Jalen Milroe walked out of Kyle Field into the literal arms of his loved ones. The Alabama football quarterback and Katy, Tx. native was mobbed as he headed to the Crimson Tide’s bus after helping UA dispatch Texas A&M 26-20 on Saturday.

“We love you, we love you,” rang out from the crowd gathered by the stadium gate. The quarterback was universally beloved among the throng, including one man wearing a white Crimson Tide jersey with Milroe’s No. 4 and the name “Milticket” on the back.

“Jalen played extremely well,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban understated after the win.

The quarterback had a career day stats-wise, completing 21 of his 33 pass attempts for 321 yards and three touchdowns. On a day when the Texas A&M defense limited his legs, he did it through the air, finding Jermaine Burton and Isaiah Bond downfield for big touchdowns in a close, sloppy game.

When Milroe last played against a team from Texas, it wasn’t this good. Against the state’s flagship university’s Longhorns at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Week 2, he played poorly.

“I think the biggest thing is just acknowledging that I’m not a finished product,” Milroe said after the TAMU win. “Just overall just trying to be the best version I can for the team. It’s all about the team. There’s no single success at all, everything is for the team. And that’s what I try to do as much as possible? How can I be a better leader, better passer, do anything that adds to me just playing quarterback here?”

Milroe went through the ringer after the Texas game, where he threw two crucial interceptions in the Tide’s lone defeat this season. Saban acknowledged after the loss that he had considered making a change at quarterback during the game.

Then, against South Florida the next week, he did. Tyler Buchner got the start and Ty Simpson finished the ugly win, while Milroe watched from the bench.

In doing so, the Texan earned Saban’s praise for how he carried himself. The head coach came out for his Monday press conference before the next game, Alabama’s SEC opener against Ole Miss and made it clear: Milroe was the Crimson Tide’s quarterback going forward.

Since then, Alabama is undefeated and Milroe has done his job well.

“Just trying to be efficient as much as possible,” Milroe said. “Do what’s best for the team. Whether it’s pass or run, I just want to be the best leader I can, and best quarterback.”

Against Texas, Saban said Milroe let his first interception rattle him. That led to more negative plays, the summation of which pushed Alabama further down the path to defeat.

In the third quarter of the A&M game, Milroe threw a pick. He clearly didn’t see TAMU safety Bryce Anderson, who jumped the route and made the play.

This time, it didn’t sink the Tide.

“That’s one thing Jalen has learned: Just keep making the next play,” Saban said after the win. “Gonna make mistakes. Bad things are gonna happen sometimes. But you gotta be a point guard man, you gotta make lots of assists, not very many turnovers, but you can’t let the turnover that you do make bother you.”

After the interception, Milroe threw for two more touchdowns, both to Burton. Alabama closed out the Aggies, moving to 5-1 on the season, 3-0 in SEC play, with Arkansas coming to Tuscaloosa next week.

According to the wide receiver, who finished with nine catches for 197 yards and the two scores, Milroe’s resilience came as no surprise.

“I don’t even think he worried about it,” Burton said. “I feel like his energy all day, even this morning, it was just next-play mentality. We already know that bad plays are gonna happen, we know that stuff can happen, whatever. But regardless, how are you going to move past that and keep going?”

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