The No. 11 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will head to College Station this Saturday looking to get
their first win at Kyle Field since 2019. But before then, let’s look back at the last three matchups between these teams and when the Tide faced Johnny Manziel at Kyle Field.

Milroe’s first start for Alabama

Alabama wide receiver Tyler Harrell (8) runs the ball against Texas A&M at Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL on Saturday, Oct 8, 2022.

In 2022, Jalen Milroe made his first start at Quarterback for then-injured Bryce Young. After a scoreless
first quarter, Milroe would find Cameron Latu in the endzone to get the scoring going. The Aggies would
answer back with a touchdown pass of their own.

Milroe and Aggie quarterback Haynes King would once again exchange touchdown passes, but with
twelve seconds remaining in the half, Will Reichard would hit a 50-yard field goal to give the Tide a 17-
14 lead heading into halftime.

The Alabama offense would come out hot at the beginning of the third quarter as Milroe would throw
his third touchdown pass of the game to Ja-Corey Brooks. However, the Aggie defense would shut out
the Tide for the rest of the game.

Texas A&M, aided by a few Alabama turnovers, would put together two drives that ended in field goals
to make it a 24-20 game with 3:32 left in the final quarter. The Aggie defense would force a three-and-
out and hand the ball back to the offense with a chance to pull a shocking upset. King would find Evan
Stewart and Moose Muhammad on multiple passes and move the ball down to the Alabama two-yard
line with just three seconds left. However, on the final play, King’s pass would fall to the turf and
Alabama would survive a thriller.

 

Upset Alert at Kyle Field

In 2021, Bryce Young and the number one ranked and undefeated Tide made a trip to Kyle Field to face
the 3-2 Aggies. Zach Calzada and the A&M offense would come out firing early putting up 17 points in
the first quarter. They would add another touchdown in the second quarter and head to halftime
leading 24-10.

In the third quarter, Alabama would block a punt and King Mwituka would return it for a touchdown.
However, Devon Achane would answer right back with a 96-yard kick return for a touchdown. Then
Young and the offense would start to heat up. They would put together four straight scoring drives
capped off with two touchdown passes both to Jameson Williams that would give the Tide a 38-31 lead
with just five minutes remaining.

Caldaza would lead a game-tying two-minute touchdown drive. He would find Ainias Smith in the
endzone to make it 38-38. Alabama would get the ball back and only be able to muster one yard on
three plays before punting the ball right back to Caldaza and the A&M offense. They would take the ball
54 yards down the field to the Alabama eleven-yard line to set up a game-winning field goal attempt.
Seth Small would nail a 28-yard field goal as time expired and Kyle Field erupted.

 

National championship Tide stop Aggie momentum

In 2020, Mac Jones and the number two ranked Tide welcomed Kellen Mond and the number 13th
ranked Texas A&M Aggies. Alabama would jump out to a quick 14-0 lead with a John Metchie 78-yard
touchdown catch from Jones and a 6-yard touchdown run by Najee Harris.

Mond would answer back with two touchdown passes to Ainias Smith and Ryan Rennick. However, the
Tide would outscore the Aggies 31-3 in the next two quarters. Jones would throw four more touchdown
passes, Harris added another on the ground and the defense returned a pick to the house.

Jaylen Waddle and Metchie finished with over 300 yards and three touchdowns combined in a 52-24
victory.

 

Johnny Football’s magnum opus

In 2013, reigning Heisman trophy winner Johnny Manziel and the number six ranked Aggies welcomed
A.J. McCarron and the defending national champions to College Station. Manziel and the Aggies would
rush out to a 14-0 lead behind Mike Evans who finished the game with seven receptions 279 yards and
one touchdown.

The Tide would strike back with 35 straight points. However, Manziel wouldn’t quit as the Aggie offense
would storm back to make it 42-35 in the middle of the fourth quarter. Alabama would then go on a
game-clinching six-minute touchdown drive to put the game out of reach.

Manziel finished with over 500 total yards and five touchdowns. McCarron threw for over 300 yards and
four touchdowns and T.J. Yeldon ran for 149 yards and a score. The Tide finished with over 500 yards of
offense in their 49-42 revenge victory.

Alabama leads the all-time series 12-3 and will be looking for their 13th victory over the Aggies this
Saturday afternoon.

 

Nazario Pangallo is a contributor for WVUA-FM.