NO. 5 TEXAS A&M 34, TENNESSEE 13

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Kellen Mond threw for 281 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 59 yards and a score Saturday, allowing Texas A&M (8-1, No. 5 CFP) to close its case for a spot in the College Football Playoff with a victory over Tennessee (3-7).

Isaiah Spiller ran for 89 yards and a touchdown, and Ainias Smith scored once rushing and once receiving.

Mond completed 26 of 32 passes as the Aggies finished their regular season and hoped for an upset or two within the CFP’s top four.

Tennessee has lost seven of its last eight games, ramping up speculation about Jeremy Pruitt’s future as Vols coach.

Harrison Bailey and J.T. Shrout combined to throw for 189 yards and two touchdowns for the Vols.

The Aggies had trouble getting separation in the second half. Up 24-13 at halftime, the Aggies flirted with pulling away in the third quarter, but a red zone interception ended the threat.

It wasn’t until the 9:02 mark of the fourth quarter that Texas A&M got some breathing room. Mond engineered an 88-yard drive, with a key play of a 28yard pass to Jalen Wydermeyer, that ended with a 1-yard run by Smith for a 31-13 lead.

Smith had two big runs accounting for 50 yards on the Aggies’ last possession. It ended in a 21-yard field goal that accounted for the 34-13 final.

Mond was impressive in the first half, completing 19 of 22 passes for 183 yards as the Aggies led, 24-13. He threw a 4yard scoring pass to Ainias Smith and also ran for a TD from five yards.

Texas A&M, ranked third in the nation in third-down conversion percentage (55%), didn’t punt in the first half. The Aggies converted on 6 of 7 thirddown opportunities. They controlled the ball for more than 21 minutes.

BRIANNA PACIORKA/KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL Texas A&M running back Isaiah Spiller (28) celebrates a touchdown against Tennessee on Saturday at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. Spiller ran for 89 yards in the game.