Texas A&M (4-2, 2-1 SEC) was unable to put together a complete game as they fell 26-20 to No. 11 Alabama (5-1, 3-0 SEC) on Saturday. Many had expected a physical clash between these two, and that script certainly delivered at Kyle Field.
Despite six combined sacks on Jalen Milroe and two forced turnovers, A&M’s defense didn’t receive equal assistance from their offense. The Maroon and White went 4-for-12 on third down while averaging just 1.9 yards per rush attempt, as their offense ground to a halt at the most inopportune time.
Lack of execution on offense, as well as questionable game management decisions from Jimbo Fisher, ultimately handicapped A&M’s offense. The Aggies should have led 14-0 in the first quarter but had to settle for just three points through the first period of action.
For every step forward the Aggies defense made, the offense took two steps backward. No example was more indicative than Max Johnson’s ugly third-quarter interception, which immediately followed a huge interception from Bryce Anderson off of Jalen Milroe.
The frustrating conundrum of being unable to play a complete game on both sides of the ball was ultimately the nail in the coffin on Saturday. Ainias Smith, as well as Anderson, advocated just as much in their postgame press conferences. While the loss has inevitably stung the locker room, this team knows there’s no time to sulk with a huge game against Tennessee on deck next week.
Below are Ainias Smith and Bryce Anderson’s entire postgame press conferences following Saturday’s loss, as well as notable takeaways from their time at the podium.