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The Texas A&M football team overcame a 27-point halftime deficit to beat South Carolina in SEC action. That comeback kept the Aggies’ perfect season intact.
One play from the team’s go-ahead touchdown drive is now under the spotlight. A missed call aided the home team.
The game was one of two completely different halves. They could not have offered a larger contrast.
The Gamecocks exploded for 30 points in the first 30 minutes of play to take a commanding lead. They appeared on their way to earning a monumental upset in Kyle Field.
South Carolina then imploded in the 30 minutes to follow. They were outscored by the Aggies 28-0 the rest of the way.
The comeback was the largest in Texas A&M program history. It was completed on a 98-yard fourth quarter scoring drive.
Texas A&M football had a call go its way.
On the first play of that touchdown drive, quarterback Marcel Reed dropped back to throw. His pass would fall incomplete though the Gamecocks were called for pass interference.
The penalty gave the Aggies 13 free yards. It shouldn’t have. The officiating crew missed a blatant hold in the endzone. The SEC admitted to the gaffe after the fact.
Leftover officiating note from Saturday’s game…
The SEC office rarely publicly comments on officiating blunders and I certainly wouldn’t expect them to do so in this instance.
However, @GamecockCentral has been told that the SEC office has admitted that the crew on the field…
— Chris Clark (@GCChrisClark) November 19, 2025
Interestingly enough, the play was put under the spotlight after a graphic highlighting Reed’s second half performance was posted to social media.
The hold is clear.
Marcel Reed in the Second Half vs South Carolina:
🔴 16/20
🔴 298 YDS
🔴 3 TDS@AggieFootball pic.twitter.com/UGOx8Sponf— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 15, 2025
It did not cause South Carolina to lose the football game.
South Carolina fans believe the play should’ve resulted in a safety, awarding the Gamecocks two points in what was a one-point loss.
That would not have been the case as the defensive pass interference would’ve offset the hold. The SEC stands by that call.
With that said, the Aggies were given the opportunity to advance the ball off of its own goal line with a first down that should not have been awarded.
They should’ve been forced to take another snap from the two-yard line.
Did it matter? Yes, Texas A&M was given a first down deep in their own territory while trailing, 30-24. The Gamecocks were not given another chance to force a safety.
They did, however, have a chance to make a stop. The Aggies still had 86 yards left to go on the possession, which they’d erase in four minutes’ time.
The missed hold benefitted the home team. There were calls that went the Gamecocks’ way, too. The reality is that South Carolina couldn’t capitalize on its first half advantage.
The admitted officiating mistake is not the reason for South Carolina’s historic collapse in College Station.