Texas A&M's win over South Carolina deserves to be SEC Game of the Year

What began as a calm Saturday morning turned into one of the wildest swings of the SEC season, as Texas A&M erased a 28-point deficit to stun South Carolina 31-30 in a noon kickoff that felt more like a dawn scrimmage at Kyle Field.

However, it's not how you start, but how you finish in an SEC Game of the Year candidate. 

South Carolina dominated the first half with its most complete performance of the season. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers opened with a crisp, up-tempo attack, converting early third downs and challenging an Aggie secondary that has been steady for most of the year.

The Gamecocks surged to a 17-3 lead after defensive tackle Nick Barrett scooped up a backward pass and scored, and Nyck Harbor added an 80-yard touchdown that pushed the margin to 27-3.

Texas A&M’s first half was defined by mistakes: two missed field goals, two interceptions, four drops and a stalled offense that produced just 132 yards. South Carolina entered halftime up 30-10 after another interception set up a late field goal.

But the Aggies came out of the locker room transformed. Quarterback Marcel Reed threw three touchdown passes in the third quarter, sparking a 21-0 run that revived the 12th Man and narrowed the deficit to six. E.J. Smith’s touchdown gave A&M its first lead at 31-30, completing the largest comeback in school history. 

Also, no SEC team in the conference's 93-year history has comeback from down 27 point. That was until today. 

South Carolina had one final chance, converting a desperate fourth-down attempt before consecutive sacks halted the drive. Sellers’ fourth and 18 scramble came up well short.

Reed, who delivered a Heisman-caliber second half after a disastrous start, finished off one of the season’s most improbable rallies and ensured his name remains firmly in the national conversation.

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