The long-awaited rematch is finally here. The Texas A&M Aggies will face the Alabama Crimson Tide this coming Saturday in Tuscaloosa. This matchup gained a lot of hype due to the off-season battle between Jimbo Fisher and Nick Saban, but the Aggies’ rough start this season took some of that excitement away. Still, it’s clear that Texas A&M is talented enough to beat Alabama based on last October. The team definitely has to execute better in the game, but the Aggies can definitely turn the season around with a win in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Here’s a preview of Texas A&M’s upcoming matchup against Alabama.
Who’s the Quarterback(s)?
The starters for both squads, Max Johnson and Bryce Young, are questionable to play in this game. Based on the coaches’ press conferences, it’s likely that Haynes King will face off against Jalen Milroe in this game. Reports late Thursday are that Johnson has a broken bone in his hand and will miss a significant part of what is left of the season.
Although King struggled a bit against Mississippi State, he did perform better than at the beginning of the season. Alabama tends to struggle against dual-threat quarterbacks, so King could be the perfect recipe to beat the Crimson Tide.
Now, Milroe is a whole other problem for the Aggies’ defense. If DJ Durkin chooses to play a three-man defensive front again, Alabama’s offense will have a field day. Milroe, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Jase McClellan are extremely talented runners, and they tore up Arkansas’s defense.
Execute, Execute, Execute
Young wide receivers such as Evan Stewart and Chris Marshall will need to have an impact for the Aggies to win this game. Moose Muhammad III could be another star, but A&M needs to play a nearly perfect game to come out with a win.
Achane will be the focal point of the offense, and Pete Golding, Alabama’s defensive coordinator, will almost certainly key in on him. That means the Aggies’ playcalling has to spread the field, especially to catch the Crimson Tide’s defense off-guard; don’t be surprised if Fisher and Darrell Dickey throw in some trick plays on Saturday night.
Texas A&M absolutely needs to win the special teams part of the game. Kool-Aid McKinstry is absolutely lethal in the return game, much like Achane, and Alabama also has a great kicker in Will Reichard. When the Aggies reach the red zone, they always need to come away with seven and not three. Caden Davis hasn’t been consistent kicking for A&M this season, so the Aggies have to put the ball in the end zone.
Concluding Thoughts
Alabama, like always, is a machine and ranked as the number one team in the country. If the Texas A&M Aggies fall to 3-3, it’s very likely that they end with either a 6-6 or 7-5 record. Fisher did a lot of talking during the offseason, so let’s see if he can back that banter with another win. The Aggies were in a very similar situation last year, so don’t be shocked if they pull off the upset for consecutive years.
Texas A&M will enter the bye week following this road trip, and there will be a lot to assess at that time. The good thing is that the Aggies can play free and loose in this game, as there is really nothing to lose. Everyone in the college football world is doubting Texas A&M, and the Aggies play their best with their backs against the wall. Let’s wait and see what happens on Saturday.
