The Texas A&M Aggies — an 18.5-point underdog — pulled off a stunning upset over No. 1 Alabama with a 41-38 victory on Saturday in College Station.
With the game tied 38-38, Texas A&M kicker Seth Small made a 28-yard field goal as time expired to give the Aggies the win in front of a raucous home crowd.
Texas A&M upsets No. 1 Alabama! 🏈 pic.twitter.com/XTdPgCdUef
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 10, 2021
After a crazy sequence in which the teams traded special teams touchdowns, Texas A&M had a 14-point lead into the final five minutes of the third quarter.
But it felt like the top-ranked team in the country would eventually take this game. And in the fourth quarter, Alabama indeed took the lead on a comical coverage breakdown by Texas A&M at the goal line. Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams was left *wide open* for a touchdown to give the Crimson Tide a 38-31 lead with five minutes remaining (after the successful two-point conversion, which Williams also caught).
This is not a recommended defensive strategy vs any team, and especially Alabama!
Jameson Williams gets a whole side of the field to himself for an Alabama go-head touchdown vs Texas A&M. 38-31 Bama. pic.twitter.com/G6yMt2APOu
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 10, 2021
However, the Aggies answered with a touchdown on the next drive to tie it up. Quarterback Zach Calzada found Ainias Smith for a 25-yard touchdown, despite taking a big hit to the leg.
Texas A&M ties it up, 38-38! Crazy game.🏈 pic.twitter.com/tDPnABx3gp
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 10, 2021
The Texas A&M defense stepped up and forced a punt on the ensuing draft (after the Crimson Tide offense was rolling in the second half), and Calzada was able to play through the leg injury to make some key plays — both passing and running — to set up the game-winning field goal.
Zach Calzada helped lead Texas A&M to a huge win over No. 1 Alabama and also had a career day doing it.
He had a career high in Pass Yds (385) and completion percentage (86%) while tying his career high with 3 Pass TD. pic.twitter.com/MnJRnlz2nf
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 10, 2021
This snaps Alabama’s unbelievable 100-game winning streak against unranked teams, with their last loss coming in 2007. It also snaps their 19-game winning streak in general, which was the longest active streak in FBS. And it’s the first time that Nick Saban has ever lost to a former assistant coach. Jimbo Fisher — who was Saban’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at LSU — made Saban’s record vs former assistants 24-1.
Alabama streaks snapped tonight:
– 100 straight wins vs unranked opponents (last loss in 2007); was longest streak in the AP Poll Era
– 24 straight wins by Nick Saban vs former assistants while at Alabama (was 24-0 in these games)
– 19-game win streak, longest active in the FBS pic.twitter.com/SLPXDfID14— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 10, 2021
It’s also the first time an AP No. 1 has lost to an unranked team since 2008, snapping a 106-game streak.
AP No. 1 teams had won 106 straight games against unranked opponents since unranked Oregon State beat No. 1 USC on Sept. 25, 2008
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 10, 2021
It’s a bad loss for Alabama to a Texas A&M team that was 0-2 in SEC play, with one of those losses coming last week at home to unranked Mississippi State.
And it’s a potentially huge deal for College Football Playoff purposes (related: Iowa’s path is favorable now). Alabama will undoubtedly remain firmly in the CFP picture as long as they take care of business in the coming weeks, but now they probably *need* to beat Georgia in the likely SEC Championship Game. Georgia beat No. 18 Auburn 34-10 on Saturday and will move up to No. 1 in the polls.
The scenario where the SEC doesn't get two teams in the CFP is now pretty clear.
Alabama loses to UGA in the SEC championship game.
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) October 10, 2021
For Texas A&M, it’s a signature win in the Fisher era (which began in 2018). And again, it came after two losses — and no good wins on the season — that had many down on the program entering this game. So, this is truly a program-changing moment for Fisher and the Aggies.
There’s no doubt that Saban will be extremely determined to get the Crimson Tide playing better football going forward, and they’ll look to get back on track at Mississippi State next Saturday.
Texas A&M will look to carry their momentum onto to the road when they take on Missouri next Saturday in Columbia.