If you’re a team with national championship hopes coming into a season, there may not be anything scarier than seeing Appalachian State on the schedule. Michigan found that out the hard way in 2007 and 15 years later the same thing happened to Texas A&M.
The Mountaineers and Aggies exchanged touchdowns in the second quarter, with Appalachian State scoring first and Texas A&M quickly responding. The same thing happened again one quarter later.
Aaand the Aggies answer right back on the kickoff to tie things up! pic.twitter.com/wxsUaWGdRg
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) September 10, 2022
After the Mountaineers retook the lead with a field goal in the fourth quarter, the Aggies got themselves in a position to tie the game. But a 47-yard field goal attempt from Caden Davis missed badly.
Down 3 with four minutes left, Texas A&M's field goal attempt is….nope. pic.twitter.com/1QUXd4LmTR
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) September 10, 2022
With that, Appalachian State took over with a chance to salt the game away. That’s exactly what happened. A 48-yard run from running back Camerun Peoples put the Mountaineers in position to run out the clock. And while Appalachian State quarterback Chase Brice did have to kill some time on the final play to ensure that the clock ran out, he was up to the task.
App State cements the 17-14 upset victory over Jimbo's Texas A&M! pic.twitter.com/GMIL1l1QgQ
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) September 10, 2022
The college football world reacted to the shocking upset.
You couldn't pay me any amount of money as a Power 5 athletic director to schedule Appalachian State.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) September 10, 2022
If your stadium seats over 100,000 fans under no circumstances should you invite Appalachian State to play your team
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) September 10, 2022
Texas A&M bought the #1 recruiting class just for their team to lose to Appalachian State at home
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 10, 2022
Developing realignment news: Big Ten adding Marshall & SEC adding Appalachian State. Immediately
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 10, 2022
APPALACHIAN STATE.
That’s it. That’s the tweet.
😂🤣— Hannah (@HaFro09) September 10, 2022
Appalachian State head coach Shawn Clark makes $425,000 per season. Jimbo will make nine million. You don't always get what you pay for.
— Dr. SEC (@thedrsec) September 10, 2022
Between the Mountaineers and Marshall, who had a massive upset victory against Notre Dame, it was a great (and exceptionally rare) day for Group of 5 teams against power programs.
Appalachian State's win over No. 6 Texas A&M marks the 2nd upset by the Sun Belt over Top-10 teams today, with Marshall doing so earlier against No. 8 Notre Dame.
The last date on which a single Group of 5 conference logged multiple wins over Top-10 opponents was Sept. 20, 2003. pic.twitter.com/UTXdWuIMOQ
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 10, 2022
Texas A&M paid Appalachian State $1.5 million to have them come to College Station. They lost.
Notre Dame paid Marshall $1.25 million to have them come to South Bend. They lost.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) September 10, 2022
It’s also important to note what happened to Appalachian State just one week ago. In their first game, the Mountaineers scored 61 points against North Carolina — and still lost. One week later, the same team that surrendered 63 points to the Tar Heels allowed only one offensive touchdown to the Aggies.
Appalachian State certainly deserves to be taken seriously. That said, this was a surprising win.
