Texas A&M had more than just a puncher's chance against the Alabama Crimson Tide heading into the final quarter of the game— they had a legitimate shot to knock off the no. 13 team in the country in Tuscaloosa for the first time since 2012. The Aggies were in front, 20-17, coming into the fourth quarter, but the Tide scored two touchdowns in the final 15 minutes to come away with the victory.
A large part of why the Aggies were able to build this much of a lead against the Tide was finding something in the run game early on against Bama— and the man leading that charge was KJ Edwards. No. 0 ended the day with over 5 yards per carry against the Tide— but the question on everyone's mind was why he was so little-utilized in the second half.
After being clearly the Aggies' best option on offense early on in the game, the true freshman hardly touched the ball down the stretch. Mike Elko was asked about this in particular in his presser, and while his answer may help fans understand what happened, it can't make them feel much better about the situation as a whole.
Mike Elko worries fans with answer about KJ Edwards' lack of participation in the second half
Mike Elko let the assembled media know that Edwards ended the day with so few carries due to the fact that he was injured in the first half of the game.
Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko on RB KJ Edwards: "Yeah, he got banged up. He was trying to fight through it. We got him back a little bit in the second half, but he had a deep contusion."
— TexAgs (@TexAgs) October 24, 2026
While this helps explain that we are not dealing with a coaching staff that patently refuses to acknowledge who the hot hand is carrying the ball— which shouldn't be in question in the first place, given that Edwards is now the starter over the senior Rueben Owens— it is worrying in the larger picture.
Edwards is one of the best parts of this Texas A&M offense so far this season. The Aggies have needed him more and more each passing week— he's a dynamic weapon with the ball in his hands the likes of which A&M needs very badly to kick-start that side of the ball.
The good news for the Aggies is that this isn't some kind of break or muscle tear, only a contusion, as Elko put it. A&M has a bye this upcoming week, so that should allow Edwards some time to get healed before the Aggies have to go head on the road again to South Carolina.
This loss to Alabama, while disappointing in many ways, is a result that helped give the Aggies hope down the final four games of the year— but their hopes are still extremely dim if they don't have Edwards to help buoy the offense. Hopefully, he can get back to full form very soon and will be piling up yards for the maroon and white down these last few games of the year.
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