Alabama’s scouting report on Texas A&M doesn’t leave much to the imagination. The Aggies have shown a clear offensive pattern, and the Crimson Tide know exactly what to expect when they line up against it.
Texas A&M’s recent results tell the story. After beating Arizona State in Week 2, Mike Elko’s team dropped games to Kentucky, LSU and Missouri.
The two wins mixed in during that stretch came against Arkansas and The Citadel. In those three SEC losses, the Aggies managed only two touchdowns on offense.
Marcel Reed’s passing has been a major issue. His accuracy was just 38.5% in the loss to LSU and 48.7% in the loss to Missouri, and A&M’s offense has felt the strain.
Brian Fremeau’s model places the Aggies at No. 55 in Offensive Efficiency, even though their defense checks in at No. 26.
That side of the ball has also been adjusted, with Elko turning over defensive play-calling duties to first-year defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill. Elko remains highly regarded for his defensive mind, but the Aggies have looked better with Hemphill making the calls.
One of the biggest issues for Texas A&M has been getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, which puts more strain on the secondary. Even so, the back end has improved under Hemphill.
Against Missouri, Austin Simmons was held to 147 passing yards. Former Alabama defensive back Dezz Ricks is one reason the Aggies’ pass defense has risen above Alabama’s in some team numbers.
The one area Alabama should be eager to attack is the run defense. Texas A&M sits near the bottom of the SEC against the run, which creates a clear chance for the Tide offense to settle in and “get-right.”
For Kane Wommack’s defense, the Aggies’ approach is no secret. Texas A&M is expected to follow Tennessee’s blueprint: give Reed easy throws and lean on the ground game.
Freshman KJ Edwards has drawn the most attention. He doesn’t have DeSean Bishop’s fireplug build, but his 6.74 yards per carry tops Bishop’s mark, and he is averaging more than five yards a pop against SEC defenses.
The Aggies also have depth behind him with Reuben Owens and sophomore Jamarion Morrow, who, coincidentally, is built like Tennessee’s Bishop.
Alabama, though, has to clean up one thing above all else: tackling. The Tide were charged with 21 missed tackles against Tennessee, and StatCat lists Alabama as the SEC’s fourth-worst team in missed tackles with 35 in conference games. Against Texas A&M, that can’t happen again.
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 🡒]