Texas A&M had the yards, the opportunities and even a fourth-quarter lead. What the Aggies didn't have was a touchdown, and that failure proved costly in Saturday's 17-9 loss to No. 21 South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium.

The Texas A&M football offense piled up 457 total yards, including 206 rushing, but couldn't reach the end zone despite repeatedly moving into scoring position. The loss dropped Mike Elko's Aggies to 4-5 overall and 1-5 in Southeastern Conference play.

MORE: Aggies Recap & Takeaways: Texas A&M Wastes 457 Yards, Fails to Score TD in 17-9 South Carolina Loss

Running back Rueben Owens II delivered one of his best performances of the season, rushing for 137 yards on 19 carries, including runs of 40 and 44 yards.

Quarterback Marcel Reed completed 25 of 43 passes for 251 yards without a touchdown or interception. Isaiah Horton added five receptions for 78 yards.

Those numbers should've been enough to win.

Instead, Texas A&M settled for three David Olano field goals while South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers delivered the decisive plays.

The Aggies led 9-7 entering the fourth quarter after Olano connected from 40, 46 and 44 yards. But the scoring opportunities they squandered eventually caught up with them.

Olano missed a 30-yard attempt in the third quarter after Texas A&M failed to capitalize on a first-and-goal opportunity. It was his first miss of the season after 16 consecutive makes.

South Carolina reclaimed the lead when Malik Orsan drilled a 43-yard field goal with 8:14 remaining.

Texas A&M still had time to respond, but a failed fourth-down conversion handed the Gamecocks possession. Sellers delivered the knockout blow with a 41-yard touchdown run with 1:19 left.

Sellers finished with 251 passing yards and a touchdown, helping South Carolina improve to 6-3 overall and 4-3 in SEC play.

The Aggies' defense deserved better. Freshman Bryce Perry-Wright forced a fumble on a second-quarter sack, while Marcus Ratcliffe led Texas A&M with six tackles. South Carolina managed just 109 rushing yards.

Before the game, Elko emphasized that “playing for the name on the front of your jersey” still mattered despite the team's disappointing season.

That commitment wasn't enough Saturday.

Texas A&M outgained South Carolina 457-360, controlled possession for nearly 35 minutes and committed no turnovers. Yet the Aggies couldn't convert production into points.

The final drive reached deep into South Carolina territory before Reed's last pass fell incomplete.

The defeat guarantees Texas A&M its first losing SEC season under Elko, a stunning development for a program that began the year ranked eighth nationally.

MORE: Aggies Head Back to Columbia With an Ugly Problem Mike Elko Must Fix

The Aggies return to Kyle Field on Nov. 14 against Tennessee, needing two victories in their final three games to become bowl eligible.

For Texas A&M, the problem isn't getting down the field anymore. It's finishing the job.

Source: Yahoo Sports