Tension hit a peak during the first half of Saturday’s showdown between No. 3 Texas A&M and South Carolina, as emotions ran high both on and off the field.
Despite the buzz surrounding Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko’s new contract extension, the Aggies came out flat. Quarterback Marcel Reed struggled to protect the football, and the Gamecocks wasted no time capitalizing on A&M’s early mistakes.
By the time the teams jogged into the locker room, South Carolina had built a stunning 30–3 halftime lead at Kyle Field, leaving the College Station crowd in disbelief.
Tunnel Incident Sparks Outrage Online
One of the most dramatic moments came after an 80-yard touchdown by South Carolina receiver Nyck Harbor late in the second quarter. Harbor, joined by a couple of teammates, sprinted into the tunnel after the score that put the Gamecocks up 26–3 with 53 seconds left before halftime.
As KBTX’s Rusty Surette reported, a Texas DPS State Trooper stepped into the tunnel, made shoulder-to-shoulder contact with Harbor, and appeared to shout something at him immediately afterward.
Fans were quick to react as video of the moment spread across social media.
Some initially—and incorrectly—believed the officer was part of Texas A&M’s campus police force. Nevertheless, the clip sparked heavy criticism of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Reactions were fierce:
- “If he does this on national TV, imagine what he does on traffic stops when no one is watching,” wrote one viewer.
- “When your cops are more physical than your football team, you’re not having a good day,” another fan joked.
- “Cop see’s three football players walking through the tunnel shoulder to shoulder. Decides to try and squeeze through. Doesn’t fit and shoulder checks a player in the process. Blames the player. SMH lol,” someone posted.
- “Sounds like the Texas A&M police chief should have a nice long chat with a job on the line with this individual. That’s unacceptable behavior from law enforcement,” another added.
- One fan was stunned by the video: “The more I watch I can’t understand why a Texas ranger would intentionally have both arms out as he initiated contact. Has to be his lowest day!”
- Another commenter demanded action: “Get that cop out of there. He shoulder checked both players and they’re in the zone to enter the field.”
Aggies Rally After Halftime
Despite the rocky first half and the viral controversy, Texas A&M flipped the script in the second half. The Aggies mounted an impressive rally and eventually surged ahead, taking a 31–30 lead in the fourth quarter.
