Texas A&M Playoff Hopes Still A Little Alive After Beating Auburn

No. 5 Texas A&M pulled away late to ensure a 31-20 victory over Auburn in a game that they had to come from behind in to win. Auburn kicked a field goal to go ahead 20-14 with a little over four minutes remaining in the third quarter. However, from that point on the Aggies scored 17 unanswered points and ended a three-game losing streak against the Tigers.

It was a big day on offense for the Texas A&M trio of Kellen Mond, Isaiah Spiller, and Jalen Wydermyer. Mond was 18-23 for 196 yards, two touchdowns and no picks. Wydermyer caught both of those touchdowns, with eight catches for 89 yards. On the ground, Spiller carried the ball 20 times for 120 yards.

Texas A&M advances to 7-1, with their only loss having come to Alabama. The Aggies have faint playoff hopes. Notre Dame beating Clemson for the second time in the ACC title game, however unlikely, would knock Dabo Swinney and Trevor Lawrence out of the race. If Ohio State were to lose either next week against Michigan (or against a replacement opponent) or the Big Ten championship game (where it looks to me like the Big Ten will reconsider and allow Ohio State into the game, regardless of whether they get six games in), that would be another potential pathway. They also need Alabama to beat Florida in the SEC title game. Texas A&M also needs to beat Ole Miss and Tennessee the next two weeks.

While it may not seem like the most likely path, it's a great season for Texas A&M when you're a week past Thanksgiving and you can talk about ways to eke into the College Football Playoff.