Texas A&M vs. Auburn: Box score, stats, game summary and more ft. Payton Thorne

Texas A&M has hopes of a berth in the College Football Playoff, while many had written off Auburn's season coming into tonight's matchup.

But a sharp half by QB Payton Thorne left Auburn in great position to pull the upset, leading 21-7 over the Aggies at halftime. The game went to overtime in the fourth extra frame, Thorne completed a two-point play to KeAndre Lambert-Smith for the winning margin in a 43-41 battle.

No. 15 Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2 in the SEC) came in just outside of the CFP field, but its third loss certainly does not help its situation, even on a day when Ole Miss picked up its third loss. Meanwhile, Auburn (5-6, 2-5 in the SEC) has to beat Alabama just to achieve bowl eligibility, but claimed a massive upset.

Texas A&M vs. Auburn Box Score

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	OT2	OT3	OT4	Total
Texas A&M	0	7	14	10	7	3	0	0	41
Auburn	14	7	7	3	7	3	0	2	43

Texas A&M Passing Stats

Player	Comp.	Att.	Yards	Pass TDs
Marcel Reed	22	35	297	3

Texas A&M Rushing and Receiving Stats

Player	Rushes	Yards	Rush TDs	Rec.	Yards	Rec. TDs
Marcel Reed	21	66	0	0	0	0
Amari Daniels	27	90	1	1	1	0
Terry Bussey	3	8	1	3	29	0
Jahdae Walker	0	0	0	7	69	1
Noah Thomas	0	0	0	5	124	2
Tre Watson	0	0	0	3	24	0
Jabre Barber	1	3	0	2	44	0
EJ Smith	0	0	0	1	6	0

Texas A&M Kicking Stats

Player	XP-XPA	FG-FGA	Long
Randy Bond	5 for 5	2 for 3	42

Auburn Passing Stats

Player	Comp.	Att.	Yards	Pass TDs
Payton Thorne	19	31	301	2

Auburn Rushing and Receiving Stats

Player	Rushes	Yards	Rush TDs	Rec.	Yards	Rec. TDs
Jarquez Hunter	28	130	2	4	23	0
Payton Thorne	11	38	0	0	0	0
Cam Coleman	0	0	0	7	128	2
KeAndre Lambert-Smith	0	0	0	2	104	0
Damari Alston	2	0	0	1	4	0
Robert Lewis	0	0	0	1	17	0
Malcolm Simmons	0	0	0	2	5	0
Rivaldo Fairweather	0	0	0	2	20	0

Auburn Kicking Stats

Player	XP-XPA	FG-FGA	Long
Ian Vachon	5 for 5	2 for 3	41

Auburn got off to a hot start, scoring off the opening kickoff on a two-yard run by Jarquez Hunter. Auburn QB Payton Thorne had perhaps his best game of the season and followed with a pair of touchdown passes to Cam Coleman to create a 21-0 edge. A&M answered with a short scoring run to pull within 21-7 at halftime.

The Aggies then countered with a pair of touchdown throws from Marcel Reed to Noah Thomas. The second covered 73 yards and pulled A&M into a 21-21 tie midway through the third quarter.

Auburn then completed a scoring drive late in the quarter, staking a 28-21 edge on a one-yard Hunter run. A&M responded with a field goal early in the fourth quarter to pull within four points.

The Aggies drove the ball 80 yards in nine plays to take a 31-28 lead with 4:01 to play on an eight-yard Amari Daniels TD run. Auburn then answered with a drive for a short field goal in the final seconds to force overtime.

A&M had the opening possession of overtime and scored on a 12-yard pass from Reed to Jahdae Walker. Auburn responded with a two-yard run by Hunter to pull even again.

In the second overtime, Auburn had to settle for a field goal after a controversial offensive pass interference penalty. A&M posted its own field goal to continue the game.

Beginning with the third overtime, teams alternate two-point conversion attempts. A&M took the first try in the third extra stanza and a Reed pass sailed incomplete. Auburn responded with its own incomplete pass.

Auburn connected on its try to open the fourth overtime on a pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith. A&M appeared to have a successful play design, but the receiver dropped Marcel Reed's pass to tie the game in the end zone.

• Auburn: 2-yard TD run by Jarquez Hunter (Vachon XPT), 7-0, 11:22 remaining in 1st quarter
• Auburn: 63-yard TD pass to Cam Coleman from Payton Thorne (Vachon XPT), 14-0, 6:05 remaining in 1st quarter
• Auburn: 15-yard TD pass to Cam Coleman from Payton Thorne (Vachon XPT), 21-0, 13:09 remaining in 2nd quarter
• Texas A&M: 1-yard TD run by Terry Bussey (Bond XPT), 21-7, 4:13 remaining in 2nd quarter
• Texas A&M: 14-yard TD pass to Noah Thomas from Marcel Reed (Bond XPT), 21-14, 9:25 remaining in 3rd quarter
• Texas A&M: 73-yard TD pass to Noah Thomas from Marcel Reed (Bond XPT), 21-21, 7:57 remaining in 3rd quarter
• Auburn: 1-yard TD run by Jarquez Hunter (Vachon XPT), 28-21, 2:27 remaining in 3rd quarter
• Texas A&M: 32-yard field goal by Randy Bond, 28-24, 12:47 remaining in 4th quarter
• Texas A&M: 8-yard TD run by Amari Daniels (Bond XPT), 31-28, 4:01 remaining in 4th quarter
• Auburn: 29-yard field goal by Ian Vachon, 31-31, 0:05 remaining in 4th quarter
• Texas A&M: 12-yard TD pass to Jahdae Walker from Marcel Reed (Bond XPT), 38-31, OT
• Auburn: 2-yard TD run by Jarquez Hunter (Vachon XPT), 38-38 OT
• Auburn: 41-yard field goal by Ian Vachon, 41-38, 2nd OT
• Texas A&M: 42-yard field goal by Randy Bond, 41-41, 2nd OT
• Auburn: Two-point conversion pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith from Payton Thorne, 43-41, 4th OT

The Aggies will host Texas to end their regular season, but missed a golden opportunity to gain ground in the CFP battle. Auburn will need an upset win at Alabama to achieve bowl eligibility.