No. 3 Texas A&M’s (10-0, 7-0 SEC) 31-30 comeback win over South Carolina (3-7, 1-7 SEC) wasn’t just the largest comeback in program history and in the SEC since 2004, but also a game that defined starting quarterback Marcel Reed’s 2025 season, posessing a Jerkyl & Hyde storyline that should help him remain in the Heisman conversation.
Entering the game with 2,193 passing yards and 19 touchdowns, Reed’s first-half performance against the Gamecocks, which should be thrown in the trash for all eternity after the redshirt sophomore completed 6/19 for 141 yards and two interceptions, and while his receivers dropped too many passes, the first-year starter was out of rhythm and lacking confidence on nearly every pass.
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Credit to the 12th Man, as Kyle Field remained packed despite the deficit, which is never a surprise, and facing a 27-point hole, Marcel Reed enjoyed every second of what would become the best second-half performance of his college career.
Right out of the gate, Reed took it upon himself to pick up a 4th and 12 conversion with his legs, which led to Texas A&M’s first touchdown of the game after Reed hit redshirt freshman WR Izaiah Williams in stride for a 27-yard score. Thanks to the Aggie defense, which shut out the Gamecocks after the half, Reed and the offense had every opportunity to keep the momentum flowing.
After hitting WR Ashton Bethel-Roman for a 39-yard touchdown pass, Texas A&M’s defense forced a punt, which pushed the Aggies to start at their own 1-yard line. After finding Bethel-Roman once again for a 76-yard reception, this set up Reed’s third and final touchdown after hitting TE Nate Boerkicher in the red zone, and combined with RB EJ Smith’s go-ahead score, Texas A&M completed the historic comeback.
So, was this performance good enough to keep Marcel Reed in the Heisman conversation? After the game, the man himself provided an answer.
“I don’t even know. Could have went up. Could have went down. It doesn’t matter to me. We are focused on winning games right now.”
Now that, ladies and gentlemen, is an answer only a true leader could provide, and after what we witnessed on Saturday, Reed’s focus is simply on Samford next Saturday, and the Texas Longhorns just six days later. Even after trailing 30-3, Reed’s confidence didn’t waver, thanks to the strong culture in the locker room, led by Mike Elko’s steadfast leadership.
“I don’t even remember what all was said. The message got across. We knew we were still in the game.”
Texas A&M could have taken a 34-30 or 38-30 lead with just over two minutes remaining, but thanks to a questionable third-down red zone call by OC Collin Klein, South Carolina recovered the backwards pass, with a chance to win the game. The Aggie defense took over, sacking QB LaNorris Sellers twice, and after Reed was able to kneel and end the game, his career performance was officially in the books.
“Relief. I came on the field and took the knee. I looked up to God and just thanked Him… The story was already written.”
Texas A&M will host Samford on Saturday, November 22, at 11:00 a.m., with the game available to stream on SEC Network+.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed is focused on winning, not the Heisman Trophy
