2012 Texas A&M vs. Alabama football game

The 2012 Texas A&M vs. Alabama football game was a college football game between the Texas A&M Aggies and Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This was the game where Texas A&M freshman quarterback and eventual Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel completed 24 of 31 passes, had 253 passing yards, and two passing touchdowns with 92 rushing yards to help No. 15 Texas A&M upset No. 1 Alabama 29–24, which led him to being the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy.

Background

Texas A&M

Texas A&M was playing under first-year head coach Kevin Sumlin and were led by freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel in their first season as a member of the SEC. Texas A&M was quite successful in their first year in the SEC as they went 7–2 so far in the nation's toughest conference with their only two losses being against top ten teams, Florida and LSU, both at home.

Alabama

For the first two months of the season, Alabama dominated all of their opponents beating all of them by 19 points or more. Alabama came off of a close victory against #5 LSU winning 21–17 on a last-minute touchdown drive.

Game Summary^[1]

1st Quarter

Texas A&M started the game by forcing an Alabama three-and-out. The Aggies' first possession ended with a Christine Michael 1-yard touchdown run. On Alabama's next possession, AJ McCarron was picked off by Sean Porter, his first interception of the year. Texas A&M took advantage as Manziel threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Swope to give Texas A&M a 14–0 lead. Texas A&M kept things going by forcing Alabama to a three-and-out. The Aggies' next drive ended with another Christine Michael 1-yard touchdown run. However, Taylor Bertolet missed the extra point. The first quarter ended with Texas A&M up 20–0.

2nd Quarter

Alabama would finally get on the board in the second quarter with a T. J. Yeldon 2-yard touchdown run. Manziel led the way for the Aggies on their next possession and ended up turning the ball over on downs. McCarron kept the Tide rolling on their next possession and a Eddie Lacy 2-yard touchdown run to make it 20–14.

3rd Quarter

Alabama started off the third quarter forcing a three-and-out. Texas A&M imitated Alabama and forced a three-and-out on them too. Alabama forced Texas A&M to another three-and-out and then Jeremy Shelley made a 28-yard field goal to cut the Aggies' lead to 20–17. Manziel led the Aggies all the way to the 11 yard line before the third quarter would finish with Texas A&M ahead 20–17.

4th Quarter

Bertolet hit a field goal early in the fourth quarter to give the Aggies a 23–17 lead. Texas A&M then forced another Alabama three-and-out. On the Aggies' next possession, Bertolet missed a 37-yard field goal. On Alabama's next possession, AJ McCarron had a 50-yd pass to Amari Cooper and then, T. J. Yeldon had a 8-yd run and then fumbled, which Dustin Harris recovered. On the Aggies' next possession, Manziel had a 42-yard pass to Ryan Swope and then had a 24-yard pass to Malcome Kennedy for a touchdown. A&M elected to go for two hoping for a 31–17 lead, but failed. AJ McCarron led the Tide on their next possession and concluded it with a 54-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper to make it 29–24 with 6:09 left. Alabama forced a three-and-out on Texas A&M's next possession. Alabama started their next possession with a 54-yard pass to Kenny Bell and brought the ball all the way to the Aggies 2-yard line before McCarron was intercepted on 4th and goal by Deshazor Everett with 1:36 left. Alabama almost forced a three-and-out on Texas A&M's next possession, but Tyler Hayes jumped offsides on 4th and 1 when the Aggies were ready to punt the ball with 40 seconds left and to give the Aggies a thrilling 29–24 upset win over No. 1 Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Scoring summary

Aftermath

Texas A&M

The success of Texas A&M's win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa would keep going in the remainder of the season as Texas A&M dominated their next two games with a 47–28 victory over Sam Houston State and a 59–29 victory over Missouri. Texas A&M would be ranked #9 after the regular season and would receive an invitation to the 2013 Cotton Bowl Classic where they would face #11 Oklahoma. Texas A&M dominated Oklahoma in the 2013 Cotton Bowl as they won 41–13 and would finish the season ranked #5 in the AP Poll.

Alabama

Following their loss to Texas A&M at home, Alabama dropped to #4. Alabama dominated Western Carolina 49–0, and along with #1 Kansas State's 52–24 upset loss to 4–5 Baylor, and #2 Oregon's 17–14 overtime upset loss to #13 Stanford at home, Alabama would be ranked #2 again for another shot at a trip to the 2013 BCS National Championship Game. Alabama dominated Auburn in the 2012 Iron Bowl 49–0 to earn a trip to the 2012 SEC Championship Game where they would face #3 Georgia in a game where the winner would advance to the 2013 BCS National Championship Game to face Notre Dame. Alabama beat Georgia in the 2012 SEC Championship Game 32–28 when Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray completed a 4-yard pass to Chris Conley and Georgia didn't have time to get another play off and so Alabama advanced to the 2013 BCS Title Game. Alabama blew out Notre Dame 42–14 to win the national championship for the second straight year.

References

• "#1 Alabama vs. #15 Texas A&M 2012" Replay of the 2012 Texas A&M vs. Alabama football game