Football vs. Tennessee Postgame Notes
10/21/2017 6:19:00 PM | Football
GAME CAPTAINS: Alabama's captains for today's game vs. Tennessee were tight end Hale Hentges, defensive lineman Da'Ron Payne and wide receiver Calvin Ridley.
EASTERN STREAK: Alabama's 45-7 win over Tennessee today is the Crimson Tide's 20th consecutive over an SEC Eastern Division opponent, dating back to a 35-21 loss at then-No. 19 South Carolina on Oct. 9, 2010. The 19 wins include a 4-0 record in SEC Championship Games.
SEC STREAK: With today's 45-7 win over Tennessee, Alabama has now won 20 consecutive SEC regular season contests (not including SEC Championship Games) dating back to a 38-10 win at Georgia on Oct. 3, 2015, the second-longest streak in school history. Alabama's last loss was a 43-37 defeat by Ole Miss on Sept. 19, 2015.
UNRANKED, NO PROBLEM UNDER SABAN: Alabama has defeated 72 consecutive unranked teams under head coach Nick Saban, tying Miami (Fla.) (1985-95) for the second-most in FBS history and just one win shy of Florida's FBS record of 73 wins (1990-2000). Alabama's last loss to an unranked team came against Auburn to close out the 2007 season. The current streak began with a win over Colorado on Dec. 30, 2007, in the Independence Bowl. Under Saban, Alabama holds a 76-3 (.962) (72-3, .960 after vacations) mark against unranked opponents, including a perfect mark in unranked matchups since 2008.
SABAN'S 58th GAME AS AP No. 1: The matchup with Tennessee today was Nick Saban's 58th career game coaching Alabama as the Associated Press No. 1 team, the most games coached as No. 1 at one school. At 52-6 (.897), Saban has won more games coaching as the No. 1 team at one school than any other coach in college football history. Woody Hayes (Ohio State) and Bobby Bowden (Florida State) are tied for second with 40 wins apiece. Bowden was 40-5 at Florida State as No. 1 and Hayes went 40-6 with Ohio State.
ALABAMA AS THE NATION'S NO. 1: Alabama has played 82 games as the nation's top-ranked team since the inception of the Associated Press Poll in 1936. In those games, the Crimson Tide boasts a 71-11 (.866) record. Those numbers are even more impressive when you look at the 11 seasons under the direction of head coach Nick Saban (2007-present). Since the ninth game of the 2008 season (124 games), Alabama has played 58 games while being ranked No. 1, posting a 52-6 (.897) record during that span.
114-7 UNDER SABAN WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF: Under head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide is 114-7 (.942) when leading at the half. Alabama leads Tennessee, 21-0, at the half today and has held the lead in 32 of its last 38 games dating back to the start of the 2015 season, including 13 of 15 games in 2016 and all eight games this season.
Defensive Notes
WALLACE HAS CAREER GAME VS. VOLS: Senior defensive back Levi Wallace had quite a game for himself in today's win against the Vols. The former walk-on finished with a career-high six tackles, including three for a loss of 19 yards, and two sacks. He also tacked on one quarterback hurry.
FIRST HALF DEFENSE: Alabama has not allowed a first half touchdown in SEC play this season. The Tide held Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Tennessee scoreless and limited Ole Miss and Texas A&M to a single field goal each in the first five SEC contests this season.
TURNOVER STREAK STANDS AT 35 GAMES: Sophomore Mack Wilson's fourth quarter interception against Tennessee on Oct. 21 extended Alabama's streak of games forcing at least one turnover to 35. The streak began in Alabama's 34-0 win over ULM on Sept. 26, 2015. During the current run, the Crimson Tide has forced 66 turnovers (44 interceptions, 22 fumbles) and scored 16 touchdowns off those miscues and is 34-1 during this run. Alabama's last game without a forced turnover was a 43-37 loss to Ole Miss on Sept. 19, 2015.
10 POINTS OR LESS: Alabama's 45-7 win over Tennessee on Oct. 21 marked the 77th time under head coach Nick Saban that the Crimson Tide has held opponents to 10 points or less, the sixth time in eight games this season and the 21st time in the last 38 games dating to the start of the 2015 season.
HOLDING OPPONENTS UNDER 200: Tennessee's 108 yards in total offense on Oct. 21 marked the 46th time in the last 129 games under Nick Saban (since the start of the 2008 season), the Crimson Tide defense has held the opposition to fewer than 200 yards of total offense.
Offensive Notes
OFFENSE COLLECTS OVER 600 YARDS FOR THIRD TIME THIS SEASON: The Alabama offense finished today's game with 604 yards (272 rushing, 332 receiving) of total offense, marking the third game this season the Crimson Tide has eclipsed the 600-yard plateau. Alabama had 677 yards (496 rushing, 181 receiving) at Vanderbilt and 613 yards (365 rushing, 248 receiving) against Ole Miss.
FIVE-FOR-FIVE: Freshman receiver Henry Ruggs III has made the most of his opportunities this season. The Montgomery, Ala., native has caught five passes for 112 yards in the Crimson Tide's first eight games but all five receptions have gone for touchdowns. Ruggs III caught a 16-yard scoring strike from fellow freshman Tua Tagovailoa for his first career reception against Fresno State on Sept. 9. He teamed up with Tagovailoa for an eight-yard score against Ole Miss on Sept. 30 and caught an eight-yard Jalen Hurts touchdown pass against Texas A&M on Oct. 7 followed by a 20-yard scoring pass from Hurts against Arkansas on Oct. 14. In today's game, Ruggs III scored on a 60-yard reception from Tagovailoa for the Tide's final score. Â
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES: Alabama's school record consecutive games scoring streak was extended to 221 games against Tennessee today with Bo Scarbrough's one-yard touchdown run on Alabama's opening series. The Crimson Tide was last held off the scoreboard in a 9-0 loss to Auburn on Nov. 18, 2000.
FAST STARTERS: Alabama has now outscored its opponents 107-9 in the first quarter and 190-26 in the first half this season. In SEC play, the Tide's scoring advantage is 73-6 in the first quarter and 128-6 in the first half.
FOURTH DOWN EXECUTION: Alabama is now a perfect 11-for-11 on fourth down attempts this season after scoring twice on fourth down in the first half today.
RUSHING TO SUCCESS: Alabama rushed for 272 yards against Tennessee today and is now 99-5 (.952) since the start of the 2008 season when rushing for at least 140 yards. The Tide has topped the 140-yard mark 31 times in its last 38 games dating to the start of the 2015 season. UA has rushed for 140 yards or more in all eight games this season.
SCARBROUGH'S FIFTH TWO-TOUCHDOWN GAME: Junior Bo Scarbrough's two one-yard touchdown plunges in the first half today marks the fifth time in his career he has rushed for two or more scores in a game and the second time this season. Scarbrough also tallied twice against Vanderbilt on Sept. 23.
RIDLEY CLIMBING CAREER RECEPTIONS LIST: With five first half receptions today, Calvin Ridley is now second on the UA career receptions list with 199 catches. Amari Cooper is the Alabama leader with 228 from 2012-14.
RIDLEY THIRD ON NCAA ACTIVE GAMES WITH A RECEPTION LIST: With his reception on Alabama's first offensive play, junior Calvin Ridley now has at least one reception in all 38 games of his Alabama career and ranks No. 3 in consecutive games with a reception among active players in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
HURTS NOW SEVENTH CAREER TOTAL OFFENSE: With 212 yards in total offense against Tennessee today, quarterback Jalen Hurts now has 5,529 total offensive yards in his career to move into seventh place on the UA career total offense list. Walter Lewis (1980-83) is sixth with 5,690 yards. AJ McCarron (2010-13) is the Alabama career leader with 8,969 yards.
HURTS NOW FOURTH ON UA CAREER TOUCHDOWN RESPONSIBILITY LIST: Jalen Hurts' third quarter touchdown pass to Irv Smith, Jr. today moves him into sole possession fourth place on the Alabama career touchdown responsibility list with 51. Hurts was tied with Shaun Alexander (1996-99) entering the game. Harry Gilmer (1944-47) is third with 52. Hurts has thrown 32 career touchdown passes and rushed for 19 career scores.
Special Teams Notes
SCOTT CLOSING IN ON 10,000 PUNTING YARDS: Senior JK Scott's 84 yards on two punts today gives him 9,700 yards, putting him 300 yards shy of becoming UA's first 10,000-yard punter. Scott moved into first on the Tide's career punting yards list following the Arkansas game on Oct. 14. Scott's 213 career punt attempts ranks second to P.J. Fitzgerald (2006-09), who finished his career with 238.
