It’s almost time for football in Tuscaloosa as Texas A&M comes to town for what’s been a highly-anticipated game. Here are the particulars.

• WHAT: Texas A&M at Alabama
• WHEN: 7 p.m. CT Saturday
• WHERE: Bryant-Denny Stadium
• SERIES: Alabama leads, 11-3
• TV: CBS
• LINE: Alabama by 23.5

THIS GAME WILL DETERMINE

If Alabama can stay mentally sharp for what was once a highly-anticipated game but lost juice after Texas A&M lost two early-season games. Last year, in almost the same scenario, the Crimson Tide overlooked the struggling Aggies and left College Station a 41-38 loser.

THREE THINGS TO LOOK FOR

1. QB questions: Both teams enter with some mystery at quarterback after starters left games last week with injuries. Neither coach has given much indication if Bryce Young or Max Johnson will play Saturday night so expect the mystery to continue. A&M would likely play Haynes King if Johnson remains out. Texas A&M didn’t confirm Friday reporting that indicated Johnson’s injury was season ending. King was the starter in the first two games but was benched after the 17-14 loss to Appalachian State. He’s perhaps more of a mobile threat compared to Johnson, a transfer from LSU who played at Alabama last year. Jalen Milroe is Alabama’s next QB up after he showed what mobility looks like in the fourth quarter at Arkansas.
2. Ground game: The biggest threat in Alabama’s offensive tool kit this year is the explosive run. It has five running plays of 60-plus yards, three coming last week in the fourth quarter at Arkansas that pair well with the 80-yarder Jase McClellan had early in the tight win at Texas. That said, the Aggies haven’t defended the run well this year. They’ll enter with the 97th-best run defense that allowed 244 ground yards to Arkansas in a win two weeks ago. Even Mississippi State, the 119th-ranked rushing offense, ran for its highest total in two seasons last week with 144 yards on 24 attempts.
3. Aggie offense struggling: Texas A&M’s offense isn’t exactly in rhythm. It is averaging 287 yards in the two losses, and while it had a season-high 388 yards last week at Mississippi State, turnovers were an issue. The Aggies lost four in the 42-24 loss — three coming inside the red zone. Statistically, A&M is No. 101 in passing offense, No. 105 in offensive yardage and No. 108 with an average of 21.8 points per game. That doesn’t figure to be enough to keep up with Alabama on Saturday night.

KEY MATCHUP

Alabama defense vs. RB Devon Achane: The Aggies lost quite a bit when star receiver Ainias Smith was lost for the season. A playmaker in space, Smith gave Alabama issues the past two seasons so Achane’s burden grew within the offense. He’s an all-purpose back who is a mismatch in the passing game while a threat on traditional running plays. Achane caught six passes last week at Mississippi State while rushing for 111 yards on 16 carries. He also had three kickoff returns for an average of 25.3 yards with a long of 42. Alabama remembers his special teams’ talent since it was Achane who returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown in the win over the Crimson Tide last year.

BY THE NUMBERS

29-0 — Nick Saban’s record at Alabama in October home games. He’s 53-3 overall in the month with losses to South Carolina (2010), Ole Miss (2014) and Texas A&M (2021).

TEXAS A&M PLAYER TO WATCH

WR Moose Muhammad III: The son of a former NFL star receiver had a big game at Mississippi State. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound sophomore entered last week with just one catch before catching six balls for 119 yards and a touchdown in Starkville. A&M doesn’t have much depth at receiver after losing Smith so players like Muhammad will have to step up to test Alabama’s secondary that hasn’t allowed many big plays this season.