Last 2 unbeatens in SEC to face o≠
Texas A&M returning to Alabama
tuscaloosa, ala.» Kevin Sumlin and Texas A&M have celebrated a colossal win and endured a humiliating loss at Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium. Now, they’re back. The sixth-ranked Aggies return Saturday to face No. 1 Alabama in a matchup of the Southeastern Conference’s last unbeaten teams and a game that’s every bit as important as any previous meeting.
It’s even more intriguing with the Crimson Tide (7-0, 4-0) having edged closer to the Texas A&M style of speedy tempo and quarterback runs. The Aggies (6-0, 4-0) haven’t abandoned that formula by any stretch but have taken over the role of the SEC’s top running team that would seem more Bama’s domain traditionally.
No wonder Tide coach Nick Saban said, “We’re full of challenges for this week.” He added: “This is one of those season-defining games for us.”
For the Aggies, as well. It’s the second time in four seasons that the SEC West showdown has featured No. 1 versus No. 6 and the third Top 10 matchup in that span. The budding rivalry has produced classics such as the Johnny Manziel-led 2012 upset by the Aggies in Tuscaloosa and Bama’s 49-42 win a year later. It has also supplied Alabama’s biggest beatdown against a ranked team, a 59-0 win on the Aggies’ last visit two seasons ago.
Such a one-sided outcome seems unlikely this time, but Alabama is a whopping 18-point favorite coming off dominating performances against Tennessee and Arkansas.
Texas A&M quarterback Trevor Knight, who led Oklahoma to a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama as a redshirt freshman, said the Aggies have this game in its proper perspective.
“We’re not overemphasizing this week, and that’s not discrediting Alabama and what they’ve done,” he said. “But this isn’t the end-all, be-all. This is the seventh game of our season. We still have a bunch of games after that, and we realize and respect the opponent that we’re playing, but we’re not making it on a pedestal.”
Alabama has grown accustomed to playing much-hyped games, going 23-6 against Top 10 teams since 2008. The Aggies have won a school-record three road games against Top 10 teams under Sumlin, including that 2924 win in 2012 that was the program’s second win over a topranked team.