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 20

Texas A&M71030-20Alabama107014-31First Quarter

class="text-ind">ALA_Lee 39 interception return (Talty kick), 11:24.

class="text-ind">TXAM_Craver 9 pass from Reed (Olano kick), 3:36.

class="text-ind">ALA_FG Talty 47, 1:13.

>Second Quarter

class="text-ind">TXAM_Reed 4 run (Olano kick), 10:14.

class="text-ind">ALA_D.Hill 3 pass from Russell (Talty kick), 5:13.

class="text-ind">TXAM_FG Olano 32, 1:47.

>Third Quarter

class="text-ind">TXAM_FG Olano 25, 8:38.

>Fourth Quarter

class="text-ind">ALA_Pritchett 5 pass from Russell (Talty kick), 14:55.

class="text-ind">ALA_Ka.Edwards 8 pass from Russell (Talty kick), 10:01.

class="text-divider">___

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 STATISTICS

class="text-ind">RUSHING_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).

class="text-ind">PASSING_Texas A&M, Reed 14-21-2-163. Alabama, Russell 20-31-1-312.

class="text-ind">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.

class="text-ind">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.