Texas A&M heads into Bryant-Denny Stadium with a few players who could tilt the game against Alabama.
The Aggies are back in conference play after closing non-conference action with a 41-0 shutout of The Citadel last Saturday. Alabama, meanwhile, is coming off a 26-10 loss to Tennessee in Rocky Top, its second straight defeat of the season.
For Mike Elko’s team, the challenge is obvious: a road trip to Tuscaloosa against the No. 13-ranked Crimson Tide is no soft landing. Even so, Texas A&M does have several pieces that could shape the outcome, starting with the run game.
True freshman KJ Edwards has already flashed in a big way through his first seven college games. He ran for 66 yards and two touchdowns against Arkansas and then followed that up with a career-high 116 yards on the ground last weekend.
Alabama’s run defense has held strong so far, giving up just 107 yards per game, and this is Edwards’ first major test since the LSU game, when the Aggies’ rushing attack was basically non-existent. With a full workload, he has a chance to show why he should be the starting back for the Maroon and White going forward, especially if he helps fuel an upset.
On defense, Texas A&M will need pressure, and sophomore edge rusher Cashius Howell Jones has been one of the few Aggies to provide it. The team has only five sacks on the year, and Jones has two of them.
He also delivered one of the defense’s biggest splash plays, taking an interception 55 yards for a pick-six against Arizona State in Week 2. Tennessee showed how disruptive play in the backfield can rattle Alabama, and Jones is the Aggie who has done that best so far.
TJ Searcy and Anto Saka should be in the mix too, but it’s number 10 who could matter most.
Then there’s the kicker. Senior Illinois transfer David Olano has been perfect in his first season in the SEC, hitting all 11 of his field goal attempts and all 24 of his extra points.
He has range, too. His 57-yard kick against Arkansas is the longest field goal by a Texas A&M kicker in the 21st century.
If this one turns tight, or if the Aggies are stalled around midfield with fourth down looming, Olano gives them a real chance to put points on the board.
As Landon Rink put it, the Avengers have a Hulk, and Texas A&M has David Olano.
Texas A&M and Alabama kick off from Bryant-Denny Stadium this Saturday at 2:30 on ABC.
In Other News...
Alabama Could Catch Texas A&M At The Perfect Time
Texas A&Ms first injury report for Week 8 gives Alabama a clearer picture of the challenge ahead, and it comes with some notable absences. Wide receivers Terry Bussey and Kelshaun Johnson, along with offensive lineman Blake Ivy, were listed out, while several other key names landed in the questionable column as the buildup to Saturday continues. For an Alabama team trying to measure itself in conference play, any edge in availability matters, especially against a roster that has already had to manage its health carefully.
Mike Elko said the decision to rest injured players in the previous game was valuable for recovery, which is the kind of detail Alabama will be watching closely as the week unfolds. The report does not settle everything yet, but it does hint at a game that could look different depending on who is able to go, and that uncertainty is exactly what makes this matchup worth tracking all the way to kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama's Offensive Line Is Under Pressure After A Brutal Wake-Up Call
The day after Alabamas loss to Tennessee, the focus quickly turned to the line play that helped sink the offense. Starting right guard Michael Carroll owned up to the units struggles, and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb also took responsibility as the Crimson Tide tried to sort through what went wrong. Offensive line coach Adrian Klemm went even further, calling the performance embarrassing and stressing that the standard has to be higher.
Now the challenge is less about words than response, with Texas A&M up next as a chance to show the problems were a one-game collapse rather than a deeper issue. Alabamas front has been put on notice, and the next outing will say a lot about whether the group can clean up the mistakes that were exposed in Knoxville. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Faces A Troubling Injury Question Ahead Of Texas A&M
The SECs new injury reporting policy has already made Alabamas weekly picture a little clearer for conference games, and it also puts extra attention on the Tides health heading into Texas A&M. Zabien Brown and EJ Crowell are both dealing with lower leg injuries and are being evaluated, while Crowell is expected to practice during the week. Ryan Coleman-Williams had arthroscopic surgery for a meniscus injury and is not expected to practice, which adds another name to a growing list of players the staff has to monitor closely.
Racin Delgatty and Terrance Green are making progress, but both remain week-to-week, leaving Alabama with several situations still very much in motion. Jeremiah Beaman and Cayden Jones will miss the 2026 season because of ACL injuries, a reminder of how much depth can be tested over time even before the grind of October really settles in. For a team preparing for a major SEC matchup, the question is not just who is available now, but how many of these injury timelines can move in the right direction before Saturday. [Read more 🡒]