Alabama football sleepwalks to blowout win in tune-up vs. New Mexico State

Alabama football overpowered New Mexico State at home to move to 2-0. Here is what we learned from the Alabama mismatch against the Aggies.

When you are an independent program like New Mexico State, you happily take the offer whenever a Power Five opponent invites you to their stadium. It will certainly be a day to remember for the Aggies players and their fans, but it will be a bittersweet memory.

Then again, when you accept an offer to play at Bryant-Denny Stadium, you usually assume it is going to be a bittersweet visit.

On Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa, Alabama took down New Mexico State 62-10 in a game that will keep the Crimson Tide at No. 2 in the major polls and on pace for their sixth straight trip to the College Football Playoff. For Nick Saban’s team, however, there is only so much we can learn from a blowout of an overmatched opponent that effectively lost its spot even among the Group of Five.

Tua Tagovailoa had no reason to play the entire game, exiting in the second half after going off for 227 yards and three touchdowns on 16-of-25 passing and adding two carries for 34 yards and a rushing score. His backup, Mac Jones, added 58 yards and another passing touchdown while completing five of his nine attempts.

With Tagovailoa’s rushing score, four different Tide rushers punched in touchdowns on the ground. That includes all three backs that ran for at least 70 yards on the day, as the Crimson Tide finished with 318 rushing yards on 32 carries as a team.

The defense held firm against New Mexico State, giving up a total of 262 yards to the overwhelmed Aggies. Josh Adkins and Matt Romero combined to throw for 160 yards with a touchdown and an interception on 21-of-36 passing, while the ground game racked up only 102 yards on their 33 rushing plays.

In all phases of the game, it was clear from the outset that Alabama simply had more talent across the board. There was little that New Mexico State could do, but the goal for a team like the Aggies is always going to be just reaching a bowl game. Alabama came in with higher goals and had no intention of allowing a Cinderella to spoil the party at home.