Lead
On Nov. 15, 2025 in College Station, Texas, No. 3 Texas A&M overturned a 27-point deficit to beat South Carolina 31-30, preserving an undefeated season. Quarterback Marcel Reed threw for a career-high 439 yards and three touchdowns as the Aggies scored 28 unanswered points in the second half. The rally is the largest comeback in Texas A&M history and keeps the Aggies (10-0, 7-0) on course for the SEC title game and a likely College Football Playoff berth. South Carolina fell to 3-7 (1-7) after a fifth straight loss.
Key Takeaways
- Texas A&M erased a 27-point halftime deficit to win 31-30, marking the largest comeback in school history.
- Marcel Reed finished with a career-high 439 passing yards and three touchdown passes, despite two first-half interceptions and a fumble returned for a score.
- The Aggies scored 28 unanswered points in the second half to overturn a 30-3 halftime score.
- Texas A&M improved to 10-0 overall and 7-0 in SEC play; South Carolina dropped to 3-7 and has lost five straight games.
- Coach and defensive stands: Dalton Brooks and Cashius Howell combined on late sacks that helped force a fourth-and-16, and a goal-line stop on fourth down sealed the victory.
- Key receivers: KC Concepcion had seven catches for 158 yards while Ashton Bethel-Roman added 139 receiving yards, including a pivotal 76-yard play that set up a touchdown.
- The comeback eclipsed the previous school record — a 21-point rally in the 2013 Chick-fil-A Bowl led by Johnny Manziel — and came against a South Carolina team that led 30-3 at halftime.
Background
Texas A&M entered the game as the nation’s No. 3 team with an unblemished 9-0 record and high stakes: an SEC West title run and a likely path to the College Football Playoff. Marcel Reed had delivered strong performances during the season, but the Aggies’ offense and turnovers were under scrutiny entering the matchup with South Carolina. South Carolina, 3-6 before the game, had struggled in SEC play but generated early momentum with explosive plays and opportunistic defense.
Historically, teams in the Southeastern Conference trailing by 27 points or more were 0-286 in conference play since 2004 before Saturday, underscoring how rare such a comeback is within the league. Texas A&M’s previous largest rally was a 21-point come-from-behind win in the 2013 Chick-fil-A Bowl. The coaching staffs for both programs had emphasized complementary football: Aggies relying on an up-tempo passing attack and South Carolina seeking to create turnovers and control the clock.
Main Event
South Carolina opened the game with a 50-yard touchdown pass from LaNorris Sellers to Vandrevius Jacobs, and later capitalized on a Marcel Reed fumble that defensive tackle Nick Barrett returned 17 yards for a score. Those plays, combined with an 80-yard catch-and-run by Nyck Harbor just before halftime, produced a 30-3 lead for the Gamecocks at the break. Reed had a rough first half with two interceptions and the fumble included in the halftime damage.
The Aggies began their rally on the opening drive of the second half when Reed connected with Izaiah Williams on a 27-yard touchdown and converted a fourth-and-12 with a 16-yard scramble to keep the possession alive. Momentum shifted as Texas A&M tightened up defensively and Reed found rhythm in the passing game. A 39-yard touchdown to Ashton Bethel-Roman brought the score to 30-17 late in the third quarter.
A short pass that Bethel-Roman turned into a 76-yard gain set up a 14-yard Reed touchdown to Nate Boerkircher that cut the deficit to three points late in the third. The Aggies took the lead for the first time on a 4-yard EJ Smith run with about 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter. A subsequent first-and-goal at the 1 ended in a fumble by Jamarion Morrow on a trick play, recovered by South Carolina with roughly three minutes remaining.
In the final sequence, Dalton Brooks and Cashius Howell combined to sack Sellers on consecutive plays, forcing a fourth-and-16. Sellers’ scramble on fourth down fell short of the marker, and the Aggies held on to complete the 31-30 victory. South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers finished with 246 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Analysis & Implications
Statistically and psychologically, the comeback reshapes narratives for both programs. For Texas A&M, the win cements their status as a national contender and demonstrates resilience under pressure; overcoming a 27-point hole in a high-stakes conference game is a signature moment for any CFP candidate. Reed’s second-half adjustments — moving from turnover-prone early reads to aggressive and accurate downfield passing — will be analyzed by scouts and playoff committees alike.
For South Carolina, the loss highlights inconsistency: the offense produced explosive plays and defensive takeaways in the first half but could not maintain execution. The Gamecocks produced big plays (50-yard TD, 80-yard score) but failed to close out the game when the opponent adjusted. This game underscores the thin margin in SEC contests and the premium on fourth-quarter defensive execution.
The wider SEC context matters: teams trailing by 27 in conference play had gone 0-286 since 2004, making this result an outlier that may feed debates about in-game adjustments, halftime coaching, and turnover impact. For the College Football Playoff picture, Texas A&M remains in control of its destiny but will likely face intensified scrutiny on offensive consistency and ball security in the committee’s final evaluations.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Texas A&M (Nov 15, 2025) | Previous School Record (2013) |
|---|---|---|
| Largest deficit overcome | 27 points | 21 points |
| Final score | 31-30 | 52-48 |
| Notable QB yards | Marcel Reed 439 pass yards | Johnny Manziel (2013) — season star, bowl performance) |
The table shows the new school benchmark: a 27-point recovery surpassing the 21-point rally in the 2013 Chick-fil-A Bowl. The comeback is especially notable given the SEC historical record: teams down 27 or more in conference play were 0-286 since 2004 before this game. The statistical context emphasizes both the rarity and significance of the victory for program history and postseason trajectories.
Reactions & Quotes
Players, coaches and national media framed the win as historic and improbable. Observers noted the turnaround in Reed’s play and the defense’s late-game stops as decisive elements.
“It’s the biggest comeback in school history.”
Associated Press / ESPN game recap
This succinct characterization was repeated across outlets; the line encapsulates the on-field reversal that produced the headline result. The phrasing used by reporters highlights institutional records rather than attributing singular credit, reflecting the team nature of the comeback.
“Teams were 0-286 in SEC play since 2004 when trailing by 27 points or more.”
ESPN / statistical roundup
That statistical frame, cited by national coverage, placed the comeback in league-wide perspective and reinforced how uncommon the outcome was in SEC history.
Unconfirmed
- Longer-term College Football Playoff seeding for Texas A&M remains unconfirmed until committee decisions; projections vary among analysts.
- Immediate injury statuses for certain players following the game were not fully released at the time of reporting and remain subject to team medical updates.
- Any internal disciplinary or personnel evaluations related to the late-game fumble on the trick play have not been disclosed publicly.
Bottom Line
Texas A&M’s 31-30 victory over South Carolina on Nov. 15, 2025 is a defining moment for the season: a record-setting comeback powered by Marcel Reed’s 439 passing yards and a late defensive stand. The win preserves an undefeated record and strengthens the Aggies’ case for SEC and national championship contention, but also exposes turnover vulnerability that opponents can exploit.
For South Carolina, the game will be studied as a missed opportunity: early explosive plays and a 27-point lead were insufficient to deliver a signature upset. The result reshapes narratives around in-game adjustments and places both teams under new scrutiny ahead of remaining conference schedules.