COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Alabama is back on top and Tua Tagovailoa and the Tide look to stay there for a while.

Your turn, Jaylen Waddle.

When: 2:30 p.m., Saturday

TUSCALOOSA — Xavier McKinney found a simple, albeit somewhat unnerving way to correct the open-field tackling issues that plagued him early in his Alabama career: imagine Nick Saban yelling at you.

TUSCALOOSA — Xavier McKinney is Alabama's leading tackler and one of the team's top defenders. He can draw, too.

TUSCALOOSA — Tua Tagovailoa hadn’t given it much thought before a reporter asked about it Tuesday, but he admitted a change at center could affect some aspects of Alabama’s quarterback-center exchange this weekend.

TUSCALOOSA — The last time Jaylen Waddle stood inside Kyle Field in College Station, the Houston native was being heavily recruited by Texas A&M.

TUSCALOOSA — Coming off an open week, Alabama’s offense is hardly at full strength with a couple of starters expected to be “day-to-day” this week with injuries.

TUSCALOOSA — Six weeks into the season and Alabama is back in familiar territory, including regaining the No. 1 ranking it held almost all of last season.

TUSCALOOSA — Sam Williams has always enjoyed hunting and fishing. So, too, does Freddie Roach, his lead recruiter at Ole Miss.

AUBURN — Gus Malzahn “got bored the last couple of years.”

TUSCALOOSA — Two youngsters hampered by injuries could be available for Alabama’s game against No. 21 Texas A&M.

The Southeastern Conference seems to be in good playoff position with five teams ranked in the top 10.

TUSCALOOSA — As Alabama’s Jared Mayden hauled in the fluttering pass from Ole Miss quarterback John Rhys Plumlee in the closing minutes of Saturday’s 59-31 win, it was almost as if a weight had been lifted of the senior safety’s shoulders.