Texas A&M’s trip to Alabama puts the Aggies in a spot where the offense can’t afford to disappear, especially with several receivers and other key contributors dealing with availability questions.
Redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed is expected to make his eighth start of the season, with sophomore backup Brady Hart lined up behind him. Texas A&M’s 10th-ranked secondary gives the Aggies a chance to keep No. 13 Alabama from piling it on early, particularly with sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell coming off a rough stretch in which he has passed for under 200 yards in both games during the Crimson Tide’s two-game losing streak.
The bigger concern is what Texas A&M can put together at receiver. Junior Mario Craver did not play in Saturday’s 41-0 win over The Citadel and is listed as questionable with a 50% chance to play Saturday, according to Wednesday’s injury report.
Sophomore Kelshaun Johnson is officially out with an undisclosed injury. Craver’s status could simply be precautionary, but the Aggies are already bracing for freshman Aaron Gregory and sophomore TK Norman to carry major responsibility in the passing game.
Gregory made the most of his opportunity against The Citadel, finishing with a team-high 94 yards and two touchdowns. Norman added five catches for 88 yards and was the top target for both Reed and Hart. With Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton in the mix as well, Texas A&M appears to have enough at the position to reach 20 or more points, though Horton will need to improve on his Week 7 showing.
There are also several other injury situations to watch. Linebacker Daymion Sanford, defensive tackle DJ Hicks, defensive end Anto Saka and offensive lineman Trovon Baugh are all questionable after missing Week 7. Texas A&M would like to have every one of them available, with Sanford and Saka especially important.
One more receiver note: Ashton Bethel-Roman is reportedly dealing with a personal issue and is currently not expected to play against Alabama.
In Other News...
Kevin Sumlin Sees A New Problem Making Texas A&M Even Tougher
Kevin Sumlin has watched Texas A&M from a different seat since leaving College Station in 2017, but he still has a clear read on what the job looks like now. The former Aggies coach, now with the Dallas Renegades, pointed out that every Texas A&M coach has run into problems in the years since his departure, and he sees the programs overall competitive standing as largely unchanged despite all the promises that usually come with a coaching change.
The bigger issue, in Sumlins view, is the way the SEC has shifted around the Aggies. With Texas and Oklahoma joining the league, the recruiting and competitive stakes only get higher, and the road gets even steeper for a program that has long been trying to break through against the conferences elite. It is the kind of evolving landscape that makes Texas A&Ms next leap look more difficult, not less, and it keeps the pressure on whoever is trying to solve the same old problem in a new era. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Faces A Familiar Alabama Problem In Tuscaloosa
Texas A&M heads to Bryant-Denny Stadium carrying the kind of SEC baggage that makes every conference road trip feel a little heavier. The Aggies are 4-3 overall and 1-3 in league play after a recent shutout win, while No. 13 Alabama comes in at 5-2 and trying to stop a slide after consecutive losses. With both teams looking to steady themselves in conference play, this one has the feel of a swing game for the middle of the SEC race.
The matchup also comes with plenty of history behind it, which is part of what makes Tuscaloosa such a difficult assignment for Texas A&M. The series has provided a clear backdrop for the programs meetings over the years, including their last matchup in 2023, and Alabama has usually been the side forcing the Aggies to answer tough questions. For Texas A&M, the challenge is not just the opponent in front of them, but the familiar setting and the history that tends to come with it. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Heads To Alabama With One Big Availability Concern
Texas A&M and Alabama have both put their cards on the table before Saturdays meeting at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and the availability report adds another layer to an already important SEC matchup. The Aggies enter with three players ruled out and five more listed as questionable, while Alabamas report includes six players out and four questionable, setting the stage for a game where depth could matter as much as talent.
Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC, and the pregame status updates are the kind coaches and fans tend to monitor right up until game time. For Texas A&M, the bigger concern is not just the number of names on the report, but how the questionable group shakes out once the final decisions are made. [Read more 🡒]