Football vs. Texas A&M Postgame Notes

GAME CAPTAINS: Alabama's captains for the Texas A&M game were running back Damien Harris, tight end Hale Hentges and linebacker Anfernee Jennings.

FIRST TIME STARTERS: Freshman Patrick Surtain II became the 13th Crimson Tide student-athlete to make his first career start this season when he took the field for the Tide's opening defensive snap against A&M. Surtain also picked up his first career interception in the second quarter, setting up Joseph Bulovas' 47-yard field goal to end the half.

121-7 UNDER SABAN WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF: Under head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide is 121-7 (.945) when leading at the half. Alabama led Texas A&M, 31-13, at the half. Alabama has held the lead at the break in 38 of its last 48 games dating back to the start of the 2015 season. Alabama is also 105-4 (.963) when leading by seven or more points at the break during the Saban era.

Defensive Notes

TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: Alabama's two first half interceptions give the Crimson Tide at least one forced turnover in 46 of its last 48 games dating to the start of the 2015 season. During the current run, the Crimson Tide has forced 80 turnovers (56 interceptions, 24 fumbles) and returned 19 of those miscues for touchdowns.

Offensive Notes

500 YARDS IN TOTAL OFFENSE FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN 2018: Alabama's 524 yards in total offense against A&M marks the fourth time the Crimson Tide has topped 500 yards this season and the 16th time in the last 48 games. This is Alabama's first four-game run of 500-yard total offense performances since the first four games of the 2014 season.

400 YARDS PASSING: Alabama's 415 yards passing against Texas A&M marks the first time the Crimson Tide has surpassed the 400-yard mark through the air since throwing for 449 yards against Florida on Sept. 20, 2014.

TAGOVAILOA EQUALS NO. 5 PASSING TOTAL IN UA HISTORY: Tua Tagovailoa's 387 passing yards against Texas A&M equals the fifth-best passing total in school history (AJ McCarron vs. Oklahoma, Jan. 2014) and ties for the second-highest total under Nick Saban. Blake Sims holds the record under Saban with 445 vs. Florida on Sept. 20, 2014. Tagovailoa is also UA's first 300-yard passer since Jalen Hurts threw for 347 against Mississippi State on Nov. 12, 2016.

DRIVES UNDER A MINUTE: Alabama's first and last scoring drives of the first half and final touchdown drive against Texas A&M gives the Tide 10 scoring drives of under a minute in 2018. Nine of those drives have resulted in touchdowns, with the 10th culminating in Joseph Bulovas' 47-yard field goal to end the first half against the Aggies.

FIRST HALF SCORING: Through four games this season, Alabama is outscoring its opponents, 148-20, in the first half. That total includes a 75-14 first quarter advantage and a 73-6 difference in the second quarter.

OPENING DRIVE TOUCHDOWNS: With its 45-23 win over Texas A&M, Alabama has now won 19-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.

HARRIS NOW 13TH ON ALABAMA CAREER RUSHING LIST: Damien Harris' 52 yards rushing against A&M gives the senior 2,424 career yards on the ground, moving him into 13th place on the Alabama career rushing chart. Sherman Williams (1991-94) is 12th with 2,486 yards.

CAREER DAY FOR TAGOVAILOA: Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa turned in a career performance against Texas A&M. The sophomore threw for a career-high 387 yards on 22-of-30 passing and four touchdowns and rushed for a fifth score. The completions, attempts and five total touchdowns are new career highs. His four touchdown passes equal his previous career high.

TAGOVAILOA AT THE HELM: Through four games in 2018, Tua Tagovailoa has directed 31 drives as the Tide's starting quarterback with 20 resulting touchdowns and two culminating in field goals. In those drives, the Tide offense is 15-for-19 on third down conversions, accounting for 1,507 yards on 159 snaps for an average of 9.5 yards per play and 144 of the 195 points scored by the UA offense.

TAGOVAILOA ON THIRD DOWN: In Alabama's 11 possessions against Texas A&M with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback, the Crimson Tide reached third down eight times. On those eight plays Tagovailoa was 4-for-7 passing for 74 yards and three first downs and rushed once for two yards and a first down. The sophomore signal caller is now 17-for-20 passing on third down in 2018 for 372 yards and six touchdowns. He has also carried the ball four times for 36 yards and four first downs this season.

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