Easily the biggest game in Johnny Manziel's career was when he led the Texas A&M Aggies into Tuscaloosa his freshman year and took down the Alabama Crimson Tide, the only loss the Tide would suffer in 2012.
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Despite entering their matchup with Alabama with a 7-2 record and fresh off a 38-13 road win over ranked Mississippi State, the Aggies were massive underdogs; the majority of the college football world thought they had no chance in taking down the No. 1 team in the nation.
However, Manziel and the Aggies were ready to prove themselves.
"We have zero expectations to win this game," Manziel said in the recent Netflix documentary, "Untold: Johnny Football." "And when you have that 'What the f*** does it really matter?' attitude, you play better."
Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images
And as soon as the game started, the Aggies wasted no time showing that they belonged, as they jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter.
But this was the No. 1 team in the country the Aggies were playing, and there was plenty of football left to be played. The Aggies' 20-point lead was down to just 6 points at the end of the second quarter, and it was just half that at the start of the fourth quarter. The Aggies would be able to get the lead back to 6, but it seemed as if all the momentum was on Alabama's side and that this game was just one big play away from either extending A&M's lead or putting the Tide in complete control with a late fourth-quarter lead.
And then it happened.
The Aggies forced an Alabama turnover and had them against the ropes. Manziel at that time pointed to a member of the media, saying a few lines that Texas A&M fans should remember forever:
"F*** Nick Saban. F*** Alabama. That's it. We're scoring a touchdown right here. Watch."
Johnny manziel toying with nick Saban and Alabama probably coming off a two day bender is one of the greatest sports performances of all time pic.twitter.com/9ejvMlmwof
— John (@iam_johnw) August 9, 2023
And his actions backed up his words. The Aggies would take the field and, on the first play, Manziel would find Ryan Swope on the sideline for a 42-yard gain in what Manziel calls "the best pass I've ever thrown in my life."
And then, on the very next play, Manziel hit Malcome Kennedy for a 24-yard score to put the Aggies up 29-17 with eight minutes left in the game. Manziel would come running off the field pointing at that same member of the media, saying, "I f***ing told you."
Despite the Tide scoring one more time before the clock struck zero, that touchdown pass from Manziel to Kennedy proved to be just what the Aggies needed to shock the nation and upset Alabama. It cemented that game, that drive and that touchdown as Manziel's signature Heisman moment as the first freshman to ever win the prestigious award.
