In an article written for The Athletic, writer Andy Staples authored a piece listing the 20 most influential games of the 2000s, which of course included the November 24th, 2018 LSU Vs. Texas A&M game, as the Aggies defeated the LSU Tigers 74-72 in a record 7 overtimes in a packed Kyle Field, landing at No.18 on the list. Just by looking at the title of this article, Aggies everywhere remember where they were, how they felt, and probably what they were wearing during that game while jumping out of their seat nearly every play during the exhilarating seven overtime stretch.
I myself remember the night vividly, sick with a terrible head cold while thinking to myself “well, we’ll get a shot at em’ next year..” with two minutes left on the clock in the 4th quarter after a Foster Moreau 14-yard touchdown reception from Joe Burrow put LSU up 31-24, looking to seal the deal for Burrow and company. Before getting to this point, the game was hard-fought, with both teams trading touchdowns every quarter, with quarterback Kellen Mond and running back Trayveon Williams leading the way offensively for the Aggies, while future Heisman winner and national champion quarterback Joe Burrow led the charge for the Tigers.
Here is how Andy Staples eloquently detailed the final moments of the game:
LSU coach Ed Orgeron got a Powerade bath with 29 seconds remaining in regulation when the Tigers thought they had intercepted Aggies quarterback Kellen Mond to seal a win.
Unfortunately for LSU, Mond’s knee was ruled down. Texas A&M scored on the final play of regulation to force overtime. And then the game just kept going.
Ninety minutes, seven overtimes and one near-brawl later, the Aggies won 74-72. If it hadn’t been the regular-season finale for the exhausted teams, they each would have been blown out the following week.
This game forced the NCAA to re-examine how college football breaks ties. The results have been underwhelming. Now, teams must attempt two-point conversions after touchdowns in the second overtime. If the game reaches a third overtime, teams run alternating two-point conversion plays instead of offensive possessions. Essentially, this is college football’s version of penalty kicks.
We saw it last year when Illinois beat Penn State in nine overtimes that were at once compelling and wholly unsatisfying.
As explained above, as exciting as the game was for the program, and Texas A&M Aggies everywhere, the game went on much longer than the NCAA preferred, and essentially changed the rules for overtime, and so far, teams may want to completely avoid the extra period in what they see as an unfair advantage in most cases.
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