Texas A&M Knocks Off Auburn

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AUBURN, Ala. — A week after escaping by the narrowest of margins on a goal-line fumble, No. 3 Auburn was on the other side of the heartbreak Saturday.

A lost fumble and a botched snap in the final minutes cost Auburn in a 41-38 loss to Texas A&M that likely ended the Tigers’ national championship hopes.

Auburn fell to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the SEC. It would take an improbable series of events for the Tigers to play their way back into the playoff picture.

“It hurts. It hurts our team,” said Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, who suffered his first home loss in two seasons with the Tigers. “We have goals and dreams, and we did not get it done tonight. It is unfortunate, but we didn’t get it done.”

For the Aggies (7-3, 3-3) the victory helped restore credibility lost in consecutive

losses to Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Alabama by a combined score of 142-51.

A fumble at the Texas A&M 2-yard line by quarterback Nick Marshall with 2:37 left cost Auburn at least a chip shot field goal attempt that would have tied the score or a possible go-ahead touchdown.

Auburn held Texas A&M and took possession at the Aggies’ 42 with 1:28 left in the game. But after getting to the 28 in just two plays, disaster struck again. The Aggies pounced on an errant snap to end Auburn’s hopes of another miraculous finish.

Texas A&M freshman quarterback Kyle Allen threw four touchdown passes in the first half. Allen, in his second second career start, completed 19 of 29 passes for 277 yards with an interception.

Auburn running back Cameron Artis-Payne had 30 carries for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Marshall completed 15 of 21 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown while running 18 times for 67 yards.