coleman in the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Thorne connected with Coleman on a 15-yard scoring pass for the 21-0 lead.
Bussey scored from the 1 to get the Aggies on the board with 4:13 to go in the first half.
Reed hit Thomas on a 14-yard scoring pass to bring the Aggies within 21-14 with 9:25 left in the third quarter. When Texas A&M next had the ball, Reed hit Thomas at the Aggies’ 40-yard line and he raced the rest of the way to conclude a tying 73-yard scoring play with 7:57 remaining in the period.
Auburn took a 28-21 lead on Hunter’s 1-yard scoring run with 2:27 in the third quarter.
Bond’s 32-yard field goal moved the Aggies within four with 12:47 remaining in the game.
