ESPN College Football Thursday Primetime Season 15 Episode 89 Texas A&M at Mississippi State

On Thursday night, the college football world turned its attention to the Southeastern Conference as the Texas A&M Aggies traveled to Starkville, Mississippi to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs. This Week 9 matchup marked the 20th meeting between these two historic programs, with Texas A&M holding a 10-9 lead in the series.

Entering the game, both teams had something to prove. The Aggies, ranked fifth in the College Football Playoff rankings, were looking to keep their national championship hopes alive with a convincing victory. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs were hoping to snap a two-game losing streak and get back on track in the highly competitive SEC.

The first quarter began with both teams feeling each other out and exchanging punts. But Texas A&M struck first blood with just under 5 minutes remaining in the quarter, as running back Isaiah Spiller powered his way into the endzone from 3 yards out to give the Aggies an early 7-0 lead.

Mississippi State answered back early in the second quarter, as quarterback Will Rogers connected with wide receiver Jaden Walley for a 5-yard touchdown pass. But the extra point was blocked, leaving the Bulldogs trailing 7-6.

The Aggies extended their lead midway through the second quarter, when quarterback Kellen Mond found wide receiver Ainias Smith for a 15-yard touchdown strike. Smith, a versatile playmaker who can line up at both receiver and running back, had a big night for Texas A&M with 6 catches for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns.

With just over 2 minutes remaining in the first half, Mississippi State cut the deficit to 14-9 with a 39-yard field goal from kicker Brandon Ruiz. But Texas A&M responded right away, as Mond and Smith connected again for a 22-yard touchdown with just 32 seconds remaining in the half. The Aggies went into the locker room with a 21-9 lead and plenty of momentum.

In the second half, the Texas A&M defense tightened up and made life difficult for the Mississippi State offense. The Bulldogs managed just 3 points in the second half, as Ruiz hit another field goal from 28 yards out early in the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, the Aggies continued to add to their lead. Spiller ran for his second touchdown of the night, this time from 1 yard out, with just over 11 minutes remaining in the game. And Mond put the finishing touches on the victory with a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jalen Wydermyer with just under 5 minutes to play.

When the final whistle blew, Texas A&M emerged with a dominant 35-12 victory. Mond finished the game with 260 passing yards and 3 touchdowns, while Spiller added 114 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. For Mississippi State, Rogers threw for 200 yards and a touchdown, but also threw 2 interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown by Texas A&M linebacker Buddy Johnson.

With the victory, the Aggies improved to 5-1 on the season and kept their hopes for a College Football Playoff berth alive. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs fell to 2-4 and will need to regroup quickly if they hope to salvage their season.