The 2014 Texas A&M Aggies football team represented Texas A&M University in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by third-year head coach Kevin Sumlin and played their home games at Kyle Field. They were a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Aggies finished the regular season 7–5 over all and 3–5 in SEC play. They were invited to the Liberty Bowl, where they defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers, 45–37. With the victory, the Aggies won four straight bowl games for the first time in program history.
Preseason
Recruiting class
In the 2014 recruiting class, Texas A&M signed 22 players (21 not counting late qualifier J.J. Gustafson), 10 of which were included in the ESPN 300. The class was ranked 4th in the nation by ESPN, 6th by Rivals, and 7th nationally by Scout.
Personnel
Roster
Returning starters
Depth chart
Source: Bold denotes a starter from the previous year
Schedule
Schedule Source:
Coaching staff
Game summaries
‡ New Kyle Field Attendance Record
No. 9 South Carolina
Kenny Hill broke Johnny Manziel's record for passing yards in a single game with 511, and also threw for 3 touchdowns. Tra Carson averaged a little more than 4 yards a carry (4.3) on 7 rushes for 30 yards and 3 touchdowns. Their performances helped the Aggies score on 8 of 12 possessions while compiling 680 yards of total offense over 37:28 minutes of possession. An important factor in the game was 3rd and 4th down efficiency. The Aggies converted 12 of 19 attempts on third down (63%) while going 2/2 on 4th down. The Gamecocks went only 2/9 on 3rd down (22%) and 0/1 on 4th down.
Texas A&M received the ball to open the game, with Trey Williams returning the kick to the 32-yard line. After several plays, including a pair of swing passes to RB Brandon Williams, a third-down conversion pass to TE Cameron Clear, and a 22-yard pass to WR Ricky Seals-Jones, Texas A&M was set up on the South Carolina 1-yard line, where Aggie RB Tra Carson ran the ball in to give the Aggies the first TD of the game with 11:27 on the clock. The Gamecocks' ensuring drive gained just 15 yards (14 of which was penalty yardage) before ending in a punt to the Aggies. A&M found more offensive success on their drive, including 19-yard and 18-yard passes to Josh Reynolds and Sabian Holmes respectively. However, they could not convert a 3rd and 3 at South Carolina's 15 yard line, and settled for the 33-yard field goal by Josh Lambo, extending the Aggies' lead to 10-0. However, South Carolina soon answered the points, with a 3rd-and-4, 69-yard pass to WR Nick Jones for a TD, which cut A&M's lead to 3. The Aggies' following drive led to a punt, and the Gamecocks would gain 22 yards on their next drive before the end of the 1st quarter, with the score still 10-7 Texas A&M.
South Carolina maintained possession to open the second quarter, but after a sack by LB A.J. Hilliard for −2 yards on third down, the Aggies got the ball back. Their possession had several explosive plays, including an 11-yard run by Trey Williams, a 21-yard pass to Ricky Seals-Jones, and a 15-yard pass to Edward Pope before being capped off by a 3-yard pass to Ricky Seals-Jones for the TD, making the score 17-7. The Gamecocks answered this score too, on a long 46-yard pass to Damiere Byrd for a touchdown, cutting the game to 17–14. Texas A&M’s offense proved difficult to stop, however, and their next possession contained more big-yardage plays, including a 19-yard pass to Ricky Seals-Jones, a 16-yard pass to RB Tra Carson, and the 14-yard pass to Edward Pope for the touchdown. South Carolina could not answer that score, giving the ball back to A&M with 3:35 to go in the half. Spurred on by a 21-yard pass to senior WR Malcome Kennedy, the Aggies made a quick 2 minute, 19 second drive for another TD by Tra Carson, putting the game at 31-14. South Carolina’s final drive of the half was highlighted by two big defensive plays from A&M. The first was a big hit from freshman safety Armani Watts to dislodge a touchdown pass on 2nd-and-10, followed directly by an 11-yard sack from freshman DE Myles Garrett. Facing a 4th-and-21, Carolina attempted and missed a 54-yard Field Goal.