Alabama didn’t have the luxury of style points on Saturday. What it had was a bruised roster, a one-score game late, and just enough juice in the fourth quarter to escape with a 31-20 win over Texas A&M and reach the bye week at 6-2.
For most of the afternoon, this looked like the kind of game Alabama simply had to survive. The Tide were trailing 20-17 heading into the fourth quarter, staring at another ugly finish after back-to-back losses. Instead, the offense put together two touchdown drives in the final period and turned a shaky afternoon into a much-needed result.
Here are the key takeaways from Alabama’s win:
Keelon Russell delivered when Alabama needed him most
With the Tide tied at 17 at halftime and under real pressure, Keelon Russell had to be the guy. He didn’t look fully healthy, either, with a noticeable hobble, but he still made the biggest throws of the game.
The turning point came late in the third quarter. Facing a critical 3rd-and-8 with Alabama down 20-17, Russell dropped in a perfect pass to Rico Scott for a 38-yard gain to the Texas A&M 5-yard line.
Then he kept it rolling in the fourth. Russell found Marshall Pritchett for a touchdown to give Alabama the lead, and after the defense forced a three-and-out, he led another scoring march - a 5-play, 55-yard drive that ended with a third-down touchdown throw to Kaleb Edwards.
In the second half, Russell finished 9-of-11 passing for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
Rico Scott filled the void left by Ryan Coleman-Williams
Alabama has felt the absence of Ryan Coleman-Williams since he went down in the Georgia game, and that loss showed again last week against Tennessee. Against Texas A&M, though, Rico Scott made sure the offense wasn’t missing a beat.
The junior wideout produced a career day, catching six passes for 156 yards.
He and Russell have clearly built a connection, and with Coleman-Williams out, Alabama needed someone to step into the alpha role at receiver. Scott did exactly that.
The run game is still a problem
There was optimism early in the season about Alabama’s ground attack, but the last two weeks have brought it right back to where it was a year ago.
The injuries haven’t helped. The Tide are without starting center Racin Delgatty, and starting LG Will Sanders left this game early. Alabama is also missing the burst of freshman EJ Crowell, who should have a major opportunity after the bye.
Against Texas A&M, Alabama managed only 68 rushing yards on 28 carries.
Fatutoa Henry gave Alabama a boost up front
Alabama needed someone to create pressure on Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed, and the answer came from Fatutoa Henry rather than the more obvious candidate, Yhonzae Pierre.
Henry, who has seen more opportunity with Desmond Umeozulu injured, made the most of it. He recorded two sacks of Reed in the second half, both in crucial spots.
He’s now tied for the team lead with 3.5 sacks, and his role should only grow after the bye, even if Umeozulu is available again.
The bye week could not come at a better time
This game was about getting out alive, and Alabama did that. The roster is clearly beaten up.
The Crimson Tide entered the day without 10 players, and things only got worse with Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. suspended, Red Morgan ejected for targeting, and Will Sanders leaving with an injury.
Now Alabama gets a week to recover before a pivotal stretch begins with a trip to Baton Rouge.
In Other News...
Alabama Fans Have A Real Reason To Watch Keon Sabb Closely
Keon Sabbs role bears watching after Alabamas win over Texas A&M, when the safety did not take a defensive snap during the final four series despite showing no obvious signs of injury. With the Crimson Tide already juggling a secondary hit by injuries, a suspension and an ejection, the late-game rotation got even more interesting as sophomore Ivan Taylor and freshman Jireh Edwards both stepped in.
Edwards also replaced Sabb on the punt return unit in the second half, another small but notable wrinkle in a game where Alabama kept adjusting on the fly. The absence came at a point when the Tide were already managing their back end carefully, so whether this was simply a situational decision or something more is now part of the conversation heading into the next week. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Heads Into The Bye With One Big Roster Concern
Alabama walked out of College Station with a 31-20 win over Texas A&M, a result that stopped the skid and gave Kalen DeBoer a much-needed reset heading into the bye week. The victory came after two straight losses, so the mood around the program shifted quickly from frustration to a chance to regroup, evaluate where things stand and get healthier before the next stretch.
DeBoer used his postgame news conference to address all of it, from how the Tide played to how he views the roster heading into the break. The bigger point for Alabama is what comes next, with the staff hoping the bye helps bring some key players back and settles at least one lingering roster concern before the season resumes. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Had The Perfect Birthday Surprise Waiting For Kalen DeBoer
Kalen DeBoers birthday ended the same way Alabamas win over Texas A&M did, with a celebration in the locker room and a little bit of harmless chaos. After the Crimson Tide took care of business against the Aggies, safety Bray Hubbard and left tackle Jackson Lloyd got the party started with an ice bucket shower for their head coach, turning a postgame moment into a birthday surprise.
DeBoer had already given his players a simple condition for the day: celebrate however they wanted, just make sure they left with a victory. Alabama handled the first part on the field and the second part in the locker room, where the coach got his fitting reward for a birthday that doubled as another sign of how much buy-in he has from his team. [Read more 🡒]