Russell's late surge powers No. 13 Alabama past Texas A&M in Tuscaloosa

Late Surge Decides Contest

No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide (6-2) defeated the Texas A&M Aggies (4-4) 31-20 on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide secured the victory with a dominant fourth-quarter performance, outscoring the Aggies 14-0 in the final period. Keelon Russell was the driving force, throwing three touchdown passes in that stretch to put the game out of reach.

The win concludes a difficult stretch for Alabama, which enters this game seeking to stabilize its season after recent setbacks.

Early Exchange and Aggressive Defense

The game opened with defensive intensity. Dijon Lee Jr. set the tone early in the first quarter by returning an interception 39 yards for a touchdown, giving Alabama an early 7-0 lead. Texas A&M responded quickly through the air, as quarterback Marcel Reed connected with Mario Craver on a nine-yard pass for a touchdown.

The Aggies added a 47-yard field goal by Conor Talty to close out the first quarter with a 10-7 Alabama lead. The second quarter saw both offenses find rhythm. Marcel Reed rushed for a four-yard touchdown, but Russell answered with a three-yard pass to Daniel Hill.

David Olano kicked a 32-yard field goal to tie the game at 17-17 heading into halftime.

Statistical Breakdown

Russell finished the day with 311 passing yards on 19 of 30 attempts, along with three touchdowns and one interception. Rico Scott led the receiving corps with six catches for 156 yards, while Daniel Hill contributed 36 rushing yards on nine carries. For Texas A&M, Marcel Reed completed 14 of 21 passes for 163 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

KJ Edwards led the Aggies in rushing with 43 yards on eight carries, and Mario Craver caught six passes for 45 yards and a touchdown.

Final Minutes and Records

The third quarter was quiet, with David Olano extending the Aggie lead to 20-17 with a 25-yard field goal. However, Alabama’s offense exploded in the fourth. Russell connected with Marshall Pritchett on a five-yard pass, followed by an eight-yard strike to Kaleb Edwards.

Both touchdowns were converted by Conor Talty, sealing the 31-20 final score. The attendance at Bryant-Denny Stadium was 100,077. Alabama improves to 6-2, while Texas A&M falls to 4-4.

Sources

ESPN