Keelon Russell throws 3 TDs as No. 13 Alabama beats Texas A&M 31-20 to end two-game skid

No. 13 Alabama snapped a two-game losing streak on Saturday, Oct. 24, beating Texas A&M 31-20 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Keelon Russell threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter after the Crimson Tide had trailed 20-17, according to the Associated Press.

Alabama improved to 6-2 (4-2 SEC) in the teams’ first meeting since 2023. Texas A&M dropped to 4-4 (1-4 SEC). The announced attendance was 100,077, per Alabama’s official box score.

Texas A&M vs. Alabama final score

How the game unfolded

Alabama struck first when Dijon Lee Jr. returned an interception 39 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed recovered from that rough start, throwing a 9-yard touchdown pass to Mario Craver and running 4 yards for a score that gave the Aggies a 14-10 lead in the second quarter, according to the box score.

Russell answered with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Hill before halftime, and the teams were tied at 17 at the break after David Olano’s 32-yard field goal. Olano added a 25-yarder in the third quarter to put Texas A&M up 20-17 heading into the fourth.

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said he considered a quarterback change after Reed’s early struggles. “Yeah, absolutely. It was for sure a thought,” Elko said, per the AP, adding that Reed “went back out and played probably his best football for the rest of the first half.”

Alabama’s fourth-quarter turnaround

The game turned on a fourth-and-1 at midfield. Reed lost the ball on a quarterback sneak, Alabama took over, and three plays later Russell hit Rico Scott for 38 yards to the Texas A&M 5, the AP reported. Russell then found Marshall Pritchett for a 5-yard touchdown and a 24-20 lead early in the fourth.

When Texas A&M had a chance to answer, Fatutoa Henry got to Reed for Alabama’s first sack of the day. Russell then capped a 55-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kaleb Edwards with 10:01 left to make it 31-20, and the Aggies didn’t score again.

“Rico came up in a big way,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said of Scott. “He’s developed those expectations for himself above and beyond. Keelon has a lot of confidence in him.”

Key stats

Alabama’s defense allowed 278 total yards and forced three turnovers, with sophomore Chuck McDonald III recording his first career interception, according to the AP.

Alabama’s thin secondary

Alabama won despite more losses in the defensive backfield. Just before kickoff, the team confirmed that Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. was suspended for violating team rules, his second suspension at the school, the AP reported. Red Morgan was ejected for targeting in the second quarter, and the Tide were already without top cornerback Zabien Brown because of a leg injury. Alabama also played a second straight game without receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams (knee).

What it means

Alabama avoided its first three-game losing streak since 2007, Nick Saban’s first season as coach, and the AP noted a College Football Playoff spot remains within reach if the Tide don’t lose again. Texas A&M, a playoff team last season that brought back Reed and Craver, has now lost four of five SEC games.

Both teams have an open date next week. Alabama plays at No. 18 LSU on Nov. 7, and Texas A&M visits South Carolina the same day.

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Earlier coverage: No. 13 Alabama rallies past Texas A&M 31-20 with two fourth-quarter TD passes from Keelon Russell (Oct 24)