CHESTNUT BROWN | Marcel Reed’s pass fell incomplete to the ground and Jordan-Hare Stadium erupted in pure joy.

Auburn defeated No. 15 Texas A&M 43-41 in four overtimes on Saturday night as a fan base hungry for a victory stormed the field in cheers.

“I’m grateful. I’m grateful,” said outside linebacker Jalen McLeod, who had 10 tackles and a sack. “You know, when you play in front of a crowd like that, 88,000, you can’t dream of more. It’s my dream… I love everything about Auburn.”

Payton Thorne connected with KeAndre Lambert-Smith for a two-point conversion to open the fourth overtime and AU’s defense made one of the biggest stops of the season to give AU its first win over a ranked opponent in three years.

The Tigers improve to 5-6 overall and 2-5 in the SEC.

“Just so grateful. Thankful to be at Auburn,” AU coach Hugh Freeze said. “Grateful to be able to give our fans such a victory and hopefully this is a sign of many more to come.”

The Aggies scored a touchdown to open the first overtime before AU answered with a 2-yard TD run by Jarquez Hunter, his third touchdown of the game.

In the second overtime, AU had to settle for a 41-yard field goal by Ian Vachon after a questionable offensive pass interference call. AU’s defense stepped up to hold TAMU to a 42-yard field goal as overtime shifted to 2-point conversion attempts.

Neither team was able to convert in the third overtime, setting up a tense finish in the fourth.

Trailing 31–28, Auburn drove 74 yards on 15 plays in 2:28, as Ian Vachon made a 29-yard field goal with five seconds left to tie the game and force overtime.

In a wild back-and-forth game, the Tigers led 21-0 midway through the second quarter before the Aggies scored 21 unanswered to tie the score at 21 midway through the third quarter.

Auburn took a 28-21 lead late in the third before a 1-yard run by Hunter, but TAMU scored 10 in the fourth, including a 32-yard field goal and an 8-yard touchdown run by Amari Daniels to drive a ​31-28 to be taken. pipe.

The field goal came three times after AU quarterback Payton Thorne was intercepted on AU’s 15-yard line.

AU had just six yards in the fourth quarter before tying the score.

Thorne finished 19 of 31 for 301 yards and two touchdowns. Hunter had 130 yards on 28 carries.

“It feels great,” Hunter said. “I think it’s one of the best games I’ve played at Jordan-Hare. Well, ever played in my college career. I think we played well as a team on both sides of the ball.”

TAMU gained AU 228-27 yards during a 20-minute span from the second through the middle of the third quarter, including a 73-yard TD pass from Reed to Noah Thomas that tied the game.

Auburn built its 21-0 lead on a Hunter 2-yard touchdown run, and Cam Coleman’s 63- and 15-yard TD catches. Coleman finished with seven catches for 128 yards, while Lambert-Smith had two catches for 104 yards.

The Aggies put together a 15-play, 75-yard DT drive that took up most of the second quarter and cut AU’s halftime lead to 21-7.

Auburn closes the regular season at No. 7 Alabama in the 89th Iron Bowl. Kickoff at Bryant-Denny Stadium is scheduled for 2:30 PM CT on ABC.