Texas A&M beats LSU 74-72 in seven-overtime epic
Published 12:56 am Sunday, November 25, 2018
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Kellen Mond’s 2-point conversion pass to Kendrick Rogers in the seventh overtime gave Texas A&M a 74-72 victory over No. 8 LSU on Saturday night in a game that tied the NCAA record for most overtimes in an FBS game.
“You had two teams out there refusing to lose and we just made one more play,” Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said.
Mond connected with Quartney Davis on a 17-yard throw to tie it at 72. Greedy Williams was called for pass interference on the first 2-point conversion try, giving the Aggies (8-4, 5-3, No. 22 CFP), another shot. After a false start by Texas A&M, Mond found Rogers for the conversion to end it.
“We showed as a team that we’re never going to quit, and we did that for four quarters and way more,” Mond said.
Joe Burrow had a 10-yard TD run to put LSU (9-3, 5-3, No. 7 CFP) up 72-66 in the seventh OT, but his 2-point conversion throw failed.
The 74 points LSU allowed are the most ever given up by a ranked team, eclipsing the 73 No. 24 Fresno State gave up to Northern Illinois on Oct. 6, 1990, and the first seven overtime game involving a ranked team.
The 146 combined points are the most in an FBS game in NCAA history and the second-most in college football history behind the 161 points Abilene Christian and West Texas A&M scored in Abilene Christian’s 93-68 win in 2008.
“I lost track of overtimes … it is the craziest game ever,” Fisher said, looking a bit dazed.
Mond threw for 287 yards and six touchdowns, three 2-point conversions and ran for one more TD as Texas A&M snapped a seven-game skid against LSU and got its first win over the Tigers since 1995.
LSU coach Ed Orgeron’s clothes might have already dried by the time this one ended after he was prematurely doused with Gatorade after the Tigers appeared to have a clinching interception in the fourth quarter. But the play was reviewed and it was ruled that Mond’s knee was down before the throw — he had knelt to field a low snap and picked up the ball while his knee was on the ground — keeping the Aggies alive and setting up the wild finish.
Mond completed a 22-yard pass to Rogers to the LSU 19 with three seconds left and the Aggies were able to spike it. That play, too, was reviewed and overturned after it was initially ruled that time had expired.
With one second put back on the clock, Mond found Davis for a 19-yard touchdown pass and the extra point sent the teams on the way to their overtime odyssey.
“I just feel bad for those young men,” Orgeron said. “That second shouldn’t have been put on the clock, and I’m sticking to that.”
Burrow threw for three touchdowns and ran for three more as the Tigers were denied their first 10-win regular season since 2012 and possibly knocked out of contention for a New Year’s Day bowl game.
Both teams settled for field goals in the first overtime. Mond had a 3-yard touchdown run in double overtime and LSU sent it to triple OT when Nick Brossette followed with a 3-yard run, too.
Burrow threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dee Anderson in triple overtime and Justin Jefferson grabbed the 2-point conversion. Rogers made it 49-49 and forced quadruple overtime when he grabbed a 25-yard TD pass and the 2-point conversion.
Both teams kicked field goals in the fourth overtime to send it to the fifth.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire took a pitch from Burrow and launched an 11-yard TD pass to Tory Carter to put the Tigers on top in the fifth overtime, but the 2-point conversion failed. Mond answered with a 6-yard throw to Rogers, but A&M’s 2-point try failed, too, to send it to the sixth OT.
Mond threw a 25-yard TD pass to Jace Sternberger and a 2-point conversion to Rogers in sextuple overtime before Burrow had a 4-yard touchdown run and Burrow ran for a 4-yard TD and threw for the 2-point conversion to push it to a seventh OT.
NCAA seven-overtime games
Nov. 24, 2018 – Texas A&M 74, LSU 72
Oct. 7, 2017 – Western Michigan 71, Buffalo 68
Oct. 7, 2006 – North Texas 25, Florida International 22
Nov. 1, 2003 – Arkansas 71, Kentucky 63
Nov. 3, 2001 – Arkansas 58, Ole Miss 56