Texas A&M Topples Tide 41-38 On Late Field Goal

Late Saturday night in front of an overflow Kyle Field crowd of 106,815, the Texas A&M Aggies managed to do what no one has been able to do since the end of the 2019 season, slow down Alabama enough to outscore them. Roaring to a 24-10 halftime lead A&M held off the Tide comeback in the second half. Alabama took a 38-31 lead late in the 4th quarter but Texas A&M tied the game and held Bama on their next possession, then methodically moved down filed and kicked a chip shot field goal to end Alabama’s 18 game winning streak.Around the Nation: College Football Research Center Executive Vice-President Steve Billingsley and his lovely wife Jill enjoyed the festivities at the Texas State Fair before attending the Red River Rivalry Game in Dallas where Oklahoma performed a second half miracle rally after falling behind by 21 points. Maneuvering for a potential game winning field goal with seconds left in the game, Kennedy Brooks busted through the line and scored a touchdown giving the Sooners a 55-48 win over the shocked Longhorns. The Top Five showdown in the Big 10 turned into an instant classic with Penn State controlling the game for 3 quarters before the Hawkeye offense managed to put together just enough offense to squeak out a 23-20 home victory. The win puts Iowa at #2 in this week’s Billingsley Report. Michigan held off a noticeably improved Nebraska team, kicking a late field goal to down the Huskers 32-29 in Lincoln. Michigan State also remained unbeaten with a 31-13 win at Rutgers. Texas-San Antonio continues to surprise with a 52-46 win on the road over Western Kentucky. The Roadrunners are undefeated at 6-0 and moved into this week’s Top 25 at #25. Brigham Young suffered their first loss of the season, at home no less to Boise State 26-17.  Notre Dame came from behind to spoil Virginia Tech’s upset bid, kicking a late field goal to top the Hokies 32-29. Surprising Kentucky continues to rack up impressive wins, this time over LSU 42-21. The Wildcats are 6-0. Down in the Sun Belt Coastal Carolina moved to 6-0 with a lopsided Thursday Night win over Arkansas State 52-20. Watch for Billingsley’s Projections to be posted late Tuesday.

Alabama Escapes Upset Bid

The much anticipated match of Texas A&M travelling to Tuscaloosa lived up to every drop of the week's hype. It boiled down to the final play of the game with the Aggies on the Tide goal line ending with an incomplete pass. Alabama survived 24-20. North Carolina State intercepted a Seminole pass in the end zone to edge Florida State 19-17. The Big 3 from the Big 10 all remained unbeaten. Ohio State crushed Michigan State 49-20, Michigan started slow but finished strong 31-10 over Indiana, and Penn State was idle, but something has to give this week as Michigan and Penn State tangle Saturday. Texas humiliated Oklahoma 49-0. The last time the Longhorns shut out the Sooners was 1965, I was 14 and my ranking system was just a pipe dream. How time flies. The Sooners are reeling from 3 straight losses and facing a daunting upcoming schedule. Could Oklahoma be looking at 3-9? Yikes. TCU won the Big 12 battle of undefeated teams nipping Kansas 38-31. Now the Horned Frogs must face the other remaining unbeaten team, Oklahoma State. Things are heating up on the West Coast with the Trojans and Bruins looking like title contenders. USC beat Washington State 30-14 and UCLA beat a very good Utah team 42-32. Looks like the battle for LA may be a dandy this year. Don't look now but the race for the SEC crown may be a real battle this year. In addition to the usual contenders of Alabama and Georgia, Ole Miss and Tennessee have raised some eyebrows. Both are still undefeated with the Tide headed to Knoxville this Saturday. The Volunteers looked mighty good in Death Valley, blowing out LSU 40-13. Projections will be posted by Tuesday.