If it weren’t for Jimbo Fisher and Nick Saban’s highly publicized verbal barrage this time last year, Texas A&M’s 2022 trip to Tuscaloosa would not have received the coverage it did, even though the game ended up being one of the more exciting matchups of the season.
Going into 2023, The Aggies are still reeling from their miserable 5-7 campaign while maintaining their usual high expectations, knowing it can’t get any lower than last season’s results.
For Alabama, Saban has once again signed one of the best recruiting classes in history for 2023. While the roster remains elite, the quarterback depth chart is crowded, as redshirt sophomore Jalen Milroe is expected to start, but the competition will be fierce heading into fall camp.
Last week, Roll Tide Wire Managing Editor AJ Spurr released his annual “AJ’s Hot & Cold” list predicting what 2023 opponent has the best chance of upsetting the Tide. Even though Texas A&M wasn’t selected as a “Hot” choice, their “Cold (like some leftovers)” is synonymous with the high potential territory. In what will likely be a mid-afternoon or night game, which can always change in season, Spurr’s reasoning for questioning the matchup’s upset potential is understandably based on the Aggie’s shortcomings last season.
“There’s a reason I added “like some leftovers.” Currently, it’s cold, but it could heat back up real quick. After upsetting Alabama in College Station in 2021, Aggies fans were on top of the world. Then, 2022 was an extreme disappointment, as Texas A&M went 5-7. The Aggies did get a chance to face potential starting quarterback Jalen Milroe last season and made it an extremely close game that went down to the wire, but ultimately resulted in an Alabama win. We all know about the Jimbo Fisher-Saban feud, and this contest takes place in the daunting environment of Kyle Field. I don’t think the Aggies are currently able to upset the Tide, but things could change quickly depending on which version of Texas A&M show sup to start the 2023 season.”
This is one of the more accurate takes you’ll see this offseason surrounding the impending matchup, as A&M’s inability to find consistency that lasts throughout the entire season has been a stark issue under Jimbo Fisher, who finally rolled the dice and hired offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. Time will tell just how willing Fisher will be to change, but to get everything they can out of their highly talented roster game to game. But ever since upsetting the Crimson Tide in 2021, this has become one of the most exciting rivalries in college football.
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