No. 13 Alabama spent much of Saturday trying to dig out of a hole, and the Crimson Tide finally broke through in the fourth quarter.
Down 20-17 after Texas A&M had clawed all the way back from a rough opening stretch, Alabama delivered a 14-0 final quarter and walked away with a 31-20 win at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The result snapped the Tide out of the kind of game that can spiral into a third straight loss and kept their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
The final 15 minutes belonged to Alabama in every way that mattered. The Crimson Tide outgained Texas A&M 102-15 in the fourth quarter, turned three of four third-down chances into first downs and kept the Aggies off the board entirely. Texas A&M, meanwhile, went 0-for-3 on third down in the frame.
Alabama entered Saturday as a more than two-touchdown favorite, but Texas A&M didn’t stay down after the early damage. The Aggies steadied themselves enough to make it 17-17 by halftime, then grabbed a 20-17 lead with the only points of the third quarter - a field goal - before Alabama took control late.
Keelon Russell was the centerpiece of the comeback. He finished 19-of-30 for 311 yards with three touchdown passes and one interception.
Rico Scott was his top target, piling up 156 yards and six touchdowns. Marshall Prtichett, Kaleb Edwards and Daniel Hill also caught scoring passes, with Pritchett and Edwards finding the end zone in the fourth quarter.
Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed had a rough start that put the Aggies in an early hole. He threw interceptions on the first two drives, including a pick-6, and finished 14-of-21 for 163 yards with one touchdown and the two picks.
The Aggies did have the edge on the ground, rushing for 115 yards compared to Alabama’s 68.
Both teams are off in Week 9. Alabama returns in Week 10 for a rivalry matchup with LSU, while Texas A&M heads to South Carolina.
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 Gets An Opening Alabama Suddenly May Not Close
Texas A&Ms injury picture is looking a lot cleaner heading into its matchup with Alabama, with most of the players who had been listed as questionable now trending to probable. The lone exception on the Aggies report is Anto Saka, who remains questionable, but the overall direction is encouraging for a team trying to stay as close to full strength as possible in a game that figures to demand it.
Alabamas report tells a different story, with three players moving from questionable to doubtful, including running back EJ Crowell, center Racin Delgatty and cornerback Zabien Brown. Those shifts matter because availability in a game like this can swing everything from protection up front to depth in the secondary, and it gives Texas A&M a little more reason to believe the opening is real. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Just Sent A Message Before Its Alabama Test
Texas A&M took care of business in emphatic fashion, blanking The Citadel 41-0 for its second shutout of the season. The Aggies didnt just leave with a lopsided win, either, as the performance offered another reminder that this team has the kind of defensive backbone that can travel into a bigger stage.
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 🡒]