The dark cloud over Texas A&M’s 2026 season keeps growing.
The Aggies handled initial adversity inside Bryant-Denny Stadium but faltered down the stretch as No. 13 Alabama handed A&M its fourth SEC loss this season, 31-20.
A dramatic opening set the stage for a weird first half, as both teams exchanged mistakes and momentum swings.
The Aggie defense forced a quick three-and-out to open the game, but Alabama pinned Marcel Reed & Co. deep at their own 3-yard line. An unnecessary roughness penalty on Dijon Lee Jr. gave A&M breathing room and moved them toward midfield. However, Lee wasted no time making amends. He jumped a pass from Reed, sprinting 39 yards for a momentum-shifting pick-six.
Bad became worse as the next ball Reed threw, Alabama’s Chuck McDonald III intercepted it again. Alabama pieced together a mediocre drive in plus territory but missed a 36-yard field goal attempt. A lucky break for the Aggies.
As Brady Hart began to throw on the sideline, the outlook looked gloomy for Reed. The Aggies found a fresh set of downs on a PI call against Lee, and KJ Edwards fought for a gain of 18 to propel the Maroon & White across midfield. A&M continued to commit to the run, opening up the passing game a bit for Isaiah Horton to find 17. A&M scored its first touchdown on the road this season when Reed found Mario Craver on a slant to tie things up.
Busted coverage from Jordan Shaw allowed the Crimson Tide a 36-yard completion. That’s all the yardage Alabama would find on the march, ending in a 47-yard field goal.
A few chunk plays helped the Aggies find more rhythm in the second quarter. For just a second, Reed showed a glimmer of his 2025 self by staying poised in the pocket and delivering a dart to Aaron Gregory for 31 yards. Reed took it himself for a 4-yard rushing touchdown to take a 14-10 lead.
Alabama drove down and plopped right inside the red zone on a 48-yard pass to Rico Scott, becoming the fourth opposing receiver to go for over 100 yards on the Aggie secondary this season. Keelon Russell found Daniel Hill for a four-yard touchdown to take a field goal lead.
After A&M’s first three-and-out of the day, Alabama needed to convert on a crucial third-and-15. Russell did his best to keep the play alive under pressure, but he threw right to Dezz Ricks for the Aggies’ sixth interception of the year.
From there, A&M’s offense sputtered, but David Olano nailed a 32-yard field goal to cap off an eventful first half.
To resume the ballgame in the second half, the Aggies churned their way downfield as Rueben Owens II saw some carries. Jamarion Morrow took a big hit on a 20-yard catch to put A&M inside the red zone, and Olano kicked a 25-yard field goal to extend his perfect stretch.
Lotzeir Brooks hauled in a 35-yard reception to push Alabama into Aggie territory, but the Crimson Tide’s struggles on third down persisted into the third quarter. Kalen DeBoer sent out Conor Talty for a 42-yard field goal attempt, but the kick sailed wide and kept points off the board.
Yet, momentum swung Alabama’s way on a fourth-down attempt from A&M. On their own 45, Reed didn’t anticipate Mark Nabou Jr.'s snap, and the Crimson Tide took over. They made the Aggies pay in short order as Scott beat Bravion Rogers on a 40-yard deep ball, and Russell hit Marshall Pritchett in the end zone to begin the final frame.
An uninspiring result ensued as the Aggies gained one yard on their next three-and-out drive. Alabama executed a five-play, 55-yard drive to follow, taking an 11-point lead on Russell’s third touchdown pass of the day.
From there, Alabama kept it conservative, and the Aggies struggled mightily with a few three-and-out possessions. The Crimson Tide ran out the clock to lock up the win.
RUMBLED: Alabama controlled Texas A&M in the fourth quarter. With their backs against the wall and needing to take the lead, A&M responded with back-to-back-back three-and-outs. In the final frame, the Aggies put up 15 total yards and 35 yards of penalties. A&M fumbled at the finish line.
STUMBLED: Big plays plagued the Aggies once again. A banged-up Alabama team steered clear of the run as the game progressed, so A&M knew what was coming and still couldn’t defend it. The Crimson Tide had all but two drives without a completion of 16 or more. Alabama gashed the Aggies’ secondary with explosive receptions of 36, 48, 35 and 40. Rico Scott became the fourth opposing receiver this season to eclipse the 100-yard mark against A&M. Ultimately, those back-breaking big plays doomed the Aggies’ hopes of the upset.
TURNING POINT: A chaotic first half made for a decisive second. Alabama showed up in the fourth quarter with two touchdown drives while the Aggies didn’t. Russell’s passing touchdown to Edwards, followed by a three-and-out from Reed & Co., put the writing on the wall.
UNSUNG HERO: Landon Rink flashed several times on Saturday. The sophomore interior defensive lineman fought along the line of scrimmage, even breaking through to sack Russell for a 5-yard loss, forcing Alabama to punt that drive.
KEY STAT: A&M entered the fourth quarter needing two scores to mount a comeback. Instead, the Aggies mustered just 15 total yards in the final period, sealing their fate against the Crimson Tide.
Scoring Summary
First quarter
ALA: 11:24 - Dijon Lee Jr. 39-yard pick-six. Alabama 7, Texas A&M 0
A&M: 3:36 - Marcel Reed 9-yard passing touchdown to Mario Craver. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards. TOP 5:37. Alabama 7, Texas A&M 7
ALA: 1:13 - Conor Talty 47-yard field goal. Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards. TOP 2:23. Alabama 10, Texas A&M 7
Second quarter
A&M: 10:14 - Marcel Reed 4-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards. TOP 5:59. Texas A&M 14, Alabama 10
ALA: 5:13 - Keelon Russell 9-yard passing touchdown to Daniel Hill. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards. TOP 5:01. Alabama 17, Texas A&M 14
A&M: 1:47 - David Olano 32-yard field goal. Drive: 4 plays, 14 yards. TOP 1:13. Alabama 17, Texas A&M 17
Third quarter
A&M: 8:38 - David Olano 25-yard field goal. Drive: 13 plays, 68 yards. TOP 6:22. Texas A&M 20, Alabama 17
Fourth quarter
ALA: 14:55 - Keelon Russell 5-yard passing touchdown to Marshall Pritchett. Drive: 4 plays, 45 yards. TOP 1:43. Alabama 24, Texas A&M 20
ALA: 10:01 - Keelon Russell 8-yard passing touchdown to Kaleb Edwards. Drive: 5 plays, 55 yards. TOP 2:56. Alabama 31, Texas A&M 20
