Alabama vs. Texas A&M: Top matchup that favors the Aggies

No. 11 Alabama (4-1, 2-0 SEC) is on the road this weekend taking on Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0 SEC) in College Station. As things sit, the Tide are 2.5-point favorites over the Aggies, which is one of the lowest point spreads we’ve seen for UA in recent years. There’s good reason for that, as different matchups favor each team.

Over the next couple of days, we’re going to break down a couple of those matchups. Today, we start with a clear advantage for Texas A&M. Then tomorrow, we can turn our attention to an area that clearly favors Alabama. Keep in mind that when we say “clear advantage,” we mean it. This article isn’t meant to be flattering or pretty. It’s meant to be real.

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Alabama’s OL vs. Texas A&M’s DL

Alabama’s offensive line hasn’t faced a defensive line as talented as Texas A&M. Texas was pretty close, but the Aggies are littered with former five stars along their defensive front. The two who stand out the most are Walter Nolan and Shemar Turner, both of whom were top 15 players from their respective recruiting cycles. Interestingly enough, they both check in at 6-foot-4, 290 pounds with the versatility to play inside and out.

Turner is listed as an end who sees over 85% of his snaps out on the edge. You’ll see him line up on the interior, but that role has mostly fallen on Nolan. In fact, he’s the guy who gets moved around the most. The second-year standout is deployed as an interior player on 57.2% of his snaps with the other 42.8% coming as a defensive end. Don’t be surprised if A&M tries to create favorable matchups for him and for Turner, especially on passing downs.

Those aren’t the only linemen to keep an eye on either. At 6-2, 325 pounds, senior McKinnley Jackson is the only Aggies starter to tip the scales at over 300 pounds. He’s better known for being a quality run defender, but don’t think that he can’t create pressure on quarterbacks. You see him working anywhere from a zero to three-technique, so Seth McLaughlin and Alabama’s other two interior guys will need to be careful with him, too.

In last year’s matchup, Fadil Diggs (6-5, 260) — the fourth and final starter — was the one to get the most recognition due to his six tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks. Personally, I think Nolan was equally as effective when it came to pressuring Jalen Milroe, but the stat sheet doesn’t reflect it. Either way, this is a really strong group of starters with some impressive depth to back them up. Guys like Shemar Stewart and LT Overton (both former five-stars) would be starting for a lot of programs out there.

Now, it’s important to note that Alabama’s offensive line is loaded with talent, too. It includes three former five-stars with tremendous size and upside. And while the unit hasn’t played to that talent level yet, they’re beginning to show signs. This Saturday will provide a much more challenging test than Ole Miss or Mississippi State though. When looking at A&M, there aren’t many of these front defenders that you should feel comfortable leaving in one-on-one matchups.

Turner is playing like a future first-round draft pick right now. Diggs is a constant backfield disruptor who’s getting closer to finishing sacks. Jackson is a big-bodied presence with underrated explosiveness to go with NFL power. And yet, Nolan could turn out to be the best of the bunch. Plus, the off-ball linebackers Edgerrin Cooper (4.0 sacks), Taurean York (1.0 sack) and Chris Russell (2.0 sacks) are providing juice to complement these guys.

In total, A&M has racked up 30 tackles for loss and 14 sacks since SEC play got started two weeks ago. Alabama, while showing steady improvement in recent weeks, still ranks No. 127 in sacks allowed (20). On paper, this combination makes for a really tough matchup for the Crimson Tide.

Now to be fair, Alabama has overcome a similar OL-DL disadvantage in recent years. If you remember back to 2021, the offensive line was facing what felt like an insurmountable task of going against a Georgia front consisting of future first-round talents in Jordan Davis, Travon Walker, Jalen Carter, Devonte Wyatt and Nolan Smith. Behind them was Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker and Channing Tindall, all of whom were either Day 1 or Day 2 NFL draft picks.

And yet, Alabama’s offensive line was able to do enough to overcome and help score 34 points on offense. Granted, fielding a Heisman winner such as Bryce Young at quarterback did a lot to alleviate any of those disadvantages. And while that game was closer to a home game for Georgia than it was Alabama, it certainly wasn’t playing in front of the 12th Man. That combination (the absence of Young and the location) makes this a slightly different feel compared to that contest.

I know we talk about it all the time, but Alabama’s offense has to find a way to run the ball on early downs. Unfortunately, that’s much easier said than done. A&M currently ranks No. 21 nationally in run defense, giving up 96.2 yards per game. I mean, even Arkansas — who’s supposed to field one of the top rushing attacks in the SEC — only mustered up 42 yards on 39 carries last Saturday. Still, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and company have to get Milroe in favorable down and distances.

When it’s third down and an obvious passing situations, most of Alabama’s personnel on offense is at a major disadvantage. The offensive line isn’t built for those situations, and neither is the quarterback. Even the running backs aren’t setup for third-and-long success right now with the way they’ve struggled in pass protection this season. Now combine that with A&M’s defense that ranks top 3 nationally in sacks. That’s just asking for trouble.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s going to happen some. It happens in every game. The goal should be to avoid it as much as possible. Stay ahead of the sticks and keep that defensive front off balance. UA also needs to avoid any large deficits. Really, that’s where things got dicey for the Razorbacks. After a pick-six by Jefferson to put Arkansas down 27-16 late in the third quarter, A&M was able to start teeing off its pass rush, which led to four of its seven sacks.

The more Alabama can stay ahead — whether that be on the scoreboard or on the sticks — the better of they’ll be.

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