AUBURN, Ala. – Jarquez Hunter scored three touchdowns, Payton Thorne hit KeAndre Lambert-Smith for the go-ahead 2-point conversion and the Tigers’ defense forced a game-winning incompletion to give Auburn a wild 43-41 four-overtime victory over No. 15 Texas A&M Saturday at sold-out Jordan-Hare Stadium.
"Our kids have fought all year," Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said. "Give (Texas A&M) credit for coming back but give our kids credit. I'm ecstatic that our seniors get to go out with their last game in Jordan-Hare being a win like this."
After Texas A&M scored a touchdown on the first overtime possession, Hunter forced a second overtime with his third TD, a 2-yarder, tying the score at 38-38 after Ian Vachon’s extra point.
In his final home game, Hunter ran for 130 yards on 28 carries, adding 23 receiving yards on four catches.
Auburn took a 41-38 lead in the second overtime on Vachon’s 41-yard field goal before Texas A&M’s Randy Bond forced a third extra period with a 42-yarder.
Both teams failed to convert their 2-point conversion attempts in the third overtime. Auburn went first in the fourth OT, with Thorne hitting a leaping Lambert-Smith in the end zone to put the Tigers ahead.
"Payton threw a great ball that gave (Lambert-Smith) a chance to make a play," Freeze said.
With Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed lined up at receiver, the Aggies attempted a game-tying reverse pass, but it fell incomplete, and the Auburn fans celebrated long into the night.
Trailing 31-28 with 2:33 to play in regulation at their own 15-yard line, Auburn drove 74 yards in 15 plays, tying the score at 31-31 with 5 seconds remaining in regulation on Vachon’s 29-yard field goal.
"I couldn't be happier for him," Freeze said of Vachon. "He's got something to him inside of his makeup for sure and I'm proud for him."
To set up Vachon's clutch kick, Thorne rushed up the middle for 23 yards on fourth-and-3 to Texas A&M’s 40-yard line. Hunter then gained 22 yards on back-to-back runs to position the Tigers for Vachon's field goal.
"We continued to answer, and our two-minute drive was pretty efficient," Freeze said. "I thought Payton laid it on the line for our team tonight as did the other seniors."
Tied 21-21 late in the third quarter, Auburn’s defense delivered a three-and-out, forcing a punt that Malcolm Simmons returned 13 yards to the Tigers’ 45-yard line.
Thorne threw deep to Lambert-Smith, who made a sensational catch for a 44-yard gain to Texas A&M’s 11-yard line. Hunter rushed for 10 yards on the next play and scored two plays later on a 1-yard run to give Auburn a 28-21 lead with 2:27 remaining in the third quarter.
On the second play of the fourth quarter, Texas A&M intercepted a pass at the Tigers’ 15-yard line, but Auburn's defense forced a field goal that trimmed the Tigers’ lead to 28-24 with 12:47 to play.
Auburn stopped Texas A&M on fourth-and-6 to give the Tigers’ possession at their own 41 with 9:56 remaining but Auburn failed to make a first down and had to punt.
The Aggies gained 36 yards on Reed’s pass on third-and-14, then took their first lead of the game on Amari Daniels’ 8-yard touchdown run with 4:01 to play to cap an 80-yard drive.
Auburn scored on the game’s opening possession with Coleman’s 31-yard reception setting up Hunter’s 2-yard touchdown run after Hunter twice converted on third downs.
Texas A&M missed a 53-yard field goal attempt and Auburn scored one play later on Thorne’s 63-yard touchdown pass to Coleman, who outran two Aggie defensive backs to get open down the middle for a 14-0 Auburn lead midway through the first quarter.
Thorne completed 19 of 31 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns. Coleman made seven receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Lambert-Smith made two catches for 104 yards.
Texas A&M drove to Auburn’s 25-yard line but Jerrin Thompson intercepted Marcel Reed’s pass at the Tigers’ 12.
Thompson led Auburn with 11 tackles while Jalen McLeod added 10, including a sack and two tackles for loss.
Auburn needed only six plays to drive 88 yards, converting on third-and-7 with Thorne’s 12-yard pass to Hunter. Thorne and Lambert-Smith connected for a 60-yard reception to the Aggies’ 15-yard line.
From there, Thorne faked a handoff to Hunter that tricked Texas A&M’s defense long enough for Coleman to race by for a wide-open 15-yard touchdown catch that gave Auburn a 21-0 lead two minutes into the second quarter.
"Jumping out on them was pretty impressive but you knew they were going to make a run," Freeze said. "Nobody has really stopped them from scoring points."
Texas A&M drove 75 yards in 15 plays, consuming nearly nine minutes and scoring on a 1-yard rush that cut Auburn’s lead to 21-7 at the half.
The Aggies scored on the opening possession of the third quarter, driving 76 yards in 10 plays and scoring on Reed’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Noah Thomas.
After Auburn went three-and-out, Reed hit Thomas again for a 73-yard touchdown pass, a one-play drive that tied the score at 21-21 midway through the third quarter, giving the Aggies 14 points in fewer than 90 seconds.
Auburn (5-6, 2-5) concludes the regular season next Saturday against Alabama in the Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC and the Auburn Sports Network.
"They've got an excellent team and excellent staff," Freeze said. "Our kids have continued to plan, prepare and fight, and they'll do the same next week."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer