This isn’t what people had in mind for the Oct. 8 meeting between Alabama and Texas A&M.

Sure, No. 1 Alabama is undefeated at 5-0, but the Tide’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young is injured.

Meanwhile, Jimbo Fisher’s Texas A&M Aggies limp into Bryant-Denny Stadium at 3-2. It’s a far cry from ESPN’s Desmond Howard’s prediction of a national championship for A&M.

The Aggies’ on-the-field woes have also seemed to throw cold water on the offseason spat between Fisher and Alabama coach Nick Saban.

That doesn’t mean, however, there isn’t plenty of meat to pick off the bone of a game that certainly has a different feel to it this week in Tuscaloosa.

Without Young 100 percent, there is plenty to be impressed with, according to SEC on CBS’ Gary Danielson, who is calling the game Saturday. The problem for the Aggies, however, is what Alabama does well, the Aggies just can’t counter.

“To beat Alabama, you have to have 1-on-1 talent that can beat their corners,” Danielson told me on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 in Mobile on Wednesday.

Danielson couldn’t be more complimentary of the back end of the Tide’s defense.

“It is an extremely gifted secondary,” Danielson explained. “This is as good as I’ve seen. They are playing a very high level across the board. They have a middle linebacker that can get the defense set properly. They have edge rushers. It’s hard to find a weakness.

“Usually, when you’re playing Alabama, you have to have a game-breaker or a difference-maker at wide receiver that really stresses their corners. So far, they haven’t seen that type of player.”

He cited former A&M star Mike Evans, now with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as an example of the type of receiver needed to test Alabama.

Adding to the Aggies’ issues, he said, is a lack of a tight end attack. Last year, it was Jalen Wydermyer.

“Alabama had to be aware of him on every play,” Danielson said. “He opened up the game.”

With the loss of receiver Ainias Smith to a season-ending injury, the Aggies “are still trying to figure it out.”

In Texas A&M’s 41-38 win over Alabama last year, Wydermyer and Smith combined for more than 150 yards and three scores.

“A&M is struggling to find their passing game,” he added. “It hasn’t clicked for them. It hasn’t been working to the level needed to play against these teams.”

Check out the full interview on WNSP here.

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.