Tide tops Aggies in key SEC West Showdown, 26-20
Behind career best performances from quarterback Jalen Milroe and receiver Jermaine Burton, 11th ranked Alabama used a strong 2nd half to overcome a raucous Kyle Field crowd of 108,101 and a tough Texas A&M Aggie squad 26-20. The win positions the Tide atop the SEC West as the only team without a conference loss, and Nick Saban improved to 6-1 against former assistant Jimbo Fisher. After a week two loss to Texas, Bama has now rattled off four straight victories and is slowly entering into the conference championship conversation. Meanwhile, the Aggies suffered their second loss of the season. The vaunted A&M defense had their way in the first half, limiting the powerful Bama running game to a stunning negative 13 yards rushing and 148 total yards. In addition, the Aggie front constantly harassed Milroe, sacking him four times. Max Johnson and the Aggie offense did enough to go into the locker room with a 17-10 lead, yet they could not maintain their momentum and were outscored in the second half 16-3.
Milroe continues to progress as the Tide quarterback, going 21-33 for 321 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. The knock on Bama’s offense has been that Milroe could not win games throwing the ball, yet on Saturday in College Station, the sophomore quarterback made key plays and with the running game struggling, put the team on his shoulders and delivered. His favorite target was senior Jermaine Burton, who enjoyed a career-high 197 yards on nine catches for two touchdowns. Meanwhile, A&M quarterback Max Johnson was under constant pressure in the second half as Deonte Lawson, Dallas Turner, Chris Brasswell and company made life miserable for the sophomore signal caller, sacking him a total of five times, including four in the 4th quarter alone. Much like the Aggie D in the first half, the Bama D was a menacing force as they dominated the Texas A&M front throughout the second half.
The Alabama coaching staff, including new coordinators Tommy Reece and Kevin Steele, has come under fire this season due to the Tide’s uneven play. However, the Tide staff seems to be finding its footing as they coached their best game in ‘23, putting Bama in position to knock off the Aggies. Special kudos to offensive line coach Eric Wolford, whose adjustments at half created time for Milroe to sit in the pocket and move the Tide offense down the field effectively.
The scoring opened with Texas A&M’s Randy Bond nailing a field goal from 22 yards out to culminate a seven play, 39 yard drive to put the Aggies on the board. The Tide would answer with a field goal of their own as Will Reichard remained perfect on the season by hitting a 33 yard field goal to knot the game at 3 with 3:31 left in the opening quarter. Bama would score the first touchdown of the day on the second play of the 2nd quarter, a 52 yard strike from Milroe to sophomore Isaiah Bond to put the Tide up 10-3. A&M would dominate the rest of the quarter, adding two touchdowns, a 22 yard pass from Johnson to brother Jake that was set up with a nifty 46 yard Ainias Smith punt return to the Bama 22, and LeVeon Mossone’s one yard run to take a 17-10 lead into the locker room. At the half, the Aggies would outgain the Tide 203 to 148 and seemed to have the momentum and headed towards A&M’s second straight home victory over Saban and the Tide. Bama would open the 2nd half marching 30 yards to the A&M 37 before Aggie safety Bryce Anderson stepped in front of a Milroe pass for an interception to kill the drive.
Johnson would return the favor two plays later with a Caleb Downs pick, setting the Tide up at the Aggie 37. Milroe would hit Burton on a 3rd and 14 from 15 yards out to knot the score at 17 with 7:29 to play in the 3rd. After the Tide defense stopped a promising Aggie drive at the Bama 45 causing a punt, Milroe would lead a 6 play, 80 yard drive culminating in a Burton’s second touchdown of the day, a 19 yard catch and run off of a slant on 3rd and 9 to give Alabama a 24-17 lead entering the 4th quarter. The final stanza would start with an Aggie punt followed by a Burton fumble, setting up the Aggies in a perfect position to cut into the Bama lead on the Tide 29. The Alabama defense stiffened and forced a Bond field goal attempt from the Alabama 24. Bama standout linebacker Chris Braswell blocked the attempt and returned it 76 yards for what looked like a touchdown, yet a blindside block during the return would erase the touchdown and set up the Tide on their own 37. After moving the ball to the A&M 46, poor execution and foolish penalties (Alabama would be flagged 14 times for 99 yards on the day, which included a staggering 9 pre-snap infractions) pushed the ball back to the Bama 42. A Reichard punt backed the Aggies to their own 16 with 6:41 to play. The Tide front seven took over as two plays later, Bama would tackle Johnson in the endzone for a safety that pushed the Tide lead to 26-17. A Tide three and out gave A&M the ball back on their own 36. Sloppy Bama D allowed the Aggies to score what looked like a touchdown two plays into the drive, yet receiver Ainias Smith, who caught 4 passes for 88 yards on the day, stepped out on the two yard line. The Tide D stiffened once again and forced a Bond field goal from 20 yards out with 2:11 left in the contest. After a failed onsides kick attempt and two timeouts later, the Tide sat with a 3rd and 7 at the A&M 45 with 2:00 to go. On third down, the Aggie D forced Milroe to throw a pass to tailback Jace McClellan from his back foot. McClellan was on a knee when the ball arrived, yet he bobbled the pass and by the time he caught the ball, his knee was off the turf and he pushed ahead for an 8 yard gain and a first down. With Texas A&M out of timeouts, the Tide ran out the clock to remain unbeaten in the conference.
The statement win gives Alabama the edge in the West, and with their toughest remaining games, Tennessee and LSU, at home, the Tide could (major could here…Bama fans, don’t book your tickets yet) find itself headed to Atlanta in December with a shot at making the College Football Playoff. Meanwhile, A&M needs help getting to the SEC title game and with road contests against Tennessee, Ole Miss, and LSU, Jimbo, Bobby Petrino and company have got their work cut out for them.