Texas A&M's evolution peaks in Tuscaloosa

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Who knew it would be Texas A&M?

Oregon? Perhaps.

Notre Dame? Maybe.

Kansas State? Possibly.

But who would’ve guessed Texas A&M would end the Southeastern Conference’s streak of six straight national championships?

Yet, the Aggies most likely did just that by pulling a stunning, 29-24 upset over No. 1 ranked Alabama before 101,821 disbelieving onlookers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday night.

Unless two of the remaining unbeaten — Kansas State, Oregon and Notre Dame — lose, the SEC won’t have a team in the BCS championship game. Blame it on the Aggies. Blame it on Johnny Heismanziel. Blame in on Deshazor Everett. Blame it on a defense that forced three turnovers.

The Republicans lost the election and Alabama lost to A&M. It’s been a tough week for elephants.

Indeed, a rivalry may have been created. Once, Alabama might have had a fondness for A&M. Alabama legend Bear Bryant came to Tuscaloosa from College Station. A&M alum Gene Stallings coached the Crimson Tide to a national championship in 1992. A&M even took Dennis Franchione off Alabama’s hands.

But now A&M must be seen as a genuine threat.

“I’m not worried about creating a rivalry,” A&M senior linebacker Jonathan Stewart said. “This was my last game that’s truly on the road. I’m not worried about the future.”

The SEC better be, because A&M has a very young roster and a redshirt freshman quarterback playing for a first-year head coach.

If anyone could have foreseen this coming, the SEC might have rescinded that invitation for membership it extended to the Aggies. At the SEC media days back in July, A&M and Missouri felt like pledges in a giant fraternity. They were supposed to take their initiation spankings and say, “Thank you sir, may I have another?”

Missouri complied. The Aggies haven’t.

“We’re the new guys on the block,” Sumlin said. “We have to prove ourselves and we’ve had to continue to prove ourselves week in and week out.”

Skeptics said Sumlin’s spread offense wouldn’t work in the SEC. Losses to Florida and LSU in which the Aggies struggled in the second half were evidence that Sumlin’s style belongs in Conference USA, the WAC or the Big 12, but not in a league that boasts to playing “grown man football.”

The Aggies had jumped out to a 20-0 lead and then had to sweat out a frantic fourth quarter. Alabama had closed to within 23-17 and appeared on the way to taking the lead after quarterback AJ McCarron connected with Amari Cooper for a 50-yard gain to the A&M 38.

But on the next play, safety Steven Terrell stripped the football from running back T.J. Yeldon and Dustin Harris recovered it.

Freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel promptly hit Ryan Swope for 42 yards. Then, he connected with Malcome Kennedy for a 24-yard touchdown which staked the Aggies to a 29-17 lead with eight-and-a-half minutes remaining.

Alabama stormed back when McCarron hit Cooper with a 54-yard touchdown pass. Moments later, another 54-yard pass gave Alabama first-and-goal at the A&M six-yard line.

However, A&M yielded just four yards on three plays. Finally, on fourth-and-goal, McCarron rolled right and threw toward receiver Kenny Bell at the front pylon, but Everett stepped in front for A&M’s second interception and clinch the victory.

“We had something to prove,” defensive end Damontre Moore said. “I think we proved it today.”

Manziel also proved he should be a frontrunner in the Heisman Trophy race. No one has been more spectacular. He’s put up brilliant statistics. He’s made astonishing plays. He led an improbable come-from-behind victory over Ole Miss. The only thing he had not done was lead the Aggies to a signature victory.

His name was written on this one, though.

He rushed for 92 yards. He passed for 253 yard and two touchdowns. His 345 yards of total offense is more than eight teams had managed against Alabama’s powerful defense.

What else does Johnny Football have to do?

“That’s not for me to say,” Sumlin said. “He is playing very well, and when you win and you’re the quarterback a lot of good things come along with that. He’s gotten progressively better all year. He’s still going to get better.”

Alabama coach Nick Saban seemed convinced, especially because Manziel converted 11 of 18 third downs into first downs.

“That’s the kind of player he is,” Saban said. “The (defensive) players have to know that they have to contain him, that he is going to scramble and that he is very elusive.”

Now a national championship likely will elude Alabama.

“This team still has the opportunity to win the West (division), go to the SEC championship game and have a chance to win the (conference) championship game,” Saban said. “There is still a lot for this team to play for.”

But there’s probably not a national championship for which to play.

And Texas A&M is responsible for that?