Alabama Football: The Five Best Teams the Tide Will Play
By Mike McCrary
![Oct 10, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide mascot Big Al celebrates a score against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated Arkansas 27-14. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports Oct 10, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide mascot Big Al celebrates a score against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated Arkansas 27-14. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/6a62d733dd43d82f1afe972c7887169a5646862bfe63d9afb8b162b564e765bd.jpg)
Texas A&M, Tuscaloosa, October 22
Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray are gone. For a while, it seemed like everyone on head coach Kevin Sumlin’s team would be gone. From College Station to College Migration almost overnight.
The good news is, there is talent on defense, and John Chavis is in his second season as defensive coordinator. Expect improvement from a year ago on that side of the ball.
With Oklahoma graduate transfer quarterback Trevor Knight – yes, that Trevor Knight – the Aggies have a steady game manager to fill the quarterback void left by Allen and Murray. He’s also capable of a prolific game every now and then, and he’s got elite-level wide receivers in Christian Kirk and Speedy Noil.
The Aggies get Alabama at a good time – right after the Tide plays at Arkansas and at Tennessee in consecutive weeks – and they have the talent to be 5-1 or better when they take the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. But they won’t escape Tuscaloosa without adding another loss to the ledger.
Prediction: Alabama 34, Texas A&M 17
Next: The Rebels in Oxford