Week 13 treated us to an instant classic. The “Loveliest Village on the Plains” has had little love in reciprocation this season. The Auburn Tigers (5-6) have been a bit of an afterthought. Amidst the fervor towards the top end of the SEC, Auburn’s been steadily salvaging its poor start. They came into the limelight after a 43-41 quadruple overtime triumph over the Texas A&M Aggies (8-3).

Placed into the evening slate, not much fanfare or attention preceded the game. The Aggies were expected to roll over Hugh Freeze and Co. with relative ease. However, what ensued was anything but easy. Auburn took a 21-0 lead, and a valiant comeback was not enough. In the aftermath of the game, one football savant couldn’t digest the manner in which it came to a conclusion.

Scott Van Pelt, in the latest episode of the SVPod on Youtube, broke down the multiple overtime frenzy he just witnessed. Safe to say he wasn’t a fan. Van Pelt bluntly called the overtime rules “horrendous.” “Football is a timed game played on a 100 yard field and then we get to overtime and it isn’t. There is no clock [and] we start at the 25 [yard line]. That’s dumb. I have a fix,” said an on-edge Van Pelt.

He then proceeded to extensively detail the aforementioned fix. Scott Van Pelt said, “I like the premise of ‘You get the ba-l. We get the ba-l-let’s go’. But here’s what you do…you start at the 50. In college overtime you start [at the 25]. You’ve done nothing, you’ve earned nothing. You just walk out there and you’re at the 25. You could throw three incompletions. You could get sacked and lose 10 yards and still score. You shouldn’t be able to score if you don’t do anything… start at the 50. I promise you you’re not going to need three overtime. But just keep the same rules until someone wins it. Can’t be this ridiculous B-S where it’s two-point conversions”.

The most resounding aspect of Van Pelt’s rant was that A&M may well face long-hauled repercussions of this rule. A two-point conversion was potentially the difference between them going to the playoffs or not. Moreover, their escapades to force OT in a game they trailed by 21 received no payback. Overtime in this sport has long been a point of widespread conjecture. Some factions like the CFB rules, others despite them. Some prefer the NFL rules, which aren’t even the same in the playoffs and the regular season. Others inadvertently think those are a farce too. You wonder whether there really is a “one-size-fits-all” answer. Perhaps SVP’s idea truly is worth consideration. Alas, Mike Elko sure would agree with him.

Texas A&M are the focal point of finale week despite their loss

This really was a brutal loss to fathom for A&M. After Auburn successfully made their 2-point conversion, the Aggies had to match them. A well-worked play call was required to avoid a hit to their playoff hopes. The call was answered too, but a drop in the play turned out to be decisive. Not only for the game but potentially for their season. However, there is still a glimmer of hope.

With how the results fell across the conference, Georgia has secured themselves the trip to Atlanta for the SEC championship game. Who will join them? You can’t make this up. It will be the winner of the Lone Star State rivalry: Texas vs Texas A&M. This game, 13 years in the making, is about to be a virtual semifinal for the conference. The footballing gods have bestowed their blessings upon CFB fans.

The two rivals haven’t faced each other since 2011 when the Longhorns and Aggies went their separate ways in the conference realignments. As if it needed the boost, this game now has a whole lot more riding on it than just pride. College Station beckons as the place to be as the curtain closes on this frantic season.