PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Kellen Mond, a sophomore, has proven to be one of the best gunslingers in the SEC so far in 2018. Through three games, he has 824 yards passing on a 62.9 completion rate with six touchdowns and zero interceptions. Going into Alabama, he knows he’ll have to be a difference-maker.
“Every play matters,” Mond said on Monday. “With their defense they try to force you to make mistakes. That’s something we’ll have to do — minimize mistakes, minimize negative plays. I always feel confident in the offensive line, the running backs and receivers to make plays, so I feel like we’re going to be fine going in there.”
–TE Jace Sternberger, while only fourth on the Aggies’ roster in receiving yards with 146, has a team-high three touchdowns. With Alabama’s versatility in all facets on defense, Sternberger will be asked to be both a reliable pass-catcher as well as a stout run-blocker. He’s had at least one 20-plus yard catch in each game so far and was the John Mackey Tight End of the Week after Week 1.
–DE Landis Durham, a menacing defensive lineman, leads Texas A&M with 3.5 tackles for a loss. His lone sack is also tied for a team-high. If the Aggies want to pull the upset on Saturday, they’ll need some negative-yardage plays forced by the defense. Durham is arguably the most capable defender to break into the Alabama backfield to create those opportunities.
–RB Trayveon Williams, a junior, leads the SEC with 133 rushing yards per game, which ranks No. 6 in the FBS. His 240 yards in Week 1 against Northwestern State were the second-most in school history. Williams is also the only active FBS player with 200-plus yard efforts in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Just like how Texas A&M will need big plays out of its defense, the Aggies will need breakaways out of the backfield on offense. Williams has 11 runs of 40-plus yards over 28 games of his career, so he provides the most viable threat to do so.
SERIES HISTORY: Alabama leads Texas A&M in the all-time series 8-2. The Tide has also won the last five meetings. Saturday will also mark the seventh time in 11 meetings that both teams are ranked.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “You always have to look to who’s winning the conference. But you have to play everybody in this conference. If you get caught up on one, there’s about three more that will tear your legs off.” — Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher on how vital it is to beat Alabama for SEC supremacy.
