Situation familiar as No. 1 Alabama hosts unranked Texas A&M

AP photo by Michael Woods / Alabama starting quarterback Bryce Young and coach Nick Saban celebrate a touchdown during the second half of last week's win at Arkansas. Young left the game in the first half due to a shoulder injury.

By JOHN ZENOR / The Associated Press October 7, 2022 4 min read

Alabama and Texas A&M have basically taken last year’s scenario and added some offseason spice.

But when these two Southeastern Conference West Division programs take the football field Saturday night, can they actually match the excitement of the 2021 game?

The Crimson Tide (5-0, 2-0), No. 1 in the rankings for the first time in three weeks, will host Texas A&M (3-2, 1-1), unranked for the first time this season, in a grudge match forged by the Aggies’ 41-38 upset last season and this spring’s infamous war of words between the program’s head coaches.

Just like last year, Nick Saban’s Tide are atop the AP Top 25. And just like last year, Jimbo Fisher’s Aggies are out of the poll, coming off a loss to Mississippi State and struggling offensively.

“We could say it was the same situation a year ago,” Saban said.