There's no Crimson Tide game today, and after the last month, I think Alabama earned the break. I'm a U.S. Marine Corps veteran (2014–2018) and a two-time University of Alabama graduate, and even from Jacksonville, FL, fall Saturdays still pull me back to Tuscaloosa. This bye week is a good time to look back at last Saturday's comeback against Texas A&M and ahead to the trip to LSU. For more on my own years there, see Ryan Gunning in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The Texas A&M comeback
Alabama came into Homecoming on Oct. 24 off back-to-back losses to Georgia and Tennessee, and for three quarters it looked like it might get worse. The Tide trailed Texas A&M 20–17 going into the fourth quarter. Then Alabama outscored the Aggies 14–0 the rest of the way and won 31–20 in front of a sold-out crowd at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium, per Alabama Athletics' game recap.
- A defense that closed the door: all three Texas A&M drives in the fourth quarter ended in three-and-outs, and the Aggies gained just 15 yards over the last 15 minutes.
- A key fourth-down stop: A&M fumbled on a fourth-and-1 sneak near midfield, and three plays later Alabama scored to take the lead for good, per ESPN's recap.
- Turnovers: the defense forced three, including a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown. Alabama has forced 19 turnovers this season and returned a nation-leading five interceptions for touchdowns.
- The passing game: Alabama's quarterback threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns, and the Tide's top receiver that day had a career-high 156 yards.
It was Alabama's 105th Homecoming game, and the win snapped the two-game skid. ESPN noted it kept the program from its first three-game losing streak since 2007.
What a Marine sees in a fourth quarter like that
In the Marine Corps, you learn quickly that a plan rarely survives first contact. What matters is how a unit reacts when things go sideways: whether people keep doing their jobs, trust each other, and execute the basics under pressure. Down three going into the fourth, after two straight losses, a lot of teams would have pressed. Alabama's defense instead got three straight stops. That's discipline, and it's the part of this game I'll remember.
It's also the same lesson I tried to bring into the classroom at Alabama. I studied operations management, which is mostly about making a process hold up when conditions change. Football is a pretty good example of that.
Why the bye week matters
Alabama is 6–2 overall and 4–2 in the SEC, according to the official 2026 schedule and results on RollTide.com. The open date on Oct. 31 comes at a good time. ESPN reported that Alabama was missing players in the secondary against A&M because of injury and other absences, and two weeks between games gives a banged-up roster time to heal.
The Marine Corps has its own version of a bye week. Between deployments or big training evolutions, units take time to refit: fix gear, rest people, and train on what went wrong. The teams that use that time well usually look sharper on the other side of it.
What's left on the schedule
Here is the rest of Alabama's regular season, from the official schedule:
- Nov. 7: at LSU, Baton Rouge, 2:30 p.m. CT (3:30 p.m. ET)
- Nov. 14: at Vanderbilt, Nashville (early kickoff, time to be announced)
- Nov. 21: Chattanooga in Tuscaloosa, 1 p.m. CT
- Nov. 28: Auburn in Tuscaloosa, the Iron Bowl (kickoff time to be set)
ESPN wrote after the A&M game that if the Tide doesn't lose again, a College Football Playoff spot is well within reach. The trip to Baton Rouge is where that starts.
Veterans Day week and Bama Salute
The stretch between LSU and Vanderbilt runs right through the Marine Corps Birthday on Nov. 10 and Veterans Day on Nov. 11. Then on Nov. 21, Alabama hosts its Bama Salute Military Appreciation Day against Chattanooga, which is also Senior Day, per the official game center. I wrote more about the program in my post on Crimson Tide game days and Bama Salute.
That game means a lot to me. In 2024, I was honored at Alabama's Bama Salute military appreciation football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. If you're a veteran anywhere near Tuscaloosa, that's the home game I'd circle.
From Tuscaloosa to Jacksonville
I came to Tuscaloosa after the Marine Corps and left with a bachelor's in operations management, a minor in supply chain management, and an accelerated master's. The University of Alabama shared the story of my degree on MeritPages, and my President's List and Dean's List terms are listed in my University of Alabama academic honors. You can read more on my Education page and About page.
Today I run The Calm Seas Project in Jacksonville, but I still watch every Alabama game I can. Enjoy the off week, and if you know a veteran who bleeds crimson, check in on them before Veterans Day. Roll Tide.
Ryan Gunning in Tuscaloosa → About Ryan Gunning Education Student Veterans at Alabama
