It's the one that matters most. Ask anyone in the SEC which victory means more internally to the program and over half will say Alabama. The other half might consider Georgia or their rival as the team to beat on the calendar every year, but there's a sense of pride in taking down Nick Saban.
There's a sense of honor doing it in front of 100,000 screaming fans in their own backyard. Texas A&M will have a chance to see both dreams become realities in 2023.
The previous two games have gone down to the wire. Zach Calzada left everything on the table with his 285-yard, three-touchdown performance to put A&M just outside Alabama's red zone in 2021. Seth Small's kick made fans flock the field and Jimbo Fisher the first former assistant to defeat the master.
Last season, Haynes King kept things close. On the final drive, King connected four times with Moose Muhammad III and Evan Stewart to move the sticks. A pair of pass interference calls put A&M at Alabama's 2-yard line. And with a different play call, perhaps the Aggies are on a two-game win streak against the Tide entering the new decade.
The Aggies fall in the second-tier category among SEC contenders alongside programs such as Tennessee, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Ole Miss. Would it be shocking to see one of the five make it to Atlanta? Not entirely given the balance of the roster. Are fans pushing them past the big three entering mid-July? Absolutely not.
A&M knows it'll have to prove its contention status with SEC Media Days around the corner. A good starting point is with beating Alabama. Even if the program finishes 8-4 or 9-3 and well outside the College Football Playoff picture, defeating the Crimson Tide comes with a badge of honor.
That's a badge A&M wants to wear proudly before the arrival of two new teams in 2024. Can the Aggies accomplish the feat back home?
Here are the AllAggies.com's way-too-early staff predictions for A&M's showdown against Alabama at Kyle Field on Oct. 7.
Matt Galatzan, Publisher
Can the Aggies make it back-to-back wins in College Station over Nick Saban? Conventional wisdom would say no. After all, it's Alabama. That said, the Tide will be vulnerable, and the Aggies have a lot to prove. It'll be close, but I think the Aggies can get it done here.
Texas A&M 31, Alabama 28
Timm Hamm, Writer
The gap between the Crimson Tide and the rest of the SEC West has narrowed over the past two seasons. Bama will have an inexperienced signal-caller and the Aggies will be hungry at Kyle Field. That said, the gap is narrow, not closed. The Aggies lose a close one late.
Alabama 35, Texas A&M 33
Cole Thompson, Staff Writer
If there ever was a preseason to bet against the Tide, this would be it. Alabama has far too many questions on offense with a new offensive coordinator and quarterback running the show. The Tide's missing that star receiver and dynamic running back that can change the game's outcome with one rush attempt late.
Still, it's Nick Saban. He's finished with fewer than 10 wins once in his career, and that was back in 2007 when losses to Southern Miss were acceptable. The Tide is still going to be in the hunt for an SEC title. Too bad they'll need to win out after falling in College Station.
Texas A&M 38, Alabama 30
Connor Zimmerlee, Staff Writer
Last season Texas A&M went punch for punch with Alabama, hanging with one of the best teams in the nation. In fact, it came down to the final play of the game, as Alabama escaped the upset win by the skin of its teeth. This season will likely be the same outcome, albeit with a slightly different score. Don't be surprised if Texas A&M keeps it close once again, but this time Alabama pulls away sooner in the fourth quarter.
Alabama 38, Texas A&M 28
Matt Guzman, Staff Writer
Year after year, the annual showdown with the usual No. 1 team in the country looms in the Aggies’ schedule. Fans plan around the game, hoping that Texas A&M can go undefeated in the weeks leading up to it, or at least make it the only loss of the year. That doesn’t usually happen, but all could change with the added pressure of making the playoff before it expands.
I expect the Aggies to be completely comfortable with their own system, and by this point in the season, their playmakers on both sides of the ball should also know it’s their time to shine. Alabama will come out of the gate strong, but a solid second half, complete with 2 Weigman passing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, will the Aggies to a long-awaited win.
Texas A&M 31, Alabama 28
Casey Smith, Staff Writer
Let's step into the way-back machine for a second. Texas A&M's first year in the Southeastern Conference, it beat Alabama. The year after, they lost by a touchdown at home. A year later, A&M got blown out 59-0 in 2014. Two years ago, Texas A&M beat the Crimson Tide before losing by four points in Tuscaloosa last fall. If history repeats itself, the Aggies are in for a beatdown of epic proportions at Kyle Field. This is where quarterback Conner Weigman can prove whether he's made of the right ingredients. In five games in 2022, LSU's No. 41 defense was the best unit he faced, and he only completed just 12 of 18 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns against the Tigers. Alabama's unit, for reference, was 13th in the country last year.
It won't be a beatdown, but it won't be a victory, either.
Alabama 34, Texas A&M 27
Hey 12th Man! Want to see the Aggies in action? Get your Texas A&M game tickets from SI Tickets here!
More must-reads: