No. 13 Alabama rallies past Texas A&M 31-20 with two fourth-quarter TD passes from Keelon Russell

Alabama spent most of Saturday afternoon in a tight fight with an unranked Texas A&M team, and trailed entering the fourth quarter. Then Keelon Russell threw two touchdown passes in the first five minutes of the final period, the defense shut the Aggies out the rest of the way, and No. 13 Alabama won 31-20 on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Crimson Tide, who improved to 6-2 and 4-2 in the SEC. Texas A&M fell to 4-4 and 1-4.

How Alabama came back

Alabama’s defense set the tone early. On Texas A&M’s first drive, after the Aggies were pinned at their own 3 by an Alex Asparuhov punt, cornerback Dijon Lee Jr. intercepted Marcel Reed and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown. Roll Tide Wire said it was Alabama’s fifth pick-six of the season. On the very next play, Chuck McDonald III picked off Reed again.

Texas A&M recovered. Reed threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Mario Craver and ran for a 4-yard score, and David Olano kicked two field goals, including one in the third quarter that put the Aggies up 20-17. Alabama struggled on third down for much of the game and kicker Conor Talty missed two field goals, a 36-yarder in the first quarter and a 42-yarder in the third.

The turn came on the last play of the third quarter, when Russell hit Rico Scott for 40 yards on third-and-long to reach the A&M 3. On the first play of the fourth, Russell found Marshall Pritchett for a 5-yard touchdown and a 24-20 lead. After a three-and-out by the Aggies, Russell threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Kaleb Edwards on third-and-goal with 10:01 left.

Alabama’s defense forced repeated stops from there, including a third-down sack of Reed by Fatutoa Henry, and Daniel Hill’s late first down let the Tide kneel out the clock.

Scoring summary

Alabama football: Russell and Rico Scott

Russell completed 19 of 30 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception by Dezz Ricks in the second quarter, according to ESPN’s box score. Scott was his top target, with six catches for 156 yards, and Lotzeir Brooks added three for 73. Alabama ran for only 68 yards.

Linebacker Caleb Woodson led the defense with 10 tackles. Defensive back Red Morgan was ejected for targeting in the second quarter, and Roll Tide Wire reported that left guard William Sanders left the game on a cart with an injury and that defensive tackle London Simmons also went down hurt. Their status was not known at publication.

Texas A&M: Reed, Horton and three turnovers

Reed went 14 of 21 for 163 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, and ran 17 times for 23 yards and a score. Texas A&M committed three turnovers, per ESPN, and won the time of possession battle, 33:10 to 26:50, but finished with 278 total yards to Alabama’s 379.

Isaiah Horton, the former Alabama receiver who led the Tide in touchdown catches a year ago before transferring to Texas A&M, was facing his old team for the first time. He finished with three catches for 34 yards. Craver had six catches for 45 yards.

How to watch, and the pregame line

The game kicked off at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Roll Tide Wire listed Alabama as a 13-point favorite before kickoff.

FAQ