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COLUMBIA, S.C. – A year ago, Texas A&M erased a 27-point halftime deficit to beat South Carolina. On Saturday, the Gamecocks wrote a different ending.
No. 23 South Carolina beat Texas A&M 17-9 at Williams-Brice Stadium behind LaNorris Sellers, who threw for 251 yards and ran 41 yards for the clinching touchdown on an injured ankle with less than two minutes left. The Aggies outgained the Gamecocks 457-360 and had 26 first downs to 17. They still lost for the third time in four games.
Texas A&M (4-5, 1-5 SEC) is now guaranteed a losing SEC record. The Aggies started the season ranked No. 8. South Carolina (6-3, 4-3) has won four straight after an 0-3 start in league play.
The revenge angle
The game carried a lot of history. South Carolina led the No. 3 Aggies 30-3 at halftime last season at Kyle Field, but Texas A&M came back for a 31-30 win, the biggest comeback in school history. That loss ended South Carolina’s bowl hopes in a 4-8 season.
This time, Sellers had to dig deep. He went to the locker room before halftime for X-rays on his ankle, and South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said he was not sure Sellers could play the second half. He did, going 20 of 31 for 251 yards and a touchdown. “What a warrior he is,” Beamer said.
What the Aggies did well
For long stretches, Texas A&M looked like the better team.
- The run game worked. Rueben Owens II ran for 137 yards on 19 carries, a season high, including runs of 40 and 44 yards. Texas A&M finished with 206 rushing yards.
- The Aggies controlled the clock. They had 86 plays to 58 for South Carolina and held the ball nearly 10 minutes longer. They also converted 9 of 19 third downs.
- The defense forced mistakes. Bryce Perry-Wright sacked Sellers and forced a fumble that Brandon Davis-Swain recovered at the Aggies’ 22-yard line late in the first half. Marco Jones also had a sack, and South Carolina went 4 of 12 on third down.
- They did not turn the ball over. Texas A&M had no turnovers, while the Gamecocks lost one fumble.
Where it went wrong
The Aggies could not finish drives. They scored three field goals and no touchdowns, and the missed points hurt.
- Red-zone trouble. In the third quarter, a 15-play, 67-yard drive reached the Gamecocks’ 7-yard line. Two false starts and an incomplete pass pushed the Aggies back, and David Olano missed a 30-yard field goal, his first miss of the season after 16 straight makes. It would have put Texas A&M up 12-7.
- Penalties. The Aggies had eight penalties for 75 yards, many at the worst times.
- Fourth downs. Texas A&M was 0 for 2 on fourth down. A failed try at the Gamecocks’ 30 came on the opening series, and a turnover on downs late in the fourth quarter led straight to Sellers’ touchdown run.
- The passing game. Marcel Reed was 25 of 43 for 251 yards, but that is just 5.0 yards per attempt with no touchdowns. Live coverage noted two key drops by receiver Isaiah Horton. On the last possession, Reed took the Aggies to the Gamecocks’ 3-yard line, but his desperation pass sailed over his receiver’s head.
Mike Elko said afterward that for much of the game the Aggies played the way they wanted to, but that settling for field goals near the goal line cost them.
By the numbers
Texas A&M
- Total yards: 457
- Rushing yards: 206 (43 carries)
- Passing yards: 251 (25 of 43)
- First downs: 26
- Third downs: 9 of 19
- Fourth downs: 0 of 2
- Penalties: 8 for 75 yards
- Turnovers: 0
South Carolina
- Total yards: 360
- Rushing yards: 109 (27 carries)
- Passing yards: 251 (20 of 31)
- First downs: 17
- Third downs: 4 of 12
- Fourth downs: 1 of 1
- Penalties: 6 for 37 yards
- Turnovers: 1
How the Aggies can pull it together
Texas A&M has a short week of reflection and a hot team coming to Kyle Field.
No. 16 Tennessee (7-2, 4-2 SEC) comes to College Station on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Volunteers beat Kentucky 34-6 on Saturday, a game in which linebacker Arion Carter had 13 tackles, four for loss and two sacks. Tennessee has also held Alabama to 10 points and Kentucky to six. It is Josh Heupel’s team’s first trip to Kyle Field since 2016. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Tennessee a 58.6% chance to win.
Here is how Texas A&M can get a win.
1. Turn drives into touchdowns. A defense like Tennessee’s will not give up many points, so the Aggies cannot settle for field goals. Even one touchdown in the red zone changes the game.
2. Keep running the ball. Owens had two 40-plus-yard runs against South Carolina. If he and the line can repeat that, the Aggies can control the game again.
3. Clean up the penalties. False starts at the goal line and holding calls cost points. At home, with a loud Kyle Field crowd, those mistakes should be avoidable.
4. Protect Reed and give him a clear plan. He was sacked twice against South Carolina, and Tennessee’s front is built to get after quarterbacks. Quick throws and play-action could help the passing game.
5. Win the close ones. Texas A&M led 9-7 going into the fourth quarter. Four of its five losses have come on the road, and it is 4-1 at Kyle Field.
What’s at stake
Texas A&M needs two more wins from Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas to reach six wins and become bowl-eligible. The Aggies close with a game at Oklahoma on Nov. 21 and the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Kyle Field on Nov. 27. Even if they win all three, 4-5 in the SEC would be their first losing league record under Elko.
Our lean: Tennessee by a field goal. The Aggies’ yardage says they are closer than their record, but they will need to finish drives to prove it.
Related: Texas A&M’s win over The Citadel | Box score on ESPN | South Carolina’s recap | Last year’s 31-30 comeback
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