It has been 327 days since Texas A&M scored a touchdown against a ranked opponent. That is an ugly statistic the Aggies are looking to change when the team travels to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to face the No. 13 Crimson Tide.
Alabama is coming off a devastating road loss to Tennessee in Week 7, falling 4-2 and sitting at 2-2 in SEC play. Meanwhile, Texas A&M returned to the win column with a 41-0 win over The Citadel, marking the first time since 1993 that the program has recorded two shutout victories in a single season. That achievement has been one of the few positives to take away from the Aggies' season so far, however.
Mike Elko's squad has just one league win in 2026, just one season removed from an 11-1 regular season with a single SEC loss to Texas in the Lone Star Showdown. The expectation of reaching the College Football Playoff in back-to-back years is no longer in play, but the Aggies could take advantage of a shell-shocked Crimson Tide and play spoiler against DeBoer and company.
Here are three areas to watch in Texas A&M's road trip to Bryant-Denny Stadium:
Marcel Reed vs. Alabama's secondary
It's no secret where Texas A&M's offensive struggles have resided this season. The quarterback controversy stirred by Marcel Reed's lackluster performances has been at the epicenter of the team's inability to create explosive plays and produce any offensive success.
Reed ranks No. 15 in the SEC in completion percentage, No. 14 in total passing yards, No. 13 in passing touchdowns and boasts the third-most interceptions among all quarterbacks. Those downfalls have the Aggies ranked last in the conference with just 13 passing plays of 20-plus yards.
The Aggie offense will face an Alabama defense that ranks No. 2 in the conference with 10 total interceptions, but the Crimson Tide have allowed 230.9 passing yards per game through the first seven weeks. If Texas A&M wants to pull off the major upset, the offense must create explosive plays and stretch the field vertically, which will require Reed to be sharp and consistent as a passer.
Can Reed make smart decisions and create explosive pass plays against an elite SEC defense?
Texas A&M's defensive line vs. Alabama's offensive line
If there's any area of this Alabama team Texas A&M could expose, it resides in the trenches. The Tide have allowed the second-most sacks (21.0) for the most sack yardage (139) entering Week 8. Tennessee's defensive line wreaked havoc against Alabama's offensive line, notching five sacks and forcing the pocket to collapse on Russell, resulting in errant decisions.
On the flip side, the Aggies rank last in the SEC with just 5.0 total sacks recorded thus far. Mike Elko's defensive systems typically boast star defensive linemen and edge rushers, but no athlete has truly emerged yet. This could be a prime opportunity for the tides to turn.
Can the Aggies create chaos against Alabama's offensive line and force Russell to feel the heat?
Texas A&M's secondary vs. Alabama's wide receiving corps
Despite Ryan Coleman-Williams' status being unknown entering Week 8, Alabama's wide receiver corps features multiple electric stars who can create explosive plays in a flash. That includes sophomore Lotzeir Brooks, who has 26 receptions for 415 yards and a touchdown, with four games posting 50-plus receiving yards for the Tide. Alabama also has one of the nation's most talented dual-threat quarterbacks at the helm, putting more pressure on the Aggie defense to prevent explosive plays.
However, Texas A&M's secondary has performed outstanding this season, allowing just 164.1 passing yards per game and ranking atop the SEC with a 56.3 opponent completion percentage.
Can Texas A&M's secondary prevent Alabama's talented quarterback and wide receivers from stretching the field?
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M at No. 13 Alabama: Three areas to watch against the Tide