COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS (AP) - Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel is back on the field and back to his brash ways for No. 7 Texas A&M after serving a suspension in the first half against Rice for what the school said was an “inadvertent” violation of NCAA rules involving signing autographs.
His first touchdown of the season came on a 23-yard pass to Mike Evans on A&M’s next drive. Manziel scrambled for eight yards on third-and-7 on the play before the score and appeared to mimic a signing motion while talking to a Rice defender after getting up from the tackle.
Matt Joeckel started at quarterback for Manziel and threw for 190 yards and a touchdown to help the Aggies lead 28-21 at halftime. Manziel came in on Texas A&M’s first offensive play of the second half and the Aggies capped his first drive with a 44-yard field goal.
He received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after a touchdown pass put A&M up 52-28 in the fourth quarter after taunting a Rice defender.
Manziel was being investigated for allegedly accepting money for autographs from memorabilia brokers, a violation of NCAA rules that could have led to a much longer suspension.
He became the first freshman to win the Heisman last season, setting numerous school and Southeastern Conference records while leading Texas A&M to an 11-2 mark and a victory over No. 1 Alabama in its first season in the SEC.
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