Football vs. Miami Postgame Notes
9/4/2021 7:37:00 PM | Football
General Notes
GAME CAPTAINS: Alabama's captains for this afternoon's season opener against Miami were offensive lineman Evan Neal, defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis, defensive back Jordan Battle and honorary captain DeVonta Smith.
FIRST TIME STARTERS: The Crimson Tide had nine student-athletes make their first career start vs. Miami, including five on offense, two on defense and two on special teams. Getting the nod on offense were Javion Cohen, Darrian Dalcourt, Brian Robinson Jr., Jameson Williams and Bryce Young. On the defensive side, it was Jalyn Armour-Davis and Henry To'oTo'o. Rounding out the first-time starters group on special teams were punter James Burnip and snapper Kneeland Hibbett.
FIRST TIME PLAYERS: Alabama had 10 players make their first career appearance for the Crimson Tide in the first half of Saturday's game. The group includes freshmen Ja'Corey Brooks, JoJo Earle, Kneeland Hibbett, JC Latham, Kool-Aid McKinstry and Dallas Turner; redshirt freshman James Burnip; and juniors Jack Martin, Henry To'oTo'o and Jameson Williams.
OPENING DAY SUCCESS UNDER SABAN: Alabama has been dominant in season openers under head coach Nick Saban. The Tide is a perfect 15-0 under Saban and has won in impressive fashion. Alabama has outscored its opponents 610-176 in those games and has outgained the opposition, 6,658-3,273. The Tide has averaged 40.7 points per opening contest under Saban and given up just 11.7 points per game. UA has also amassed 443.9 total yards per opener and surrendered just 218.2 yards in those matchups.
NEUTRAL SITES: Alabama is 95-50-4 (.639) all-time in 149 neutral site contests. The list includes all Alabama-Auburn games not played on campus, including Legion Field from 1948-88. Under head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide is 27-6 (.818) in neutral site games.
DOME SWEET DOME: The Crimson Tide is 32-7-1 (.800) all-time in domed stadiums, including a 23-2 (.920) mark since 2009, and is 24-4 (.857) during Nick Saban's tenure.
ALABAMA IN THE ATL: Alabama boasts a 16-1 record in games played in Atlanta since head coach Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa, including 15 straight wins. The Crimson Tide is 7-0 in Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games, 7-1 in SEC Championship Games, 1-0 in the Peach Bowl and 1-0 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
SABAN VS. THE ACC: Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban has faced current ACC teams (including Notre Dame in 2020 only) a total of 19 times in his career and owns an 15-4 (.789) all-time record, including a 11-2 (.846) mark in the regular season. The Crimson Tide is 12-3 (.800) against the ACC (including Notre Dame in 2020 only) under Saban, a number that includes an 8-1 record in the regular season. In addition, Saban's Alabama teams are a perfect 7-0 in season openers with ACC foes - six of which were played in Atlanta.
SABAN VS. NONCONFERENCE FOES: Alabama head coach Nick Saban owns an impressive 94-20 (.825) career mark against nonconference opponents across his four stops as a collegiate head coach. Saban's career total includes a 63-7 (.900) record while in Tuscaloosa, a number that is made up of only two losses to nonconference opponents during the regular season, both of which came in 2007 (14-21 vs. Florida State (Jacksonville) and 14-21 vs. ULM).
BEATING THE BEST: The Crimson Tide is 67-17 (.798) against the Associated Press Top 25 since the start of 2008.
SABAN vs. AP TOP 25: The Crimson Tide's 44-13 win over Miami in the 2021 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game was Nick Saban's 91st career win and 68th at Alabama against the Associated Press Top 25. Saban moved past Joe Paterno (86) for the most career wins against the AP Top 25 when he defeated then-No. 22 Auburn on Nov. 28, 2020. The late Florida State legend Bobby Bowden ranks third all-time (82), while Alabama's Paul "Bear" Bryant is fourth (66). Former Duke, Florida and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is fifth at 64. Saban's winning percentage against AP ranked teams (91-42, .684) tops Bryant (.592), Bowden (.557), Spurrier (.529) and Paterno (.512).
DOMINATING THE AP TOP 25: Alabama's win over Miami in the 2021 Chick-fil-La Kickoff Game was head coach Nick Saban's 22nd career win by 25-plus points against a ranked opponent. Today's win makes Saban the all-time leader for the most wins by 25-plus points in the Associated Press Poll era (since 1936), pushing him past Bobby Bowden's previous record of 20. Saban is also the NCAA record holder with 22 career wins of 20-plus points against AP top-15 opponents, 19 of which have come at Alabama.
Defensive Notes
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: Alabama has forced at least one turnover in 79 of the last 86 contests dating back to the start of the 2015 season, thanks to Chris Allen's forced fumble recovery in the second quarter and interceptions by Malachi Moore and Jaylen Moody. During the current run, Alabama has forced 145 turnovers (93 interceptions, 52 fumbles) and returned 29 of those miscues for touchdowns.
Offensive Notes
94-YARD TOUCHDOWN: Bryce Young's 94-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Williams in the third quarter of the 2021 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game is tied for the second-longest touchdown pass in program history. It is tied for the second-longest touchdown pass in program history with Freddie Kitchens' pass to Michael Vaughn vs. Florida on Dec. 7, 1996 and Mac Jones' pass to Jaylen Waddle vs. Louisiana on Sept. 29, 2018. The longest touchdown pass in program history is AJ McCarron's throw to Amari Cooper at Auburn on Nov. 30, 2013 (99 yards).
MOST PASSING TOUCHDOWNS IN STARTING DEBUT: Byrce Young's four touchdown passes against Miami in the 2021 Chick-fil-La Kickoff Game is the most touchdown passes by any Alabama quarterback in their debut as a starter. He passed Mac Jones and Joe Namath, who collected three touchdown passes in 2019 and 1962, respectively.
IN GOOD COMPANY: With his four touchdown passes in today's game, Bryce Young tied Tua Tagovailoa (2019 –vs. Duke) and Bo Wallace (Ole Miss – 2014 vs. Boise State) for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game record for most touchdown passes in a game.
30-OR-MORE IN 27 STRAIGHT: Alabama is the current FBS leader for scoring at least 30 points in consecutive games with 27 following the Tide's 44-13 win over Miami in the 2021 Chick-fil-La Kickoff Game on Saturday, Sept. 4. The Tide's 27-game streak is the second-longest in major college football history with only UCF having a longer run of 31 games from 2017-19.
FIRST CAREER TOUCHDOWNS: Both Cameron Latu and Trey Sanders scored their first career touchdowns. Cameron Latu, redshirt junior tight end, made two catches and two touchdowns in the first half of the Alabama vs. Miami season opener, which marked both the first catch and touchdown in his Crimson Tide career. His first reception came at the 14:12 mark in the second quarter, catching a 9-yard pass from Bryce Young. Two drives later at the 6:55 mark in the second quarter, he caught a 25-yard pass, also from Young, for his second career touchdown. Sanders raced into the endzone on a 20-yard carry with 7:01 left in the third quarter
OPENING DRIVE TOUCHDOWNS: The Crimson Tide has won 42 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 269, thanks to Bryce Young's pass to John Metchie III for a 37-yard touchdown on the Crimson Tide's opening drive in the season opener. Crimson Tide was last held off the scoreboard in a 9-0 loss to Auburn on Nov. 18, 2000. Alabama has a 214-55 (.795) record over the course of the current streak.
Special Teams Notes
LEADER IN FIELD GOALS: Alabama placekicker Will Reichard, who led the nation in consecutive field goals made prior to this matchup, extended his streak to 18 straight against Miami. In the first quarter, the junior connected on a 38-yard field goal to help Alabama stretch its lead to 10-0, then in the second quarter, he rallied a 51-yard field goal so the Crimson Tide could take a 20-0 lead over the Hurricanes. Reichard connected on a 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, making the score 44-13, Alabama. Fourteen of Reichard's 18 makes came in 2020 with the streak beginning at South Carolina on Sept. 14, 2019.
REICHARD'S PERFECT SOPHOMORE SEASON EXPANDS TO JUNIOR SEASON: Since the start of the 2020 season through the end of the 2021 Chick-fil-La Kickoff Game, Reichard has been perfect on all kicking attempts. After going 5-for-5 on PATs and 3-for-3 on field goals during the 2021 season opener, Reichard stretched his streak to 106-for-106 overall, including 17-of-17 on field goals, in that span.
REICHARD FROM 50-PLUS: Will Reichard connected on a 51-yard field goal in the second quarter against Miami, helping Alabama stretch its lead to 20-0. The field goal marked the second longest in his career, only behind his 52-yard field goal made against then-No. 3/3 Georgia on Oct. 17, 2020. With Reichard's 51-yard field goal in the second quarter against Miami, he owns the Crimson Tide's only two 50-or-more yard field goals since Adam Griffith connected from 50 yards against Auburn on Nov. 28, 2015.
