Football vs. Arkansas Postgame Notes

GAME CAPTAINS: Alabama's captains for tonight's game with Arkansas were redshirt senior linebacker Anfernee Jennings, junior offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood and junior wide receiver Henry Ruggs III.

FIRST TIME STARTERS: Redshirt sophomore quarterback Mac Jones became the 15th Crimson Tide student-athlete to make his first career start this season when he took the field for the Tide's opening offensive play against Arkansas. Jones joined freshman defensive linemen Byron Young who started against Tennessee on Oct. 19 and Justin Eboigbe (Southern Miss on Sept. 21). Junior running back Najee Harris and freshman defensive back Jordan Battle recorded their first starts against New Mexico State on Sept. 7. That group joined running back Jerome Ford, offensive linemen Landon Dickerson, Evan Neal and Chris Owens, defensive lineman DJ Dale, linebackers Christian Harris and Shane Lee, defensive backs Josh Jobe and Jared Mayden and placekicker/punter Will Reichard who all started for the first time in the season opener against Duke on Aug. 31 in Atlanta.

ALABAMA HOMECOMING ALL-TIME: Alabama's 48-7 victory over Arkansas in the Crimson Tide's 2019 Homecoming Game improved UA's all-time record on Homecoming to 85-13-1 (.864). The victory over the Razorbacks extended Alabama's winning streak in Homecoming Games to 17. The last Homecoming Game loss for the Tide was a 35-21 defeat to LSU on Nov. 3, 2001.

UNRANKED, NO PROBLEM UNDER SABAN: With its 48-7 win over Arkansas tonight, Alabama has defeated 89 consecutive unranked teams under head coach Nick Saban, the longest streak in FBS history. The current streak began with a win over Colorado on December 30, 2007 in the Independence Bowl. The previous record was 72 games, shared by Miami (Fla.) (1984-95) and Florida (1989-2000). Under Saban, Alabama holds a 93-3 (.970) (89-3, .967 after vacations) mark against unranked opponents.

137-7 UNDER SABAN WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF: Under head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide is 137-7 (.951) when leading at the half. Alabama has held the lead in 54 of its last 67 games dating back to the start of the 2015 season. Alabama is also 121-4 (.968) when leading by seven or more points at the break during the Saban era.

Defense

10 POINTS OR LESS: Alabama's 48-7 win against Arkansas marked the 89th time under head coach Nick Saban that the Crimson Tide has held opponents to 10 points or less and the 33rd time in the last 67 games dating to the start of the 2015 season.

HOLDING OPPONENTS UNDER 300: The Crimson Tide defense held Arkansas to 213 yards of total offense in Alabama's 48-7 victory over the Razorbacks, marking the 110th time in 175 games (62.9 percent) under head coach Nick Saban that the Tide has held an opponent to less than 300 yards of total offense. The Tide has held 22 of its last 37 opponents below 300 yards, dating back to the start of the 2017 campaign.

DEFENSE STEPPING UP: Arkansas gained 53 yards on its first 10 plays before a fumble that set up Alabama's first touchdown. Following that fumble the Razorbacks gained a grand total of 49 yards on the following five drives (19 plays), resulting in three punts and two interceptions. In that same time frame, Alabama totaled 196 yards and 31 points. The Hogs gained 51 yards on their next drive before throwing a pick to give the Crimson Tide a 41-0 halftime lead.

TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: With a fumble recovery and three interceptions in tonight's contest, the Crimson Tide has now forced at least one turnover in 62 of its last 67 contests dating back to the start of the 2015 season. During the current run, the Crimson Tide has forced 111 turnovers (73 interceptions, 38 fumbles) and returned 24 of those miscues for touchdowns.

POINTS OFF TURNOVERS: Alabama has caused at least one turnover in each of its games this season with eight fumble recoveries and 10 interceptions. The Crimson Tide is outscoring opponents, 79-17, in points off turnovers, adding 24 in tonight's first half. It is the fourth time this season Alabama has earned double-digit points off turnovers (Sept. 7 vs. New Mexico State – 17; Sept. 14 at South Carolina – 10; Sept. 21 vs. Southern Miss – 14; Oct. 26 vs. Arkansas – 24).

Offense

SCORING STREAK CONTINUES: Alabama extended its school record for consecutive games with a score to 250 thanks redshirt sophomore placekicker Joseph Bulovas' 31-yard field goal in the first quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Crimson Tide was last held off the scoreboard in a 9-0 loss to Auburn on Nov. 18, 2000. Alabama has a 196-53 (.787) record over the course of the current streak.

ALABAMA IN THE RED ZONE: The Crimson Tide went 6-for-7 on its attempts in the red zone against the Razorbacks in tonight's homecoming game, scoring four touchdowns and two field goals. For the season, Alabama has scored on 32 of its 38 attempts in the red zone (25 touchdowns; 7 field goals).

BALL PROTECTION: In the last 163 games dating to the start of the 2008 season, Alabama has turned the ball over only 176 times (96 fumbles, 80 interceptions) for 1.08 turnovers per game. Since 2009, the Tide has turned the ball over only 158 times in 148 games (1.07/game). That number since 2009 includes 62 interceptions in 3,761 attempts (1 INT every 60.7 attempts) by UA starting quarterbacks and 24 fumbles in 3,851 carries (one fumble lost every 160.5 carries) by the Tide's top two running backs.

RUGGS III, JEUDY CLIMBING CAREER TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS LIST: Junior wideout Jerry Jeudy moved into sole possession of the No. 2 spot on Alabama's all-time touchdown receptions list with 24, while fellow junior Henry Ruggs III stands right behind at the No. 3 position with 23 career touchdown receptions. Jeudy had two in tonight's game – one from 14 yards out and another from 40 and Ruggs III added one of his own from 14 yards. Alabama's all-time leader is Amari Cooper, who recorded 31 from 2012-14.

JONES SHINES AS SIGNAL-CALLER: Redshirt sophomore quarterback Mac Jones established new career highs for passing yards and passing touchdowns in the win over Arkansas. In his first career start, Jones finished the game with 235 yards passing, completing 18 of his 22 attempts, and tossed three scores.

Special Teams

PUNT DEFENSE CONTINUES IMPRESSIVE PLAY IN 2019: Alabama's punt return defense remains stout this season, allowing just five returns for 37 total yards this year. Last season Alabama gave up just nine punt returns in 42 attempts for 24 yards to rank fifth in the Football Bowl Subdivision in punt return defense at 2.67 yards per return.

BULOVAS GOES 2-FOR-2: Redshirt sophomore placekicker Joseph Bulovas went 2-for-2 in field goal attempts against Arkansas, making kicks of 31 and 30 yards on the day. It marked the 19th made field goals of his Crimson Tide career.

University of Alabama Athletics