Football vs. Ole Miss Postgame Notes
9/15/2018 9:57:00 PM | Football
GAME CAPTAINS: Alabama's captains for tonight's game with Ole Miss are linebacker Christian Miller, offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher and defensive back Deionte Thompson.
120-7 UNDER SABAN WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF: Under head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide is 120-7 (.945) when leading at the half. Alabama led Ole Miss, 49-7, tonight. Alabama has held the lead in 37 of its last 47 games dating back to the start of the 2015 season. Alabama is also 104-4 (.963) when leading by seven or more points at the break during the Saban era.
Defensive Notes
HOLDING OPPONENTS UNDER 300: Ole Miss' 248 yards in total offense tonight marks the 98th time in 155 games (63.2 percent) under head coach Nick Saban that Alabama has held an opponent to less than 300 yards of total offense. The Tide has now held 10 of its last 17 opponents below 300 yards, dating to the start of the 2017 season.
NON-OFFENSIVE TDs IN THE SABAN ERA: Xavier McKinney's third quarter 30-yard interception return for a touchdown tonight was Alabama's 65th non-offensive touchdown of the Nick Saban era and the Tide's fourth this season. Alabama has now run three interceptions back for touchdowns and returned a kickoff for a score in 2018.
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: Alabama's three forced turnovers against Ole Miss tonight gives the Crimson Tide at least one forced turnover in 45 of its last 47 games dating to the start of the 2015 season. During the current run, the Crimson Tide has forced 78 turnovers (54 interceptions, 24 fumbles) and returned 19 of those miscues for touchdowns.
Offensive Notes
THREE CONSECUTIVE 50+ POINT GAMES TO START THE SEASON: With tonight's 62-7 win over Ole Miss, Alabama has now scored 50-plus points in three straight games to open the season, which is the first time that has been accomplished in Southeastern Conference history. It is also the first time the Crimson Tide has scored 50-plus in a three-game span since the 1945 season (Kentucky, 60-19; Vanderbilt, 71-0; Pensacola N.A.S, 55-6; Mississippi State, 55-13).
500 YARDS IN TOTAL OFFENSE FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 2018: Alabama's 516 yards in total offense tonight marks the third time the Crimson Tide has topped 500 yards this season and the 15th time in the last 47 games. This is Alabama's first three-game run of 500-yard total offense performances since the first three games of the 2015 season.
SCORING AGAINST OLE MISS: Since Ole Miss took a 24-3 lead against Alabama with 2:43 remaining in the first half of the 2016 game, the Crimson Tide has outscored the Rebels, 173-29 In the last 12+ quarters of play in the series. Tonight's 62-7 win also marks the first time UA has topped 60 points in consecutive games against Ole Miss.
FIRST HALF SCORING: Through three games this season, Alabama is outscoring its opponents, 117-7 (39.0-2.3), in the first half. That total includes a 61-7 first quarter advantage and a 56-0 difference in the second quarter.
POINTS IN A FIRST QUARTER: Alabama's 28 points in the first quarter tonight ties for the most in an opening quarter for the Crimson Tide during the Nick Saban era. The Tide scored 28 in the opening quarter against Duke in 2010 and Charleston Southern in 2015. The 28 points also marks just the fourth time in the last 15 seasons an SEC team scored 28 or more first-quarter points against a conference opponent.
OPENING DRIVE TOUCHDOWNS: With tonight's 62-7 win over Ole Miss, Alabama has now won 18 straight games when scoring a touchdown on its first offensive possession of a game. The Tide's last loss after finding the end zone on its first drive was to Oklahoma in the 2014 Allstate Sugar Bowl.
TUA AT THE HELM: Through three games in 2018, Tua Tagovailoa has directed 20 drives as the Tide's starting quarterback with 14 resulting touchdowns and one culminating in a field goal. In those drives, the Tide offense was 15 for 19 on third down conversions, accounting for 1,024 yards on 108 snaps for an average of 9.5 yards per play and 99 of the 150 points scored by the UA offense.
TUA ON THIRD DOWN: In Alabama's seven first half possessions with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback the Crimson Tide reached third down four times. On those four plays Tagovailoa was 3-for-3 passing with 91 yards and two touchdowns and rushed once for 15 yards and a first down. The sophomore signal caller is now 13-for-13 passing on third down in 2018 for 298 yards and six touchdowns. He has also carried the ball three times for 34 yards and three first downs this season.
