#6 6-0 TEXAS A&M VS. ALABAMA #1 7-0
WHEN: 2:30 P.M. SATURDAY • WHERE: BRYANT-DENNY STADIUM, TUSCALOOSA, ALA. • TV: CBS • RADIO: 97.5 FM
Key players: A&M — QB Trevor Knight, RB Trayveon Williams, SS Justin Evans; Alabama — QB Jalen Hurts, FS Ronnie Harrison, LB Reuben Foster. Series history: Alabama leads 6-2. Who has the edge:
Offense — Even. Thanks to Channelview’s Jalen Hurts, this isn’t the old Alabama offense. The Tide are improved in almost every offensive category over last season, including points (45.4), total yards (505), passing yards (239) and rushing yards (265.7) per game. But the Aggies are no slouches on offense, especially with the emergence of Williams, who rushed for 217 yards and one TD two weeks ago against Tennessee. They average 532.8 yards and 40.2 points.
Defense — Alabama. The Tide still rule here, ranking first in rushing yards (63.9), fifth in total yards (274) and eighth in points (15) allowed per game with 14 takeaways (seven interceptions, seven fumble recoveries). The Aggies are muchimproved defensively from last season, allowing 19.2 points per game, which is 22nd in FBS.
Special teams — Even. Both teams have missed four field goals on the season. K Daniel LaCamera misfired on a 38-yard attempt with 4 seconds left against Tennessee, but the Aggies won in OT.
Notable: The Aggies beat Alabama 24-19 in their debut SEC season in 2012, but Alabama has won the past three meetings, including a 59-0 win in 2014 and last year’s 41-23 victory in College Station. Prior to A&M’s joining the SEC, the teams met only four times between 1941 and 1988.
About Texas A&M: The Aggies (6-0, 4-0) remained undefeated with a 45-38 doubleovertime win over Tennessee. They’re 6-0 for the first time since 1994 and coming off an open date. Williams, a C.E. King product, continues to impress, with 704 yards and five TDs rushing.
About Alabama: The Tide (7-0, 4-0) look as dominant as ever after last week’s 49-10 dismantling of the Volunteers. They scored on defense and special teams, and Hurts ran for 132 yards and three TDs. The true freshman QB has 1,385 yards and nine TDs passing and 428 yards and eight TDs rushing this season.