No. 1 Alabama Escapes Texas A&M in Thrilling Fashion

The top-ranked Crimson Tide avenged its only regular season loss from a year ago without its starting quarterback.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Revenge doesn't always come easy.

No. 1 Alabama narrowly defeated Texas A&M 24-20 in Bryant-Denny Stadium thanks to an incompletion from Aggie quarterback Haynes King as time expired on the game.

Texas A&M drove down to the Alabama 3-yard-line and had a chance to win the game with the last-second play, but was denied by the Alabama defense.

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe started in place of injured Bryce Young and completed 12-of-19 passes for 111 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. Milroe looked uncomfortable at times in the pocket, but made up for some of his throwing mistakes with 83 yards on the ground.

Running back Jahmyr Gibbs was the focus of the Alabama offense, following up his breakout game against Arkansas with a 21-carry, 154-yard performance. 

Until the fourth quarter, Texas A&M had only scored off Alabama turnovers. Alabama lost three fumbles in the game, two from Milroe and one from Jase McClellan, in addition for the aforementioned interception thrown by Milroe. 

Alabama's defense was impressive all night, not only coming up with the game-sealing stop but providing constant pressure against King throughout the game. The Aggies were just 5-of-17 on third down, and King was sacked four times. 

Alabama will need to rid its offensive struggles next week as the Crimson Tide travels to Knoxville to take on the eighth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers and star quarterback Hendon Hooker. 

Young's return would certainly help with that, but time will tell if he will be healthy enough to play.

Alabama and Tennessee will kick off next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on CBS.

Live Updates

(Most recent update at the top)

Fourth Quarter

• King throws an incompletion and time expires. Alabama wins.

• Jordan Battle intercepts King in the end zone. A flag for pass interference gives the Aggies the ball at the 2 with three seconds left.

• Texas A&M gets a first down to the 15.

• Holding on Alabama moves the Aggies to the 27.

• King completed a deep pass into Alabama territory with under a minute left.

• Burnip punts and the Aggies return to it to their own 30. Texas A&M has no timeouts with 1:50 remaining.

• Alabama gets stopped on 3rd-and-2 resulting in a Texas A&M timeout. 

• Alabama takes over at the 25 after a touchback.

• FIELD GOAL: Bond hits a field goal to cut the Alabama lead to 24-20.

• King completed a pass on fourth down to move the chains inside the red zone.

• Achane carried for 15 yards to the 32.

• King completed a pass for 15 yards, and a facemask penalty added 15 more moving the Aggies into Crimson Tide territory.

• Reichard missed a 35-yard field goal attempt. Alabama still leads 24-17.

• Milroe completed a pass to Brooks over the middle for a first down. A roughing the passer penalty moves Alabama to the Texas A&M 13.

• Texas A&M was called for 12 men on the field on fourth down, resulting in an Alabama first down.

• Gibbs has left the tent and is back on the sideline.

• A quarterback pressure from Will Anderson caused an incompletion from King on fourth down. Alabama takes over at its own 39.  

Third Quarter

• Alabama leads 24-17

• King completed a 25-yard pass over the middle into Alabama territory.

• Reichard missed a 47-yard field goal attempt. Texas A&M takes over at its own 29.

• Milroe scrambled for six yards on third down to keep the Alabama drive alive.

• Jahmyr Gibbs has gone to the medical tent.

• A catch-and-run from Burton gives Alabama a first down at the Texas A&M 37.

• Gibbs took the first play of the Alabama drive 13 yards for the first down. He has 138 yards in the game. 

• FIELD GOAL: Bond made a 41-yard field goal to bring Texas A&M within one possession. Alabama leads 24-17.

• McClellan fumbled on a run up the middle and the Aggies recovered at the UA 38. The Crimson Tide has lost three fumbles in the game.

• Milroe completed a five yard pass over the middle to Burton to move onto Texas A&M's side of the field.

• Traeshon Holden limped off the field and is in the medical tent.

• Gibbs carried for 10 yards and fumbled on the play. The play was reviewed and the call was reversed. Alabama has the ball on its own 40.

• Alabama forced a three-and-out on Texas A&M's first possession of the half. The Crimson Tide takes over at the UA 15.

• A touchback brings up 1st-and-10 for the Aggies at the 25.

• TOUCHDOWN: Milroe found Brooks over the middle on third-and-long and he took it 29 yards for the score. Alabama leads 24-14.

• Gibbs took a carry 28 yards into Aggie territory for a first down. He has 96 yards in the game so far.

• Alabama begins the half at the 25 after a touchback. 

Second Quarter

• Alabama leads 17-14 at halftime. 

• FIELD GOAL: Reichard nailed a 50-yard field goal to put Alabama up 17-14 with 12 seconds remaining in the half.

• King threw an interception to Arnold for Alabama's first interception of the season by a defensive back. The Crimson Tide has the ball at the Texas A&M 29.

• Milroe's pass intended for Burton downfield was intercepted. Texas A&M takes over at the 35 with 1:13 on the clock.

• Gibbs returned the kick out to the 25. Alabama has the ball with 2:07 remaining in the half.

• TOUCHDOWN: King found Green wide open on a throwback to the left for his second passing touchdown. The game is tied 14-14 after the PAT.

• King completed a 43 yard pass down the right sideline to set up 1st-and-goal.

• Milroe fumbled for the second time tonight and the Aggies recovered it. Texas A&M has the ball around midfield with 3:33 remaining.

• McClellan moved Alabama past the 50 with an 8 yard carry. 

• Alabama now has the ball with good field position at its own 40.

• King is sacked for the third time on third down tonight. Turner has two sacks and Texas A&M is now 2-of-8 on third downs. 

• Texas A&M takes over at its own 22.

• TOUCHDOWN: Burton took a slant from Milroe 35 yards for the touchdown. Alabama leads 14-7 after the Reichard PAT.

• Gibbs exploded down the left sideline for 37 yards.

• Alabama will take over at the 25-yard-line after a touchback.

• TOUCHDOWN: King found Muhammad for a 5-yard touchdown. The score is now tied 7-7.

• King completed another pass for a first downs setting up 1st-and-goal.

• King completed a pass to the 17 to move the Aggies into the red zone.

• Milroe fumbled on Alabama's side of the field, setting Texas A&M up at the 30.

• Turner sacked King on third down bringing up another punt. Alabama will take over at the 34.

• After an unsportsmanlike penalty, Texas A&M returned the kickoff to its own 30.

• TOUCHDOWN: Milroe found Latu for a 10-yard touchdown. Reichard's PAT is good giving Alabama a 7-0 lead.

• Milroe scrambled once again for 33 yards to put the Crimson Tide in the red zone.

• Milroe scrambled for 14 yards to move Alabama past the 50. 

First Quarter

• End of the first quarter. The score is tied 0-0. 

• Braswell sacked King on third down bringing up another punt. McKinstry fair caught another punt at the Alabama 27.

• Alabama went three-and-out. Burnip punted to the Texas A&M 22-yard-line.

• Alabama forced another stop on 3rd-and-long. McKinstry took a fair catch at the UA 30.

• King completed a pass over the middle for 14 yards for the longest completion of the game so far.

• Alabama stalled once again around the 50-yard-line. Texas A&M now has the ball at the 8-yard-line after a punt.

• Milroe took a read-option keeper 14 yards for a first down, then scrambled 14 yards again on the next play to move into Aggie territory.

• After one first down, Alabama forced another punt from the Aggies. Alabama will take over at its own 24.

• Burnip punted for Alabama down to the Texas A&M 14-yard-line where the Aggies will have the ball.

• Milroe was sacked on second down, bringing up third-and-long.

• Gibbs blasted up the middle for a 25 yard rush to bring Alabama into Texas A&M territory.

• Milroe completed his first pass to Gibbs for a first down.

• Jalen Milroe is Alabama's starter at quarterback.

• Alabama forced a stop in three plays after the first down. Kool-Aid McKinstry fair caught the punt at the Alabama 20 where the Crimson Tide will take over.

• King took a quarterback keeper on the opening play for 15 yards and a first down.

• Texas A&M returned the kick to the 17-yard-line and will start its drive from there. 

Pregame

• Alabama won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Texas A&M will receive the opening kickoff.

• Alabama is recognizing the 10-year anniversary of the 2012 national championship team before the game.

• Despite the lineup video, Milroe is taking first team snaps in warmups.

• In the starting lineup video, Bryce Young was listed as the starting quarterback, while both Dalcourt and McLaughlin were listed as starters as well. 

• Brian Branch is going through warmups after suffering an injury against Arkansas.

• Linebacker Jaylen Moody is not dressed out.

• Wide receivers Tyler Harrell and Aaron Anderson are dressed and going through warmups.

• Bryce Young, Will Anderson Jr., and Darrian Dalcourt are servings as Alabama's three captains for today's game. 

• Young is not throwing in warmups. While the other quarterbacks continued to throw and warm up, Young stood talking with offensive coaches and analysts. 

• Young is taking snaps from McLaughlin. Milroe is taking snaps from Dalcourt.

• Bryce Young along with other Alabama skill players have started taking the field.

• The Alabama specialists have taken the field in full uniform. 

• Texas A&M quarterback Haynes King is taking snaps with the first team offensive line, as expected. 

• The final player left on the field is Jalen Milroe.

• The majority of the Alabama team has gone back into the locker room.

• Jalen Milroe has begun warmups on the field.

• Louisville transfer wide receiver Tyler Harrell is on the field warming up. He has missed the first five games of the season due to injury.

• At 5:30, the only quarterback on the field warming up is Ty Simpson.

• The first round of Alabama players have come out for pregame stretches at 5:15. No sign of any of the quarterbacks yet. 

How to Watch No. 1 Alabama vs. Texas A&M

Who: Alabama vs. Texas A&M

When: 7 p.m. CT, Saturday

Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium

TV: CBS

Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network. Play-By-Play Chris Stewart, John Parker Wilson, Sideline Christian Miller; Host Roger Hoover. Sirius/XM: 84.

Line per SI Sportsbook: -24.5

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