Will Rogers threw for three touchdowns and visiting Mississippi State withstood a rally from No. 15 Texas A&M to hold on for a 26-22 upset victory Saturday night in College Station, Texas.
Trailing 24-22, Texas A&M regained possession with 2:36 to play at its own 11-yard line. Instead of a game-winning drive, Mississippi State’s Nathan Pickering made a sack of quarterback Zach Calzada for a safety.
The Aggies (3-2, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) never got the ball back.
Rogers was 46-for-59 for 408 yards, helping the offense overcome a rushing attack that managed just 30 yards. Makai Polk made 13 catches for 126 yards, though nine Mississippi State players had three or more receptions.
Calzada threw for 135 yards on 12-for-20 passing. Isaiah Spiller gained 100 rushing yards on 16 carries for the Aggies, who face top-ranked Alabama next week.
Mississippi State (3-2, 1-1), which didn’t commit a turnover, held a 438-297 advantage in total offense and more than a 10-minute edge in time of possession.
Mississippi State led 17-13 at halftime courtesy of Rogers’ 15-yard pass play to Polk with 1:16 left before the break.
The Bulldogs stretched their lead on Rogers’ 20-yard pass to Polk in the third quarter.
Calzada scored on a 25-yard run with 1:18 to play in the third quarter, but the Aggies’ two-point conversion play failed.
Texas A&M settled for Seth Small’s 44-yard field goal at the 5:39 mark to close within 24-22.
In the first half, Mississippi State scored first on Nolan McCord’s 24-yard field goal following Fred Peters’ interception and 12-yard return to the Texas A&M 25.
Calzada made amends with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Wydermyer.
The Bulldogs went back ahead when Rogers connected with Jaden Walley for a 1-yard touchdown play.
The teams made it a combined four consecutive possessions with points on Seth Small’s 40-yard field goal for Texas A&M. The scoring spree was halted when McCord missed a 46-yarder.
–Field Level Media