Texas A&M vs Alabama Recap
The Aggies shocked everyone Saturday night and turned the college football world upside down. Texas A&M 41
Alabama 38
By: The Hammer
RIP Alabama. They’ll be fine but I couldn’t help myself.
TEXAS A&M TAKES DOWN #1 ALABAMA. Nick Saban had never lost to a former assistant. 24-0 prior to Saturday night. Alabama had won 100 consecutive games against unranked opponents, a streak that dates back to 2007, Nick Saban’s first year in Tuscaloosa. The Tide had won 19 straight games, dating back to 2019. We had not beaten Alabama since 2012 with Johnny Manziel. No more. These streaks are done as A&M shocked the world.
41 - 38. A score that will live in the hearts and minds of Aggie fans for years. A story of overcoming adversity, banding together, and slaying a giant.
It’s hard to imagine a better scene in all of college football than Kyle Field on Saturday night. Aggies fans stormed the field and it was total pandemonium in College Station, Texas. The fightin Texas Aggies upset #1 Alabama on the only CBS primetime broadcast of the season in front of 106,815 fans, the second largest crowd in Kyle Field history. The game, the atmosphere, and the scene could not have been better. Like it was scripted.
Incredible scene at Kyle Field. Photo via @RossBjorkAD on twitter
Before we get into how A&M pulled off this upset, I want to say how happy I am for this team and coaching staff. They have been under fire for a lackluster season so far (I’m guilty of this), and rightfully so, but you can’t help but be elated for that group. Despite their shortcomings against Mississippi State and Arkansas, it was never a lack of effort. This team plays hard. They give it everything they have. Things just had not broken their way yet, but they finally did Saturday night as the entire college football world watched. Calzada, Jimbo, the offensive line, the 12th man - they all made a huge statement Saturday night and as an Aggie, I’m so happy and proud of those guys. They deserve all the praise.
Now, how did this actually happen? It took a full team effort, that’s for sure. So many players stepped up and made huge plays. This team was ready. They had been waiting since last year for another chance at the Tide, and they weren’t going to let it slip away. Alabama played a great game. They did not give this game to Texas A&M. The Aggies took it. They took punch after punch from the Tide and returned with punches of their own, all the way until Seth Small dealt the final blow as time expired.
Jimbo called one of his best offensive games in his time at A&M. He directed a balanced attack (27 runs and 31 passes), took shots over the top, and was far less predictable than in recent weeks. Using motion, some misdirection, and moving the pocket. The players made Jimbo look good too. Calzada played like a man possessed. He finally got some protection up front from the offensive line (Alabama did not record a sack), and he came out throwing darts. Calzada finished the game throwing for 285 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception on 21/31 attempts. He had a great first half, then struggled a little in the 3rd quarter, but when the game was on the line in the 4th quarter, Calzada was nails, leading the Aggies on two scoring drives in the final five minutes (one TD and a FG) to win the game. The kid deserves a ton of credit for his performance, especially after all the criticism he has received. What a night.
Calzada celebrates with fans after the game of his life. Photo by Sam Craft, Associated Press
A huge key offensively was the ability to run the ball. Texas A&M only managed 94 rushing yards on 27 attempts for the game, but it was clear Alabama respected the run. They were not able to rush three and drop eight all night like Mississippi State and Arkansas did. The play action worked. It was freezing linebackers and safeties because they respected the Aggie rushing attack. And of course, Calzada was able to make them pay through the air.
You can’t mention the run game and play action success without praising the offensive line. What a night for that group, who, similar to Calzada, had been under fire. They figured something out last night. True freshman Bryce Foster had his best game in Maroon and White by far, and he’s been nominated for SEC freshman of the week. Another true freshman Rueben Fatheree played well at right tackle too. Not to mention we were without starting guard Aki Ogunbiyi and left tackle Jahmir Johnson, who was surprisingly unavailable. Blake Trainor filled in at guard and Kenyon Green slid out to left tackle, and by God they figured it out. Fantastic game by this group against an always challenging Alabama front seven.
Defensively, I thought Elko had an awesome game plan. He brought pressure in so many different creative ways, and A&M was putting pressure under Bryce Young all night. The Aggies recorded four sacks, five tackles for loss and five QB hurries on the night. Incredibly impressive against an Alabama offensive line. The defense also forced two turnovers, which were both massive. The one fumble in gave A&M a short field and led directly to a touchdown, while the interception came in the Alabama end zone as the Tide were on the doorstep, threatening to score again.
When you look at the box score and see Alabama gained 522 total yards and scored 31 points (not counting the blocked punt), you might not think this defense played that well. But if you actually watched the game, you saw what a good performance it was. The defense was on the field a ton, especially in the second half, but they never made it easy on Alabama. Bryce Young and company had to fight for every yard and point they got. With true freshman Tyreek Chappell getting the start with both Myles Jones and Brian George done for the year, this group held up very well against all those Alabama weapons.
One of the things I am most proud of is how this team fought. After getting off to a great start and carrying a 24-10 lead into half time, the inevitable Crimson Tide storm was coming. Many teams are not able to withstand it. Many Aggies teams in the past have not withstood it. Alabama will never go down quietly, you have to match their haymakers with haymakers of your own, and that is exactly what we did. Alabama’s touchdown off the blocked punt could have been devastating. Instead, Devon Achane took the ensuing kickoff 96 yards to the house. Talk about a response. Then as the defense was getting tired late in the game, and Alabama had offensive momentum taking a 38-31 lead after a touchdown to Jamison Williams and a converted two point play with 5 minutes remaining (that touchdown should not have been allowed as half the Alabama offensive line was not set), this team responded. Zach Calzada marched the Aggies right down the field in six plays, capped off with a touchdown to Ainias Smith to tie the game with 3 minutes left.
As if on queue, the Aggie defense trotted onto the field and forced a three and out, giving Calzada and the offense a chance to win the ball game. They did exactly that on an 8 play, 54 yard drive that set up the game winning field goal by Seth Small as time expired. Once that ball sailed through the uprights, the fans came rushing onto the field and pure elation ensured. A storybook ending to an incredible game.
The Aggies have overcome a lot in this season and they overcame a lot in this game. The officiating was questionable at best (on both sides). Missing two starters on the offensive line, among a litany of other injuries. And we took Alabama’s best shot, but still prevailed. Proud to be an Aggie is an understatement.
4-2
#BTHOMISSOURI
