Football vs. Kentucky Postgame Notes
11/21/2020 6:46:00 PM | Football
GAME CAPTAINS: Alabama's captains for today's game with Kentucky were Landon Dickerson, Dylan Moses and DeVonta Smith. Smith went to midfield for the coin toss.
SABAN MOVING UP SEC WINS LIST: With the win, Alabama head coach Nick Saban is now tied with Steve Spurrier for second on the SEC's career regular-season wins list (all games) at 206 victories. The only coach in SEC history with more regular-season wins is Paul "Bear" Bryant who totaled 292 during his career.
SABAN'S HOME RECORD: Alabama head coach Nick Saban is 146-20 (.880) in home games during his collegiate head coaching career. He owns an advantage at every stop he has made as a college head coach, including an 87-8 (.916) mark while at UA. Following the Crimson Tide's win, Saban has won 57 of his last 60 contests at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
EASTERN STREAK: Alabama's 63-3 win was the Crimson Tide's 30th consecutive victory over an SEC Eastern Division opponent, dating back to a 35-21 loss at then-No. 19 South Carolina on Oct. 9, 2010. The 30 wins include a 5-0 record in SEC Championship Games. During the current run, the Tide is 11-0 vs. Tennessee; , 5-0 vs. Georgia (2-0 in SEC CG, 1-0 in CFP NCG); 4-0 vs. Florida (2-0 in SEC CG) and Missouri (1-0 in SEC CG); 3-0 vs. Kentucky; 2-0 vs. Vanderbilt; and 1-0 vs. South Carolina. Overall, under Nick Saban the Crimson Tide is 40-3 (.930) against the SEC East, including a 7-1 (.875) record in the SEC Championship Game.
UNRANKED, NO PROBLEM UNDER SABAN: With its 63-3 win over Kentucky, Alabama has defeated 96 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 100-3 (.971) (96-3, .970 after vacations) mark against unranked opponents.
NON-OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS IN THE SABAN ERA: Jordan Battle's 45-yard interception return for a score marked Alabama's 78th non-offensive touchdown of the Nick Saban era and the third in 2020. The Tide also returned an interception for a score against Texas A&M and had a scoop-and-score fumble recovery at Tennessee.
FIRST TIME STARTERS: The Crimson Tide had one student-athlete make his first career start in the matchup with Kentucky as tight end Jahleel Billingsley got the nod. Billingsley joined a collection of 13 players that have made their first career start this season. That group of 13 includes: Brian Branch (Mississippi State); Slade Bolden and Charlie Scott (Tennessee); DeMarcco Hellams (Georgia); Christopher Allen and John Metchie III (Ole Miss); and Chase Allen, Will Anderson Jr., Emil Ekiyor Jr., Sam Johnson, Malachi Moore, Carl Tucker and Daniel Wright (Missouri).
FIRST TIME PLAYERS: In the matchup with Kentucky, two student-athletes made their first appearance in the crimson and white including Seth McLaughlin (OL) and Damieon George Jr. (OL). They joined a group of 23 Crimson Tide players who have earned their first career playing time this season including freshmen Chase Allen (PK), Will Anderson Jr. (LB), Javon Baker (WR), Brian Branch (DB), Jamil Burroughs (DL), Javion Cohen (OL), DJ Douglas (DB), Traeshon Holden (WR), Sam Johnson (P), Thaiu Jones-Bell (WR), Demouy Kennedy (LB), Jah-Marien Latham (DL), Jase McClellan (RB), Malachi Moore (DB), Drew Sanders (LB), Trey Sanders (RB), Tim Smith (DL), Roydell Williams (RB) and Bryce Young (QB), along with junior Ronald Williams Jr. (DB) and seniors Joshua Lanier (WR), Charlie Scott (P) and Carl Tucker (TE).
Offensive Notes
35-OR-MORE IN 20 STRAIGHT: The Crimson Tide scored 63 points in the matchup with Kentucky. That total marked the 20th straight game that Alabama's offense has scored 35-or-more points, which is the longest streak in major-college football history. Oregon scored at least 35 points in 15 consecutive games from Nov. 5, 2011 through a Nov. 17, 2012 loss to Stanford by a score of 17-14. Alabama's last game of not posting 35-or-more points came in the Tide's 44-16 loss to Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Jan. 7, 2019.
500+ YARDS OF TOTAL OFFENSE: Alabama recorded 509 yards of total offense against Kentucky, marking the 38th time in the last 79 games, dating to the start of the 2015 season, that the Crimson Tide has eclipsed the 500-yard mark. In 2018, UA totaled 500 or more yards in 12-of-15 games to set a single-season record. The Tide followed that up by eclipsing 500 yards of offense in nine of the 13 games of the 2019 campaign. Alabama has gone over the 500-yard marker in five of seven games so far this season.
STACKING UP 100s: Alabama's explosive offense has produced 10 individual 100-plus yard receiving performances through seven games this season, including at least one 100-plus yard receiver in every game. The Crimson Tide has also had multiple players in the same game over the 100-yard mark in three of seven contests so far. The impressive numbers by the Tide wideouts have come against SEC defenses. For perspective, Alabama's offense produced 11 100-plus yard efforts through 13 games last season and did so 13 times in 15 games during 2018 across conference and non-conference pairings.
OPENING DRIVE TOUCHDOWNS: Najee Harris carried it across the goal line for a one-yard score on Alabama's first drive of the day. Entering the contest with Kentucky, the Crimson Tide had won 36 straight games when scoring a touchdown on the first offensive possession of the game. The Tide's last loss after finding the end zone on its first drive was to the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2014 Allstate Sugar Bowl.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES: Alabama extended its school record for consecutive games with a score to 262 thanks to Najee Harris' one-yard score on the Crimson Tide's opening possession. Alabama was last held off the scoreboard in a 9-0 loss to Auburn on Nov. 18, 2000. Coming into today, the Tide holds a 203-55 (.787) record over the course of the current streak.
SMITH SETS ALABAMA, SEC CAREER TOUCHDOWNS RECORD: DeVonta Smith's touchdown reception in the second quarter was the 32nd of his career, making him the new Alabama and SEC record holder. Smith passed former Alabama wideout Amari Cooper (2012-14) who held the record at UA with 31. Cooper and Smith were both tied with Chris Doering for the SEC record prior to today's game.
SMITTY OVER 100 AGAIN: DeVonta Smith finished the game with 144 yards receiving to go over the 100-yard marker for the fourth time this season.
WHERE SMITH RANKS IN ALABAMA HISTORY: DeVonta Smith entered the game with 2,868 yards and 31 touchdowns on 174 receptions. With his effort against the Wildcats, Smith moved up in each category. He now ranks second in career yards with 3,012, first in touchdowns (33) and fourth in receptions (183).
HARRIS FROM 42: Najee Harris scored from 42 yards out for his second touchdown of the day. The 42-yard rush was the longest of his career and the longest scoring play of his career.
NAJEE FOR TWO-OR-MORE: Najee Harris rushed for two touchdowns, marking the fifth time this season he has recorded two-or-more rushing scores in a game. Harris has also tallied at least one rushing touchdown in six of the Tide's seven games so far.
HARRIS MOVING UP THE CHARTS: Najee Harris finished the game with 83 yards and two touchdowns and now has 3,174 yards and 36 scores for his career. His effort moved him into seventh in program history for career rushing yards while moving him up to fifth for career scores.
MCCLELLAN JUST SHY OF 100: Jase McClellan recorded the first stats of his young career, carrying the ball 10 times for 99 yards. The freshman running back also tallied his first career touchdown, giving the Tide its ninth score of the game.
Defensive Notes
LAST 14 QUARTERS FOR THE TIDE DEFENSE: Alabama's defense has come into its own over the last 14 quarters of football (3.5 games). Since halftime of a 41-24 win over then-No. 3/3 Georgia on Oct. 17, Alabama has only allowed 20 points (0 vs. UGA; 17 at Tennessee; 0 vs. Mississippi State; 3 vs. Kentucky) or 5.7 points per game. The Crimson Tide has allowed an average of just 59.6 yards per quarter (834 yards in 14 quarters) in that same time frame or 238.3 yards per game.
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: Alabama's defense forced one turnover against the Wildcats. That number included an interceptions, which was returned for a 45 yard touchdown by Jordan Battle. With the turnover, the Crimson Tide has forced at least one turnover in 73 of the last 79 contests dating back to the start of the 2015 season. During the current run, Alabama has forced 132 turnovers (87 interceptions, 45 fumbles) and returned 29 of those miscues for touchdowns.
HOLDING OPPONENTS UNDER 200: Kentucky's 179 yards of total offense marked the 52nd time in the last 174 games under Nick Saban (since the start of the 2008 season) that the Crimson Tide defense has held the opposition to fewer than 200 yards of total offense.
Special Teams Notes
PERFECT SO FAR FOR REICHARD: Alabama placekicker Will Reichard is currently perfect on all kicking attempts during the 2020 season. The sophomore is 54-for-54 overall, including 8-of-8 on field goals to go with 46 made PATs in as many attempts. Reichard has also contributed on kickoffs, totaling 1,906 yards on 34 boots for a 56.1 yards per kick average with seven touchbacks.
