Two teams with hopes of finishing on top of the SEC West will meet Saturday in the SEC on CBS Game of the Week when Texas A&M plays host to No. 11 Alabama in a showdown that also has an impact on the College Football Playoff races. Both squads suffered unflattering Week 2 nonconference losses that dropped expectations, but they have since regained their footing to set the stage for this marquee Week 6 showdown.
Alabama beat Ole Miss and Mississippi State over the past two weeks after reinstating Jalen Milroe at quarterback. The Tide have demonstrated defensive improvement following a Sept. 9 loss to Texas and an uninspiring Week 3 win over South Florida. Texas A&M recovered from its Week 2 loss at Miami with three straight double-digit victories over Louisiana-Monroe, Auburn and Arkansas. The Aggies limited Arkansas to just 174 total yards and 10 first downs during a 34-22 win last week as quarterback Max Johnson made his first start of the season in place of the injured Conner Weigman.
The previous two games have gone down to the wire. Zach Calzada left everything on the table with his 285-yard, three-touchdown performance to put A&M just outside Alabama's red zone in 2021. Seth Small's kick made fans flock the field and Jimbo Fisher the first former assistant to defeat the master.
Moore was unable to put any weight on his right leg as two trainers helped him to the sideline. He was then taken by cart to the locker room. Moore, who plays Alabama's hybrid "star" position in the secondary, is one of the Tide's most versatile defensive backs.
The Aggies fall in the second-tier category among SEC contenders alongside programs such as Tennessee, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Ole Miss. Would it be shocking to see one of the five make it to Atlanta? Not entirely given the balance of the roster. Are fans pushing them past the big three entering mid-July? Absolutely not.
A&M knows it'll have to prove its contention status with SEC Media Days around the corner. A good starting point is with beating Alabama. Even if the program finishes 8-4 or 9-3 and well outside the College Football Playoff picture, defeating the Crimson Tide comes with a badge of honor.
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