Texas A&M upsets No. 1 Alabama on final field goal

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Seth Small made a 28-yard field goal as time expired and Texas A&M stunned top-ranked Alabama 41-38 on Saturday night to end the Crimson Tide’s winning streak at 19 games.

Defending national champion Alabama (5-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) had scored 21 straight points – capped by a TD reception and 2-point conversion grab by Jameson Williams – to take a 38-31 lead with five minutes to go.

Texas A&M (4-2, 1-2) tied it at 38 when Zach Calzada connected with Ainias Smith for a 25-yard touchdown

strike with three minutes left. Calzada was hit as he threw the strike and had to be helped off the field but returned for the next drive after a visit to the medical tent.

Calzada returned after

the Aggies forced a punt to orchestrate the winning drive, highlighted by a 17yard pass to Isaiah Spiller before Small finished it off to send fans streaming onto the field to celebrate.

“I’m proud of our guys,”

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said. “We made plays at critical times.”

Calzada threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns, as the former backup played like a star. Devon Achane returned a kickoff 96 yards for a TD in the third quarter and A&M’s defense got after Bryce Young all night.

“This is a great win,” Achane said. “It shows us that we’re capable of doing great things.”

Smith finished with 85 yards receiving and two scores and Jalen Wydermyer had 73 yards receiving and a TD to help the Aggies to what certainly is their biggest win since Fisher took over in 2018.

Alabama hadn’t lost since falling 48-45 to Auburn on Nov. 30, 2019.

“Everyone needs to remember how they feel and not forget it,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said.

It’s the first time Saban has lost to one of his assistants after entering the game a perfect 24-0 in those games. He’d beaten Fisher four times, the most of any of his former staffers before the former Florida State coach finally ended the streak on his 56th birthday.

Texas A&M also ended Alabama’s streak of 100 wins over unranked teams,

SAM CRAFT/AP TEXAS A&M TIGHT END JALEN WYDERMYER (85) celebrates with wide receiver Ainias Smith (0) after scoring a touchdown agent Alabama during the first half of a game Saturday in College Station, Texas.