Texas A&M rallies past South Carolina: No. 3 Aggies cap largest comeback in school history over Gamecocks

Down 30-3 at the half, Texas A&M made a miraculous comeback in the second half to remain undefeated

No. 3 Texas A&M completed the largest comeback in program history and maintained its spot atop the SEC standings Saturday with a thrilling 31-30 victory over South Carolina. The Aggies trailed 30-3 at halftime -- which was the largest deficit a top-five team has faced at home in 10 years -- but completely flipped the switch in the second half to advance to remain undefeated. 

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed, who threw three interceptions in the first half, put on a heroic performance over the final 30 minutes. He guided the Aggies to a 21-0 scoring run in the third quarter while throwing for 203 yards and three touchdowns. 

He also converted on a couple of crucial downs with his feet, including a fourth-and-12 scramble early in the third quarter that led to Texas A&M's first touchdown and sparked the second-half run from the Aggies. Reed finished the game with 439 yards and three scores through the air. 

Texas A&M's defense deserves its share of the credit, though. South Carolina actually had a chance to win the game late in the fourth quarter after the Aggies fumbled a questionable trick play on third-and-goal. 

South Carolina only got as far as its own 40-yard line. Texas A&M's defense sacked quarterback LaNorris Sellers on consecutive plays to force a fourth-and-16, and instead of heaving the ball anywhere downfield, Sellers scrambled for 7 yards and came well short of converting. 

That allowed Texas A&M to kneel the clock out and secure its first 10-win season since 2012. 

Texas A&M's comeback win by the numbers

• Largest comeback (27 pts) in Texas A&M history
• Texas A&M outscored South Carolina 28-0 in second half
• Texas A&M moves to 10-0 for fifth time in school history (1992, 1975, 1939, 1919)
• Texas A&M is 7-0 in conference play for first time since 1998 (member of Big 12)
• Texas A&M controls its own destiny to reach first SEC Championship Game in school history
• South Carolina is the first FBS team to lose 5+ consecutive games all to AP-ranked teams since Arkansas (2013)
• Though Texas A&M has a lead in the race for the SEC Championship Game, its Saturday win also means that no team can clinch a spot until the final weekend of the regular season. 
• Reed had 16 of his 22 completions in the second half. He only missed on four passes over the final 30 minutes. 
• South Carolina crossed the 50-yard line just once in the second half. That drive ended at Texas A&M's 30-yard line with a failed fourth-down conversion attempt. 

Read on below for takeaways from Texas A&M's stunning comeback over South Carolina on Saturday.

[Nov 15, 2025 at 4:18 pm ET · Will Backus]

South Carolina entered the year ranked No. 13 in the AP Top 25 poll with its eyes set on a program-first College Football Playoff appearance. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers was an early favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and his name was in the mix for the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Fast forward a few months and the Gamecocks are sitting at 3-7 with a 1-7 record in the SEC, ahead of only Arkansas in the conference standings. That lone win came against a Kentucky team that didn't collect its first Power Four victory until Nov. 1. 

Saturday was a chance for South Carolina to show some signs of life and, at the very least, keep its bowl hopes alive. For a moment, the Gamecocks looked like they would turn things around. 

But a collapse like that seems inexcusable, especially since it virtually eliminates South Carolina from postseason contention. The Gamecocks still have to play in-state rival Clemson at the end of the regular season while trying to avoid their first eight-loss campaign since 2020. 

[Nov 15, 2025 at 4:10 pm ET · Will Backus]

Due to Reed's turnovers, Texas A&M's defense was put in a lot of tough spots in the first half. It also allowed touchdowns of 50 and 80 yards. That 80-yard touchdown was especially bad, as South Carolina wide receiver Nyck Harbor caught the ball on a short hitch route and then raced past several Texas A&M defenders that were out of position. 

But, like Reed, the Aggies turned things around in the second half. South Carolina had five offensive possessions over the final two quarters. Only two lasted longer than four plays and only one made it past the 50-yard line. 

Texas A&M stuffed South Carolina on a fourth-down conversion attempt from the Aggie 30-yard line. Texas A&M also prevented South Carolina from getting into field goal range late in the fourth quarter, when a field goal would have won the game for the Gamecocks. 

South Carolina was putting a nice drive together, as well. It got as far as second-and-1 from its own 40-yard line. But the Aggies got to quarterback LaNorris Sellers for back-to-back sacks and, on fourth-and-16, erased any potential throws with sticky coverage. 

South Carolina was held to just 76 total yards in the second half, compared to 376 from Texas A&M. 

[Nov 15, 2025 at 4:02 pm ET · Will Backus]

Texas A&M star Marcel Reed delivered both one of the worst and one of the best halves we have seen from a quarterback this season. The Aggies fell behind 30-3 at halftime due, in large part, to three turnovers from Reed, who had a fumble that South Carolina recovered for a touchdown and two interceptions in the last two minutes of the first half. The Gamecocks turned those interceptions into 10 points. 

Fortunately for Texas A&M, Reed got the ugly plays out of his system in the first half. He was locked in for the final 30 minutes of gametime Saturday. He completed nine of his 12 pass attempts for 203 yards and three touchdowns in the third quarter alone. 

That included a beautiful 39-yard deep ball to wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman, who made a nice diving catch to secure a touchdown. 

Though he wasn't directly responsible for any touchdowns, Reed was equally impressive in the fourth quarter. He had just one incompletion and, after his 25-yard rushing touchdown was called back due to a holding call, he delivered a big 31-yard throw to wide receiver KC Concepcion on second-and-18. 

That connection between Reed and Concepcion gave Texas A&M the ball on South Carolina's four-yard line, where running back EJ Smith scored the game's decisive touchdown. 

Reed's second-half performance felt reminiscent of a Heisman Trophy moment. He certainly kept himself in the race as the regular season winds down. 

[Nov 15, 2025 at 3:30 pm ET · Will Backus]

Late 4Q: No. 3 Texas A&M 31, South Carolina 30 

South Carolina put the game on the line when it decided to go for it on fourth-and-6 from its own 13-yard line. Fortunately for the Gamecocks, quarterback LaNorris Sellers delivered. He threw a perfect ball to wide receiver Nyck Harbor, who made a great catch over a defensive back and landed in bounds to complete the conversion. With 2:26 left, all South Carolina needs is a field goal to take the lead. 

[Nov 15, 2025 at 3:23 pm ET · Will Backus]

Late 4Q: No. 3 Texas A&M 31, South Carolina 30 

Texas A&M had third-and-goal from South Carolina's one-yard line. All it needed was a good run to potentially slam the door on South Carolina. Instead of sneaking with quarterback Marcel Reed or plunging the ball down the throat of South Carolina's defensive line, which has been a non-factor in the second half, A&M dialed up a disastrous trick play. Running back Jamarion Morrow took a direct snap and tried to throw the ball to Reed after faking a pitch. 

South Carolina blew the play up, laid a big hit on Reed and then recovered the backwards pass, which counted as a fumble. The Gamecocks have just over three minutes left to retake the lead after blowing their 27-point advantage. 

[Nov 15, 2025 at 3:13 pm ET · Will Backus]

Early 4Q: No. 3 Texas A&M 31, South Carolina 30 

Texas A&M is firing on all cylinders now. After executing on a 99-yard drive to take take their first lead of the game, the Aggie defense did its part to ensure that South Carolina cannot curtail the mounting Texas A&M momentum. Texas A&M sacked USC quarterback LaNorris Sellers twice for a loss of 14 yards, which caused the Gamecocks to punt deep from their own territory. 

[Nov 15, 2025 at 3:05 pm ET · Will Backus]

Early 4Q: No. 3 Texas A&M 31, South Carolina 30 

Goodbye, South Carolina lead. It only seemed like a matter of time before Texas A&M completely erased its 27-point deficit. The Aggies finally did it early in the fourth quarter thanks to a four-yard touchdown rush from running back EJ Smith. While Smith finished the drive, quarterback Marcel Reed deserves a ton of credit. He had a long rushing touchdown wiped out by a questionable holding call but, on the next play, he delivered a perfect 31-yard pass to wide receiver KC Concepcion that converted on second-and-18 and gave Texas A&M the ball near South Carolina's goal line. 

[Nov 15, 2025 at 3:00 pm ET · Will Backus]

Early 4Q: South Carolina 30, No. 3 Texas A&M 24 

Texas A&M running back Rueben Owens, the Aggies' leading rusher this season, was injured on a six-yard carry early in the fourth quarter. A South Carolina defender fell on Owens' legs as he made the tackle and Owens was in apparent pain on the ground. 

[Nov 15, 2025 at 2:51 pm ET · Will Backus]

End 3Q: South Carolina 30, No. 3 Texas A&M 24 

South Carolina still holds a narrow advantage entering the fourth quarter, but the Gamecocks' 27-point lead went up in flames at the start of the second half. Momentum is firmly on Texas A&M's side after an explosive third quarter. 

Quarterback Marcel Reed, who had a brutal first half, is playing like a Heisman contender again. He put that disastrous start behind him and delivered with 203 yards and three touchdowns in the third quarter alone. He also kept ahead of the chains with his feet as he surgically carved South Carolina's defense apart. 

Speaking of defense, Texas A&M's finally decided to buckle down. South Carolina crossed the 50-yard line just once in the third quarter. The Aggies stuffed them on fourth-and-1 from their own 30-yard line to bring that drive to an abrupt halt. 

Texas A&M gets the ball to start the fourth quarter, but it has a long way to go to potentially take the lead. South Carolina punter Mason Love had a beautiful kick that was downed at the one-yard line at the end of the third frame -- arguably South Carolina's best play of the second half thus far. 

[Nov 15, 2025 at 2:46 pm ET · Will Backus]

Late 3Q: South Carolina 30, No. 3 Texas A&M 24 

Texas A&M's surge continues. The Aggies got deep into South Carolina territory thanks to an explosive 76-yard catch-and-run from wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman, who left the game with an apparent ankle injury after he was tracked down from behind. His sacrifice was well worth it. On the next snap from South Carolina's 14-yard line, A&M quarterback Marcel Reed acted like he was going to run it but pulled back at the last second and delivered a touchdown pass to tight end Nate Boerkircher, who was wide open due to the play design. 

South Carolina, which led by 27 at the start of the third quarter, is in the danger zone. 

[Nov 15, 2025 at 2:43 pm ET · Will Backus]

Late 3Q: South Carolina 30, No. 3 Texas A&M 17

The good news for Texas A&M is that it's close to scoring again against South Carolina. The bad news is that its latest big play may have cost the Aggies wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman. He gained 76 yards on a long catch-and-run before he was caught from behind by a South Carolina defender. He was favoring his right ankle after the tackle and left the field with the help of team trainers.  

[Nov 15, 2025 at 2:33 pm ET · Will Backus]

Late 3Q: South Carolina 30, No. 3 Texas A&M 17 

Game on. The Texas A&M we have seen all season decided to show up in the second half. Quarterback Marcel Reed has put his tough first half in the rearview mirror. He just delivered a beautiful throw to give his team another crucial score. Wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman got behind South Carolina's defense on a deep route and Reed lofted the ball to where only Bethel-Roman could catch it. Bethel-Roman made a beautiful diving catch to secure the 39-yard score. 

Reed has completed seven of his 10 pass attempts for 113 yards and two touchdowns in the third quarter. 

[Nov 15, 2025 at 2:29 pm ET · Will Backus]

Mid 3Q: South Carolina 30, No. 3 Texas A&M 10 

Momentum is starting to shift. South Carolina decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 from A&M's 30-yard line. Instead of relying on quarterback LaNorris Sellers' size and legs, the Gamecocks ran an inside handoff. The Aggies were all over it. They met South Carolina running back Matt Fuller before he got to the line of scrimmage and stopped him from extending the ball to force the turnover on downs. 

[Nov 15, 2025 at 2:25 pm ET · Will Backus]

Mid 3Q: South Carolina 30, No. 3 Texas A&M 10 

South Carolina is staring down a fourth-and-1 from Texas A&M's 30-yard line. The Gamecocks initially lined up to go for it but they called a timeout before running a play. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers already converted one third-and-13 with his legs and, given his rushing ability and frame, it seems smart to give him the chance to convert here. Another touchdown may officially put this one out of reach. 

[Nov 15, 2025 at 2:15 pm ET · Will Backus]

Early 3Q: South Carolina 30, No. 3 Texas A&M 10

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed had a very rough first half and the third quarter started in largely the same fashion, as he missed bad on a couple of passes to force the Aggies into a fourth-and-12 situation. Needing points, Texas A&M decided to go for it. Reed initially dropped back to pass but he quickly saw a run lane and took advantage of it. He made a tackler miss and scrambled past the first-down line for a crucial conversion. 

A couple of plays later and Reed threw his best ball of the day. Wide receiver Izaiah Williams went into motion and ran a deep route. Reed hit him in stride and Williams finished the play by sprinting into the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown. The Aggies still have a ways to go, but that was an ideal start to the first half. 

[Nov 15, 2025 at 1:57 pm ET · Will Backus]

Half: South Carolina 30, No. 3 Texas A&M 3 

Texas A&M obviously has a lot of work to do if it wants to preserve its undefeated record. Its 27-point halftime deficit is the largest a top-5 team has faced at home in the past 10 seasons. Teams are also 3-593 when trailing by 27-plus points at halftime in that same span. This is also the first time that Texas A&M has trailed by at least 24 points since Nov. 2, 2024... when it lost 44-20 at South Carolina. 

Holding on to the ball will help. Texas A&M had four first-half turnovers, including three interceptions from quarterback Marcel Reed. The Gamecocks also returned a fumble for a touchdown.