Texas A&M’s injury outlook is finally moving in the Aggies’ favor, and that matters because they need as many breaks as they can get against Alabama today.
The initial availability report had five A&M players tagged as questionable: DE Anto Saka, WR Mario Craver, OL Trovon Baugh, LB Daymion Sanford and DT DJ Hicks. That was a heavy list for the Aggies, especially since every one of those players has started games for Texas A&M this season. But late yesterday afternoon, Pete Thamel reported that Craver and Hicks were on track to play, and last night’s update brought even more good news.
Everyone from that group except Saka has now been moved to probable. That gives the Aggies a much better outlook heading into the game, with those players sitting at roughly a 75% chance to play. Saka remains questionable, which leaves him at about a 50% chance and makes him a likely game-time decision.
The updates matter because Texas A&M will need help in a few specific places if it wants to pull this off. Baugh is important to what the Aggies hope to do on the ground against a tough Alabama front, and Craver is the kind of player who can create something every time he touches the ball. If Texas A&M is going to hit on explosive plays through the air, No. 1 will almost certainly be part of it.
Alabama, meanwhile, is headed the other way. Three Tide players who were listed as questionable have been downgraded to doubtful, including freshman running back EJ Crowell and starting center Racin Delgatty.
The name that may matter most is Zabien Brown. He is likely Alabama’s best cornerback, and with Texas A&M struggling in the pass game all season, his status could shape how much the Aggies are able to do through the air.
Even so, this shapes up as a battle no matter what the injury report says. Alabama could be missing half its starting lineup and it would still be a difficult road assignment in the SEC.
But if these trends hold, Texas A&M does have a better shot than it did before: the Aggies may be relatively healthy, while the Tide are coming off two extremely physical losses. If A&M can match that level of physicality at Bryant-Denny today, it might walk out with a win.
In Other News...
Alabama Faces A Brutal Late Twist Before Texas A&M Showdown
Alabamas availability list for the matchup with Texas A&M is getting a lot of attention, and for good reason. Center Racin Delgatty, cornerback Zabien Brown and running back EJ Crowell all landed on the doubtful list, while wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams has already been ruled out. Defensive lineman Terrance Green is also unavailable, adding more uncertainty to a game that already carries plenty of weight for both sides.
Texas A&M has some encouraging news of its own heading into the trip, with wide receiver Mario Craver and defensive tackle DJ Hicks both upgraded to probable. The Aggies will be watching those late injury updates closely, because availability on both fronts could shape how the game is played at the line of scrimmage and in the passing game, especially with Alabama trying to sort through a thinning depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Just Sent A Message Before Its Alabama Test
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Now comes the real test in Tuscaloosa against No. 13 Alabama, and the focus inside the program is on sharpening the running game and tightening the defensive approach before that trip. Mike Elko has also shifted defensive play-calling duties to first-year coordinator Lyle Hemphill, a move that gives the head coach more room to oversee the bigger picture as Texas A&M prepares for one of its most important games of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Has A Real Opening In Tuscaloosa This Time
Texas A&M heads to Tuscaloosa this weekend for a 2:30 p.m. matchup at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and this time the trip comes with a little more intrigue than the usual Alabama home date. The Aggies are making their second journey east of the Mississippi River this season, and they arrive with a defense and offense that could both have a say in how the afternoon unfolds against the No. 13 Crimson Tide.
Alabamas recent issues have created a more realistic opening than Texas A&M has often seen in this spot, especially after the Tide stumbled with poor third-down work in their loss to Tennessee. For the Aggies, the challenge is clear: lean into the strengths that have kept them competitive and see whether this is the kind of road test where Alabama can be pushed, rather than the kind where the home team simply settles things early. [Read more 🡒]