Texas A&M Football: Every Johnny Manziel game, ranked

22. Texas A&M defeats Sam Houston State, 65-28

Sep. 7, 2013

Perhaps the most overlooked game of Johnny Manziel’s collegiate career came in his first start of the 2013 season. Following the first half benching against Rice, Manziel played two and half quarters in preparation for the following week’s contest against the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide.

Manziel was his usual sparkling self, throwing for 426 yards and three touchdowns with seven rushes for 36 yards and another endzone trip. With the game in hand 51-28 after his fourth score, Kenny Hill was inserted and allowed to finish the game.

Another solid performance by Manziel was marred by a rather dismal defensive showing. Sam Houston State running back Timothy Flanders racked up 170 yards rushing and two touchdowns, thanks in part to a 68-yard scamper against a defense that clearly had lost a step during the offseason.

The departures of Damontre Moore, Jonathan Stewart and Sean Porter in the offseason were proving to be significant. Rather than enjoying Manziel, fans were bemoaning a defense that didn’t look to be SEC-ready. On the bright side, Manziel recorded the only tackle of his college career.