Texas A&M heads into Tuscaloosa as a clear underdog, and the opening number reflects that reality. After two smaller spreads on the road in recent weeks, the Aggies are staring at a much steeper challenge against Alabama.
That said, the line could still move, and there’s at least a case to be made for A&M if the Tide’s recent form is any indication. Texas A&M hasn’t topped six points in either of its last two road games, which is hardly encouraging, but the path to an upset is there if the Aggies can execute it.
One former Aggie made a much louder statement in the NFL on Saturday. Nate Boerkircher delivered the highlight of the day in the early London game, hauling in an eye-catching one-handed touchdown catch for the Jaguars in their comeback effort against the Houston Texans. It was a massive play from the one-year tight end transfer from Nebraska, who was selected in the second round and didn’t exactly get a warm reception from Jacksonville fans at first.
Boerkircher has steadily worked his way into a better spot with the Jaguars, and the catch only adds to the buzz around him. He’s already one of the team’s best blockers, and if the receiving game starts looking like this on a regular basis, he’ll turn himself into a favorite fast.
Aggie fans have seen flashes of this before, too. The play brought to mind a difficult catch he made against Notre Dame, the kind of moment that reminds people what he’s capable of when the ball gets there. The talent is there; the next step is showing it consistently.
Back in Aggieland, the quarterback conversation is already heating up for next season. Plenty of fans are looking ahead and assuming the answer might not be on the current roster, which is why a portal name is starting to gain traction: Cal’s Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. If Texas A&M goes the transfer route, he’s a player worth serious attention.
That kind of search comes with real risk, though. Portal quarterback recruiting can turn messy in a hurry, and Aggie fans have already seen how dangerous that process can be with the Brendan Sorsby debacle. Texas A&M hasn’t had to chase a high-level starter through the transfer market during Mike Elko’s tenure, so this is a storyline that figures to draw plenty of eyes if it develops further.
For now, though, the biggest test is still Alabama. If the Aggies are going to survive a tough stretch and keep their bowl hopes alive, they’re going to have to pull off a few wins where they won’t be favored.
Saturday in Tuscaloosa fits that bill. The formula is there, but it has to start with getting Marcel more involved on the ground.
A heavier run approach, especially with Marcel’s legs in play, could give A&M the kind of ball-control answer Tennessee used against Alabama. The Citadel game showed a version of that plan, and if the Aggies want a shot at the Tide, they’ll need to lean into it again.
In Other News...
Mike Elko Got A Reset But Texas A&M Still Has Everything To Prove
The win over The Citadel at least gave Texas A&M a clean break from the kind of performance that had hung over the program after the Missouri game, when the Aggies failed to score a touchdown and looked nowhere near the standard they need to reach. For a team trying to steady itself under Mike Elko, even a lopsided result can matter because it offers a chance to regroup, refocus and stop the spiral from looking permanent.
Still, one reset does not change the larger question facing this season. The Aggies have to show they can carry that momentum into games that actually define an SEC year, and that means proving the offense and overall consistency travel against better competition. Until they do, the Missouri loss will feel less like a bad day and more like the clearest warning sign of what this team still has to overcome. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Heads To Texas A&M With Two Key Availability Questions
Alabamas trip to College Station comes with a little more uncertainty than a typical October road game, thanks to a pair of lower-leg injuries that bear watching all week. Head coach Kalen DeBoer said EJ Crowell and Zabien Brown are both being evaluated as the Crimson Tide prepare for their Week 8 matchup with Texas A&M, leaving two of their more impactful defenders and contributors in a day-to-day holding pattern.
Crowell has been one of Alabamas most efficient runners by yards per carry, while Brown has been a steady presence in the secondary and leads the team in passes defended. For Texas A&M, the situation adds another layer to a game that already carries real SEC weight, because Alabamas available personnel in the backfield and on the perimeter could shape how aggressive the Tide can be from the opening series on. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&Ms Alabama Test May Hinge On One Unsettled Matchup
Texas A&Ms win over The Citadel gave the Aggies a little breathing room, but the real measuring stick is still ahead with No. 13 Alabama coming to town for an SEC matchup. For A&M, this is the kind of game that can sharpen the direction of its season, while the Crimson Tide are trying to stop the slide after back-to-back conference losses and keep their championship and playoff hopes alive.
One of the more interesting pieces of the matchup is Alabamas quarterback situation. Redshirt freshman Keelon Russell has flashed the kind of playmaking that can change a game in a hurry, but he has also had his rough spots in recent weeks, which leaves this trip feeling a little less settled than a typical Alabama visit. For the Aggies, that uncertainty adds another layer to a game that already carries plenty of weight for both teams. [Read more 🡒]