Alabama Football: Toughest Regular Season Games of 2022, Part 4

Texas A&M was the only team to beat Alabama football in the 2021 regular season.

Alabama Football 2022 Toughest Opponent: No. 2 – Texas A&M Aggies

The growing feud between Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher has been well documented. For years it looked more like a friendly rivalry, before boiling over into a media war this offseason.

The personal dispute between the two head coaches will add some spice to what was already going to be a highly anticipated game. Many believe, primarily based on recruiting rankings, that Texas A&M has been a team on the rise in the SEC West for a few years now. Although it hasn’t translated to the field on a consistent basis, Fisher and his staff have recruited very well, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines.

Most college football fans are aware that A&M landed the No. 1 overall class in 2022, but not everyone realizes that the 2022 haul was its fourth straight class to rank in the top-10 nationally. Over that span, they have competed with teams like Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State for some of the nation’s top prep defensive linemen. As a result of this success, they can match up with college football’s elite along the lines of scrimmage.

The Aggies return some speed on the offensive side of the ball with Ainias Smith and Devon Achane, along with a group of young but highly touted receivers.

Max Johnson, who had a good season leading LSU before deciding to transfer to College Station, is the likely candidate to start at quarterback. Texas A&M has talent but very little experience behind him.

The revenge factor will be on the table for Alabama football on October 8th, as A&M snapped a 19-game winning streak for the Crimson Tide in last season’s matchup. The Aggies will have to return to Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2022, where they have not fared well historically.

Alabama football has won four straight home games against A&M by a combined score of 189-61 (47.3-15.3 average score). All four of these games were marquee matchups in which both teams were ranked, and all four turned into lopsided victories for the Tide.

Texas A&M will need Max Johnson to step into a hostile road environment and play at an elite level against a seasoned Alabama defense. If he is able to do so, this will be one of Alabama football’s toughest games of the 2022 season.