Texas A&M refused to go away.

Every time that Clemson appeared to be threatening to put it in overdrive, Kellen Mond and the Texas A&M offense had an answer. By night’s end, the perception of the Aggies took a nice step up in the first headliner matchup of the Jimbo Fisher.

But Clemson refused to leave College Station without a win.

It was the Tigers who escaped Saturday night with a victory in front of a packed house at Kyle Field. Clemson’s 28-26 victory was by no means easy.

Texas A&M had a chance to tie the game with just over 2 minutes left when Quartney Davis fumbled the ball reaching for the end zone. Officials ruled that Davis’ fumble went out of bounds in the back of the end zone, which was ruled a touchback and ultimately Clemson ball.

The Aggies had yet another chance after Mond led the Aggies on what could’ve been a game-tying touchdown drive. His touchdown pass to Kendrick Rogers Jr. made it a 28-26 game, but Mond couldn’t find an open receiver to convert the 2-point conversion and the Aggies’ comeback attempt came up short.

Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Dabo Swinney’s 14-1 road mark in the last 3 seasons was put to the test, thanks in large part to the play of Mond. On a night in which all the talk was about Clemson quarterbacks Kelly Bryant and Trevor Lawrence, Mond might’ve boosted his reputation the most.

Against that loaded Clemson defensive line, Mond finished the night with a career-high 430 passing yards with 3 touchdown passes. The Aggie starter added 33 rushing yards, as well.

Mond’s efforts were especially important for a Texas A&M offense that couldn’t establish the run with Trayveon Williams. Following Williams’ career day in the opener, he was held to just 31 rushing yards.

Mond kept the Aggies within striking distance with a pair of touchdown passes in a 5-minute stretch in the second half. Both Rogers and Davis were recipients of Mond touchdown passes, each of which were of the highlight-reel variety.

But there was too much Bryant for the Aggie defense.

After Lawrence’s first throw of the night was a 64-yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins, it was all Bryant from there. The Tigers quarterback threw and ran for a touchdown in the Clemson victory.

Clemson capitalized on the lone A&M turnover of the night. After Mond was sidelined with cramps, Nick Starkel fumbled on his first and only play from scrimmage. Four plays, 70 yards and 89 seconds later, Clemson scored and again made it a 2-possession lead in the third quarter.

Mond and the Aggies responded with a pair of touchdown drives, but Texas A&M couldn’t quite get over the hump. The loss marked the 12th time in the last 14 games that A&M lost to a ranked team.

What remains to be seen is how the Aggies will be impacted in the Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday. Texas A&M was essentially ranked No. 29 heading into Saturday’s showdown. Even in a loss, the Aggies might’ve shown voters enough to crack the top 25 for the first time of the Fisher era.

The Aggies will look to get past Louisiana-Monroe before their Week 4 showdown at Alabama.