The College Football Playoff starts now for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
That was the message from Alabama defensive back Ivan Taylor this week.
"We're already in the playoffs, is how we're thinking," Taylor told reporters. "Our mentality is, we're already in the playoffs, making sure we don't lose another game. Going from top dog to being an underdog, we've got our minds shifted."
The Crimson Tide (5-2, 3-2 SEC) can't afford another loss Saturday when the struggling Texas A&M Aggies (4-3, 1-3) visit Bryant-Denny Stadium. Not after Alabama's offense went cold in the second half of a 20-17 loss to Georgia on Oct. 10 and then struggled for four quarters in an ugly 26-10 loss at Tennessee in Week 7.
Alabama is No. 13 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and the AP
Top 25. Texas A&M is unranked. It's the first meeting between the former SEC West division rivals since 2023.
Keelon Russell was held to 19 of 29 passing for 147 yards. He turned the ball over three times, and Alabama was shut out of the end zone in the second half for the second straight week.
After finishing 11-1 in the regular season a year ago in coach Mike Elko's second season and entering 2026 ranked in the preseason top 10, Texas A&M started 3-3 after suffering a 31-21 loss to Kentucky and blowout losses at LSU and Missouri. The Aggies defeated The Citadel, 41-0, in Week 7.
Marcel Reed has 1,227 passing yards (175.2 per game), which is 14th in the SEC, with seven touchdowns and six interceptions through seven games under first-year offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins. Reed's leading receiver is former Alabama wideout Isaiah Horton, who has 20 catches for 280 yards and three touchdowns.
The Aggies rank 13th in the SEC in total offense: 356.9 yards per game average. Alabama is eighth in total offense (416.6). Texas A&M is sixth in the SEC in total defense with the Crimson Tide eighth.
Will Alabama football avoid upset vs. Texas A&M? ESPN's final score prediction
Ahead of Alabama-Texas A&M, ESPN's Bill Connelly predicted the final score using his popular SP+ metrics. Connelly has the Crimson Tide winning by two scores, which is closely in line with the oddsmakers' 14.5 spread.
His final score prediction: Alabama 32, Texas A&M 21.
Connelly gives the Crimson Tide a win probability of 76%.
Where Alabama football sits in ESPN SP+ rankings entering Week 8
Alabama is No. 12 in ESPN's SP+ team rankings, down four spots from last week.
The Crimson Tide have an overall rating of 18.5 (down from 23). Alabama is one spot below the Oregon Ducks (18.8) and one spot ahead of the Tennessee Volunteers (17.5) in ESPN's team rankings.
To break down Alabama's rating by units, SP+ gives the Crimson Tide a 36.6 rating on offense (No. 13 nationally, down eight spots from last week) and an 18.4 rating on defense, which is No. 23 nationally and down seven spots from before the loss to Tennessee. In special teams, Alabama is given a 0.3 rating, which ranks 25th nationally (up from 60th).
Texas A&M is No. 33 in the SP+ team rankings with an overall rating of 9.9, one spot below the South Carolina Gamecocks and one spot ahead of the Oklahoma Sooners. The metrics give the Aggies a 29.9 rating on offense that's No. 46 nationally, a 20.4 rating on defense that's No. 31 in the nation, and a 0.4 rating in special teams (No. 17).
Texas A&M rose 13 spots in the SP+ rankings from this time last week.
What are ESPN SP+ rankings?
According to Connelly, SP+ is "simply a measure of the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football. If you're lucky or unimpressive in a win, your rating will probably fall. If you're strong and unlucky in a loss, it will probably rise."
"SP+ is not a résumé ranking, so it does not automatically give credit for big wins or particularly brave scheduling -- no good predictive system does," he adds.
'College GameDay' announces Week 8 location, making unusual decision
— Roll Tide Wire (@RollTideWire) October 21, 2026
📸 Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect https://t.co/eytkIKJug1 pic.twitter.com/lCC7RQ0Ytp
Alabama football vs. Texas A&M: start time, channel for Week 8
Kickoff for Alabama-Texas A&M in Week 8 of the 2026 college football season is 2:30 p.m. CT at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game can be seen on ABC. Joe Tessitore and Jesse Palmer will have the call of the game. Kris Budden will report from the sidelines.
Additionally, the Crimson Tide Sports Network feed of the game featuring Alabama radio voice Chris Stewart and Tyler Watts can be heard on SiriusXM channel 84 and The Varsity App.
Alabama football schedule 2026
All times Central.
- Sept. 5: vs. East Carolina Pirates (W, 48-10)
- Sept. 12: at Kentucky Wildcats (W, 45-17)
- Sept. 19: vs. Florida State Seminoles (W, 50-36)
- Sept. 26: vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (W, 49-18)
- Oct. 3: at Mississippi State Bulldogs (W, 56-23)
- Oct. 10: vs. Georgia Bulldogs (L, 20-17)
- Oct. 17: at Tennessee Volunteers (L, 26-10)
- Oct. 24: vs. Texas A&M Aggies, 2:30 p.m., ABC
- Nov. 7: at LSU Tigers, TBA
- Nov. 14: at Vanderbilt Commodores, TBA
- Nov. 21: vs. Chattanooga Mocs, 1 p.m., SEC Network+
- Nov. 28: vs. Auburn Tigers, TBA
Record: 5-2 overall, 3-2.
The Athletic logs new College Football Playoff projection for Alabama
— Roll Tide Wire (@RollTideWire) October 21, 2026
📸 Mark J. Rebilas, Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images https://t.co/ciAxekdMyD pic.twitter.com/HhpILdGVuM
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: ESPN SP+ predicts the final score of Alabama football vs Texas A&M
