No. 9 Texas A&M will host the Auburn Tigers for an early afternoon showdown featuring plenty of postseason implications for both teams, especially after Auburn’s Week 4 road loss to Oklahoma. For the Aggies, the bye week came at the perfect time, knowing that several starters, including safety Bryce Anderson and linebacker Scooby Williams, sustained injuries.
While Anderson is out until further notice, Williams is reportedly a game-time decision and will be needed against Auburn’s rushing attack. On paper, Texas A&M is a 6.5-point favorite, mainly due to the game being in Kyle Field, while the Aggies’ offense, which has produced at least 40 points in all three games, including 41 during the massive Week 3 win over Notre Dame.
Behind starting quarterback Marcel Reed and transfer wide receivers Mario Craver and KC Concepcion, Texas A&M’s passing game can be trusted in every game this season to produce explosive plays and give the Aggies a chance to score during every possession.
Still, the Tigers have enough talent to win on the road in the SEC, but Texas A&M’s only loss in Kyle Field last season was to the Texas Longhorns during the season’s finale. However, if Williams can’t go, A&M’s defense could struggle. If senior cornerback Will Lee III continues to have issues in coverage, Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman could have himself a day.
Texas A&M’s defense came through amid a penalty-heavy matchup, holding Auburn to 155 yards, while Texas A&M running back Le’Veon Moss led the game with 139 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Coach Mike Elko and OC Collin Klein have their work cut out for them, but Texas A&M is now 4-0 for the first time since 2016.
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What channel is Texas A&M vs. Auburn on today?
The Texas A&M vs. Auburn game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN in Week 5 of the 2025 college football season. Joe Tessitore and Jesse Palmer will call the game from the booth at Kyle Field, with Katie George reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include the ESPN App and FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Texas A&M vs. Auburn time today
The Texas A&M vs Auburn game starts at 2:35 p.m. CT from Kyle Field in Bryan-College Station, Texas.
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Pregame
Several NFL representatives are in attendance during Texas A&M’s Week 5 SEC opener against Auburn, as the Aggies’ roster features elite talent on both sides of the ball.
As reported earlier, Texas A&M senior linebacker Scooby Williams is officially reported OUT against Auburn, along with safety Bryce Anderson, which has not changed throughout the week. Junior linebacker Daymion Sanford will start in Williams’ place, and has played well so far this season, whch included seven tackles and a sack against Notre Dame.
Something positive: Senior offensive lineman Reuben Fatheree II is dressed out for the first time this season, and will make his season debut against Auburn, likely as a rotational offensive lineman at left tackle.
More good news: Senior safety Bryce Anderson, who is dealing with a head injury suffered against Notre Dame, was scene walking around pregame and is currently on the sideline, looking healthy as he continues to heal before eventually making his way back to the field.
Texas A&M opens the game with electric opening drive touchdown from RB Le’Veon Moss:
Texas A&M’s defense opened the game, sacking Auburn QB Jackson Arnold, leading to the Aggie offense making their way down the field through the air and on the ground, capped off with senior RB Le’Veon Moss’s goal-line touchdown after his explosive run. This was Texas A&M’s first opening drive TD this season. Texas A&M 7, Auburn 0.
Texas A&M’s defense has impressed so far:
With just over four minutes left in the first quarter, Texas A&M’s defense has limited Auburn to one first down and just 28 yards, while sacking quarterback Jackson Arnold once. Even after a poor punt from Texas A&M’s Tyler White, the Aggie defense continued to impress, delivering their second sack and forcing Auburn to punt.
Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed has struggled since the opening drive:
Since the opening drive touchdown, Marcel Reed has only completed 2/3 for 43 yards, with both completions going to transfer WR KC Concepcion. Texas A&M has yet to convert a third down, which has been a problem throughout the season.
Auburn hits a 32-yard field goal as the Tigers inch closer:
Credit to Texas A&M’s defense for stepping up after DL Albert Regis’s personal foul, keeping the Tigers out of the endzone, forcing a field goal attempt that was successful. With just over ten minutes left in the second quarter, Texas 7, Auburn 3.
Texas A&M hits field goal, struggles in the red zone due to penalty issues
Texas A&M kicker Randy Bond hit a 33-yard field goal, as Marcel Reed missed a wide-open KC Concepcion, which would have resulted in a 60-yard touchdown. Texas A&M 10, Auburn 3.
Texas A&M hits another field goal with just over one minute left in the first half:
Texas A&M’s discipline issues continue, as the penalties have mounted and placed the Aggies behind the sticks. This led to kicker Randy Bond hitting his second field goal (49 yards) to give the Aggies a ten-point lead just seconds before the half. Texas A&M 13, Auburn 3.
Texas A&M leads Auburn 13-3 at the half:
Texas A&M’s defense has been elite throughout the game, holding Auburn to just 105 yards, 0-7 on third down, while sacking the quarterback two times. However, the Aggies’ passing game has been average at best. Nevertheless, at the end of the half, quarterback Marcel Reed led his offense down the field during the two-minute drill, and although Randy Bond missed a 50-yard kick, this represented a solid improvement.
In the second half, Texas A&M will start on offense and needs to score its second touchdown of the game to get a solid 17-point lead and continue playing elite defense to pull this one out.
Texas A&M kicker Randy Bond misses his second kick of the game
Texas A&M’s penalty issues are just ridiculous at this point, as quarterback Marcel Reed and the offense were driving down the field to start the second half. Still, thanks to two penalties on left guard Chase Bisontis, the Aggies were forced to kick, as Randy Bond missed a 49-yard attempt, his second miss of the game.
Auburn scores its first touchdown of the game after a costly Texas A&M interception:
All you can say is ‘Wow.’ Texas A&M had a chance to put the game away, reaching the red zone for the first time in the second half before quarterback Marcel Reed threw a high ball to wide receiver Terry Bussey, who bobbled the catch, leading to Auburn DB Xavier Atkins taking the interception 73 yards, leading to Auburn’s first touchdown of the day: Texas A&M 13, Auburn 10 with 10:25 remaining.
Texas A&M’s likely game-sealing TD was called back, resulting in a Randy Bond field goal:
Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed found WR Mario Craver for what looked like the second touchdown of the game, but thanks to ANOTHER flag, the Aggies were stopped on 3rd down, resulting in a Randy Bond field goal. Auburn now has a chance to take the lead with a touchdown and an extra point. With 2:29 remaining, Texas A&M 16, Auburn 10.
Auburn will get the ball back after the two-minute warning:
After forcing an Auburn punt, Texas A&M OC Collin Klein made an unusual call, opting for three consecutive plays, which led to another punt and put the game in Texas A&M’s defense’s hands.
Texas A&M’s defense wins the game! The Aggies defeat Auburn 16-10, reaching 4-0 for the first time since 2016:
Texas A&M’s defense was beyond elite, allowing just 155 yards, while sacking Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold five times, producing seven tackles for loss. While this game was sadly defined by penalties, including 13 for 119 yards against the Aggies, Texas A&M’s defensive effort was relentless, allowing only three points. This was largely due to the fact that Auburn’s only touchdown resulted from QB Marcel Reed’s costly interception.
Offensively, outside of penalties, Marcel Reed needs to clean up his accuracy issues, and the offense as a whole needs to execute on third down at a higher rate. Either way, if the defense has these types of performances throughout SEC play, the Aggies will have a chance to win every remaining game.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Instant reaction: Texas A&M’s defense comes up big in 16-10 win over Auburn
Reporting by Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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