No. 13 Alabama pulls away in fourth quarter to deny Texas A&M's upset bid

Marcel Reed and Texas A&M overcame some early struggles but the Aggies' offense disappeared in the fourth quarter of Saturday's loss to Alabama. (Vasha Hunt/Associated Press) TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to hold off Texas A&M and secure a 31-20 victory Saturday, sending the Aggies into the off week with a 1-4 conference record.The Crimson Tide entered the fourth quarter down 20-17 but quarterback Keelon Russell threw two of his three touchdowns in the last frame while the Aggies' offense withered after the sun fell below the top deck of Bryant-Denny Stadium.It started when A&M quarterback Marcel Reed had his third turnover of the game, a fumbled snap on a fourth-and-1 play late in the third quarter that set up Alabama with a short field. Russell dropped a perfect pass to Rico Scott on third down and then found Marshall Pritchett for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter to take the lead.After Texas A&M (4-4, 1-4 SEC) went three-and-out and punter Tyler White shanked a 29-yard punt to the Alabama 45, Russell led the Crimson Tide (6-2, 4-2) down the field in less than three minutes before finding Kaleb Edwards for another score to go up 31-20. Texas A&M cornerback Dezz Ricks (2) celebrates after his interception against Alabama during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt) (Vasha Hunt/Associated Press) The Aggies were in the game despite Reed having his worst start of the season - and arguably of his career - as he threw two interceptions in the game's first five minutes.The first was a pick-six to Dijon Lee Jr., who jumped a hitch route and returned it 39 yards to the end zone. The second came on the next play from scrimmage, when Chuck McDonald III got his hands underneath a cross-field pass from Reed that got tipped on the way by an unblocked Red Morgan.But the Aggies lucked out when Conor Talty missed his first field goal of the season on the ensuing possession.Backup Brady Hart warmed up on the sideline after the second interception but Reed led the offense back out on the field, and instead of digging a further hole, the senior quarterback orchestrated back-to-back touchdown drives. Texas A&M went 80 yards on 10 plays on the first one and then 75 yards on 11 plays on the following drive. Reed was 7-for-8 passing for 104 yards and two total touchdowns, a 9-yard slant score to Mario Craver and a 4-yard keeper, on those two drives.When Reed scampered into end zone to finish off the second drive, it wasn't just that the Aggies were still in the game - they were winning 14-10. David Olano kicked a field goal on each side of halftime for the Aggies to go up 20-17 while Talty missed his second field goal of the game in the third quarter to give Texas A&M the advantage.Then came Reed's fumble.Alabama now leads the all-time series against Texas A&M 14-3.NO. 13 ALABAMA 31, TEXAS A&M 20Texas A&M71030-20Alabama107014-31First QuarterALA_Lee 39 interception return (Talty kick), 11:24.TXAM_Craver 9 pass from Reed (Olano kick), 3:36.ALA_FG Talty 47, 1:13.Second QuarterTXAM_Reed 4 run (Olano kick), 10:14.ALA_D.Hill 3 pass from Russell (Talty kick), 5:13.TXAM_FG Olano 32, 1:47.Third QuarterTXAM_FG Olano 25, 8:38.Fourth QuarterALA_Pritchett 5 pass from Russell (Talty kick), 14:55.ALA_Ka.Edwards 8 pass from Russell (Talty kick), 10:01.___TXAMALAFirst downs1819Total Net Yards278380Rushes-yards40-11528-68Passing163312Punt Returns0-00-0Kickoff Returns0-01-9Interceptions Ret.1-02-39Comp-Att-Int14-21-220-31-1Sacked-Yards Lost2-172-10Punts4-47.253-47.0Fumbles-Lost3-10-0Penalties-Yards8-747-65Time of Possession33:1026:50___INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHING_Texas A&M, Edwards 8-43, Reed 17-23, Morrow 10-22, Owens 2-18, Craver 2-10, (Team) 1-(minus 1). Alabama, D.Hill 9-36, Russell 9-20, T.Brown 7-11, Riley 1-4, (Team) 2-(minus 3).PASSING_Texas A&M, Reed 14-21-2-163. Alabama, Russell 20-31-1-312.RECEIVING_Texas A&M, Craver 6-45, Horton 3-34, Morrow 2-33, Armstrong 2-20, Gregory 1-31. Alabama, Scott 6-156, L.Brooks 3-73, Pritchett 3-18, K.Edwards 2-24, Ford 2-23, D.Hill 2-17, Meadows 1-1, T.Brown 1-0.MISSED FIELD GOALS_Alabama, Talty 42, Talty 36.SubscribeThere’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at No. 13 Alabama pulls away in fourth quarter to deny Texas A&M's upset bid.