Johnny Manziel's name had been whispered with reverence all season long, but no one could have predicted the Texas A&M quarterback's preternatural performance in Friday's Cotton Bowl victory over the Oklahoma Sooners. The Heisman Trophy winner set a Cotton Bowl-record with 516 total offensive yards, and threw four touchdowns wrapping up the team's first SEC season with a commanding 41-13 win.
The spectacular night capped off the best season the Aggies have played in over a decade. Texas A&M broke the SEC record its first year in the conference with 7,261 total yards this season and they also averaged more than 40 points a game. The Aggies also recorded their first 11-win season since 1998 when they won their only Big 12 title.
Texas A&M took the lead early on in the game and refused to give up an inch. Following Manziel's 23-yard run for a touchdown on the first drive of the night, the Aggies wouldn't trail the Sooners the rest of the game, characteristic of the way the team's played all season. Texas A&M never trailed as it won its last six games, and that includes the Aggies' win over SEC champion Alabama, which plays for the BCS national championship Monday.
"To come in and go against a Big 12 rival and do everything we wanted as a team, and send these seniors out with a win, we couldn't feel any better," Manziel said, Yahoo Sports reported.
The young Manziel had an electrifying night, setting an FBS bowl record with his 229 yards rushing on 17 carries, and completed 22 of 34 passes for 287 yards.
Led by star QB Landry Jones in his 50th and final career start, Oklahoma recorded 401 total yards as a team. Jones knocked his own performance following the game, but still played fairly consistently, completing 35 of 48 passes for 278 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Of course, anyone who's won 39 games and three bowls for the Sooners is going to be critical of themselves following such a punishing loss on the national stage. Manziel's undeniably impressive athletic display on the field didn't likely help, either. Even Oklahoma's defensive coordinator Mike Stoops had to stop and give the 20-year-old props.
"Best player I've ever played. He does so many good things. He's got magic," Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said of Manziel. "He'll have a chance to win four (Heismans) if he stays healthy."
For his part, Manziel doesn't seem to be letting all the success go to his head. When questioned what was the secret behind his record-breaking performance, Manziel humbly pointed to his offensive line, and the team as a whole.
"I know for me, without them, none of my success this year would have been possible," Manziel said.
He added: "I'm still Johnny Manziel, the same guy I was against Florida. Our team has gotten better, obviously. But I'm the same person."
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