Photo by: Texas A&M Athletics
After Math: Alabama
Oct 24, 2016 | Football
Each week, 12th Man Productions' Will Johnson takes you inside the numbers of the last football game with "After Math".
The Aggies and Crimson Tide both stepped into Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday undefeated and in the Top 10.
Only 11 unbeatens remained that morning. A&M and Bama were the only two with wins over three nationally ranked teams.
The College Football Playoff selection committee was barely a week away from gathering to construct their first poll. To put it bluntly, the best resume in the country was up for grabs in Tuscaloosa. Whether it be the Aggies or Tide, the victor would by far outclass what any other team could put on paper.
So, on the field, they decided it.
Entering, it felt like what happened in the red zone would be paramount. When it was over, Kevin Sumlin concurred.
"It could've gotten away from us early, but our defense kept playing. Not letting them into the end zone, forcing field goals, it gave us a chance to go into halftime with a one-score game."
A&M did well. Five times Alabama breeched the Aggie 20-yard line…they had to try field goals on 3 of those. Bama had notched TDs on 66 percent of its red-zone trips prior to hosting the Aggies. Tide placekicker Adam Griffith missed from 29 yards on one of those attempts, marking the 10th time this year an A&M opponent failed to score any points on a red-zone trip.
The Aggies ability to lock the door when their foes are knocking on it remains a major reason why this team could still be in the Top 10 entering November.
This was also a matchup of two teams that could disrupt opposing backfields. A&M came in tops in the SEC and third in the nation in tackles for lost yardage. Alabama? Second in the conference in stops behind the line of scrimmage.
It played out. A&M issued 12 TFLs, while Bama was right behind with 11. The Aggies have 70 stops behind the line this season…only Miami (71) has more nationally.
Despite a rocky start, A&M evened out. They created success against the nation's best team. When Trevor Knight connected with Christian Kirk to cap the opening drive of the third quarter, the Aggies took a 14-13 lead. It marked just the second time all season Alabama had trailed in the second half of a football game. The Tide was behind Ole Miss for 3 minutes and 13 seconds in the third quarter on September 17.
A&M was in it. They were toe-to-toe with the monster. They weren't backing down an inch. Even when Alabama took back the lead, after being gifted a personal foul penalty to keep a drive alive, the Aggies were in the right spot. They were headed for the fourth quarter with a chance to beat the best.
Then it happened. It's what seems to happen to every opponent when facing Alabama.
A&M had 3rd-and-26 from its own 38. A simple run play was in order to set up a punt and pin the Tide deep in their own territory. Only seconds remained in the third with the Ags down just six. All was fine.
Until, that is, a mix up on a handoff exchange caused a fumble. Bama's Jonathan Allen scooped and scored. It was the Crimson Tide's 12th non-offensive touchdown of the season, and 10th consecutive game in which they've scored at least one.
From a simple run it, punt it, stay-within-striking-distance play to an egregious error that had the Aggies working from two touchdowns behind in the final quarter against the beast.
"You do enough to execute against a really, really good football team," Sumlin lamented looking back. "But, you shouldn't give them things. And we did."
It would have been very interesting to see how the Aggies would've fared had they not given up the defensive score. If they were the team that ended that Bama streak, could they have also been the one that sent them to their first loss in 20 games? It wasn't to be. A&M took its first defeat of the season.
What does it all add up to?
The Aggies don't have as much as they once did, but they still possess plenty. Most importantly, they own an abundance of opportunity.
Alabama will put the best resume in the country in front of the committee when they meet next week, A&M's won't be perfect…but will hold plenty of strength.
As long as they don't stub their toe against a different group of Aggies this Saturday, Texas A&M will be a part of the playoff discussion in the final month of the season.
Kevin Sumlin however, isn't quite ready to join that conversation.
"Don't be concerned about the big picture. Be concerned about us," states Sumlin, driving home a point he's been hitting on since his arrival at A&M.
"Be concerned about the week to week, and what's gotten us here. Narratives and outside influences talk about this scenario and that scenario. Let's worry about next week's game."
The Aggies are a heavy favorite against New Mexico State, yet that shouldn't matter to them either.
"Let's worry about cleaning up the things that cost us this ballgame," Sumlin states as a final thought on Bama, then looks forward.
"Let's go be 1-0 again."
In other words: Don't let the outside distract. Concentrate on what's within.
The on-to-the-next mentality is the only way of thinking in the Bright Complex. Outside, the talk of who belongs in, or out, of the bracket will heat up in November. Inward, the Aggies will ignore.
Focusing within, they'll look to better themselves with each day.
If they keep improving?
Look out.
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
QB
/ FootballOne-on-One: Adam Cushing
Thursday, September 11
The Aggie Football Hour (Ep 3)
Wednesday, September 10
The Pulse #12.2 | Family Over Everything
Wednesday, September 10
One-on-One: Will Lee III
Wednesday, September 10
