#1 Alabama at #24 Texas A&M
When: Saturday, October 12 at 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Kyle Field in College Station, TX
TV: CBS
Alabama looks as dominant as ever in 2019, but they face their first real road test at Texas A&M this weekend. The Aggies come in at 3-2 with a couple of losses to top-12 teams already on the docket. Can Texas A&M overcome a rough start and dethrone the powerhouse of the SEC?
Alabama
The Crimson Tide might produce the top-two draft picks in 2020. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is the consensus QB1 in the class and for good reason. The junior has completed 76.4 percent of his passes this season while racking up 1,718 yards and 23 touchdowns. He has done so without throwing a single interception.
His top target, Jerry Jeudy, is one of the most polished collegiate receivers to ever step on the field. Jeudy has 38 grabs for 488 yards and six touchdowns on the season. Add in Devonta Smith and Henry Ruggs III and Alabama has the best receiving unit in the nation.
Smith is coming off a historic performance, catching 11 passes for 274 yards and five touchdowns against Ole Miss. Ruggs III is one of the fastest players in all of college football and he can turn anything into a big play. He is averaging over 21 yards per reception so far this season.
Alabama has an offense that can score points and a defense that doesn’t allow many. Anfernee Jennings leads the way with 3.0 sacks and 5.0 TFLs. Safety Xavier McKinney leads the team with 41 total tackles while also contributing two turnovers. He has a forced fumble and an interception to his name.
Cornerback Trevon Diggs has two interceptions on the season thanks to his elite ball skills. The former receiver knows how to track the ball and read his matchup in order to make a play. The Bama defense produces a ton of NFL talent every year and 2020 should be no different.
Texas A&M
The Aggie offense has struggled to put up points against tough defenses this season. In fact, they have scored just 30 points in two games against ranked opponents this year.
Quarterback Kellen Mond has not shown up when it matters most for A&M, turning in his two worst performances of the season against the school’s two toughest opponents. He has also thrown an interception in four of his five starts this year.
The Aggies have a young backfield filled with freshmen and sophomores, so the passing attack needs to come alive. Kendrick Rogers, one of my sleepers for the 2020 NFL Draft, has been quiet this season. His 17 catches for 200 yards have yet to yield him a touchdown.
Texas A&M has a gem on defense in defensive tackle Justin Madubuike. He has 2.0 sacks and 6.0 TFLs to go along with an interception and three pass deflections. His versatility and raw power up front make him a force in the trenches. Madubuike can be a top-50 selection in the 2020 draft if he plays well, especially against a tough Alabama opponent this weekend.