Alabama Football vs. Texas A&M Postgame Notes
10/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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General Notes
GAME CAPTAINS: Alabama's captains for today's game against Texas A&M were Trey Depriest, DeAndrew White and Jarrick Williams. The Crimson Tide won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.
SERIES HISTORY: Alabama holds a 5-2 edge in the all-time series with Texas A&M, after today's 59-0 victory and last season's 49-42 win in College Station. The 2012 matchup, which the Aggies won 29-24, was the first between Alabama and Texas A&M since the two teams met in College Station, on Dec. 1, 1988, a game that the Tide won, 30-10. The first contest in the series was played on Jan. 1, 1942, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Alabama won that meeting, 29-21.
LARGEST WIN OVER RANKED OPPONENT: Today's 59-0 victory over Texas A&M is the largest win over a ranked opponent in Crimson Tide history. The old record was a 55-point win over No. 14 Syracuse in a 61-6 victory in the 1953 Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 1953.
SCORING SPREE IN TUSCALOOSA: Alabama's 59 points in today's game against Texas A&M are the most the Crimson Tide has scored since recording 62 in a win at Duke on Sept. 18, 2010. It is also the largest margin of victory since a 66-3 win at Vanderbilt on Sept. 29, 1979 and the biggest shutout victory since a 62-0 win over Tulane on Oct. 12, 1991.
ALABAMA SCORES MOST POINTS IN A QUARTER: The Crimson Tide's 35 points in the second quarter of today's game were the most in a quarter in program history (records dating from 1945 to present). The previous high was 34 at Ole Miss on Oct. 7, 1989.
TIDE PUTS UP SECOND-MOST POINTS IN A HALF: Alabama scored 45 points in the first half of today's game against Texas A&M marking the most points in a half since scoring 45 at Duke on Sept. 18, 2010 and the second-most points in a half in program history. The most scored by the Crimson Tide in a half came during the 1990 matchup with Vanderbilt when Alabama put up 52 in the first half.
EXCELLING ON THIRD DOWN: Alabama has been very good on third down on both sides of the ball. In today's game, the Crimson tide converted on 60.0 percent of its third downs (9 of 15) bringing its season average to 53.0 percent (53 of 100). Defensively, Alabama only allow Texas A&M to convert on 15.4 percent of third downs as the Aggies went 2 of 13. The Crimson Tide has limited its 2014 opponents to only 30.2 percent (29 for 96) all season.
BEATING THE BEST: With the win over A&M, Alabama is 27-10 (.730) against the Associated Press top 25, including a 16-5 (.762) mark against AP top-10 teams since the start of 2008. The Crimson Tide was 3-2 in 2013 against the AP top 25 in 2013 after going 5-1 in 2012. The Tide held a 4-1 mark vs. top 25 teams in 2011 and went 5-3 against the AP top 25 in 2010.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
GETTING TO THE QUARTERBACK: The Crimson Tide defense recorded six sacks in today's game against Texas A&M, which was the most since it had five against Michigan State in Orlando on Jan. 1, 2011. Alabama now has 19 sacks on the season for an average of 2.7 per game.
HOLDING OPPONENTS UNDER 300: In head coach Nick Saban's 100-game tenure at Alabama, the Crimson Tide has limited opponents to under 300 yards of total offense 64 times, or 64.0 percent of the time. UA has held four of seven opponents below 300 yards in 2014.
HOLDING OPPONENTS UNDER 200: During head coach Nick Saban's last 88 games at the Capstone (since the start of the 2008 season), the Crimson Tide defense has held the opposing offense to fewer than 200 yards of total offense 32 times.
10 POINTS OR FEWER: Under head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide has held opponents to 10 points or fewer 51 times since the start of the 2007 season, including twice in 2014 (Florida Atlantic and Texas A&M). Alabama held 9-of-13 opponents to 10 points or less in 2013 with three shutouts. The Tide limited seven of its opponents to 10 points or less in 2012, four of which were shutouts. The Tide was successful in holding opponents in the 0-10 point range in nine games in 2011 and eight times in 2010. Alabama limited opponents to that range seven times in both 2008 and 2009, and in 2007 posted two games in which it held opponents to 0-10 points. Alabama has shut out the opposition 15 times during the Saban era.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
TIDE TOPS 500 AGAIN: For the fifth time in seven games Alabama has recorded at least 500 yards of total offense as the Crimson Tide finished with 602 yards in today's game. Alabama has accumulated 3,602 yards of total offense this season for an average of 514.6 per game.
YELDON MOVES INTO SIXTH IN CAREER RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS AT UA: T.J. Yeldon's 1-yard scoring run in the second quarter was the 30th rushing touchdown of his career, tying him for sixth place in the Alabama record books with Eddie Lacy (2010-12). Mark Ingram (2008-10) is the Crimson Tide's all-time leader in career rushing touchdowns with 42.
YELDON GOES OVER 100 FOR THE 14TH TIME: T.J. Yeldon recorded the 14th 100-yard rushing game of his career, eclipsing the milestone midway through the second quarter. He finished the game with 13 carries for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES: With Adam Griffith's 21-yard field goal in the first quarter, Alabama has scored in 176 consecutive games - the longest streak in program history.
NOTABLES ...
- Senior WR Malcome Kennedy returned to the lineup after missing the past two games due to injury. He had four catches for four yards.
- Sophomore LB Shaan Washington posted a game-high 10 tackles. It was the first time he's ever led the team in tackles in a game and it was the first double-digit tackle game of his career.
- Junior punter Drew Kaser had a career-high nine boots against the Crimson Tide (previous game high punts was eight vs. Missouri in 2013). He averaged 45.0 yards, put one punt inside the 20 and three 50-yard-plus boots.
- True freshman WR Speedy Noil surpassed the century mark in all-purpose yardage for the third straight game and for the fourth time in seven career games. Against the Crimson Tide, Noil gained 138 yards -- 32 receiving and 106 on kickoff returns.
- Junior RB/KOR Trey Williams' 75-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter was the Aggies' long kickoff return of the season and the longest by an Aggie since Williams had a 95-yarder against Mississippi State in 2013.
FOR THE RECORD ...
- Game captains were senior Malcome Kennedy and juniors Julien Obioha and Drew Kaser. The Crimson Tide won the toss and chose to receive the opening kickoff
- Junior Sam Moeller, a junior from San Antonio, Texas, was the Aggies' 12th Man for the 21st straight game.
- With the loss, the Aggies fell to 5-3 overall and 2-3 vs. the Southeastern Conference.
- The Aggies have lost three straight games for the first time since the 2011 season.
- The 59-0 shutout marked the first time the Aggies have been shutout since 2003 (77-0 at Oklahoma).
- The 59-point margin of defeat was the most since the 77-0 game in 2003 and the second-most in school history.
