GENERAL NOTES
GAME CAPTAINS: Alabama’s captains for today’s game with Auburn were Miller Forristall, Alex Leatherwood and LaBryan Ray. Forristall went to midfield for the coin toss.
SENIOR DAY: Saturday’s Iron Bowl matchup with Auburn was Alabama’s Senior Day. Honored at Saturday’s ceremonies were: Deonte Brown (OL), Logan Burnett (QB), Ben Davis (LB), Landon Dickerson (OL), Joe Donald (LB), Thomas Fletcher (SN), Miller Forristall (TE), Najee Harris (RB), Joshua Lanier (WR), Alex Leatherwood (OL), Joshua McMillon (LB), Dylan Moses (LB), Chris Owens (OL), Brian Robinson Jr., (RB), Charlie Scott (P), DeVonta Smith (WR) and Carl Tucker (TE).
BEATING THE BEST: The Crimson Tide is 63-17 (.788) against the Associated Press Top 25 since the start of 2008. Alabama is 3-0 against the Top 25 this season with a 41-24 win over then-No. 3 Georgia on Oct. 17 and a 52-24 win over then-No. 13 Texas A&M on Oct. 3.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
35-OR-MORE IN 21 STRAIGHT: The Crimson Tide scored 42 points in this afternoon’s Iron Bowl. That total marked the 21st 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.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES: Alabama extended its school record for consecutive games with a score to 263 thanks to DeVonta Smith’s 66-yard touchdown catch on the Crimson Tide’s second offensive possession of today’s game. Alabama was last held off the scoreboard in a 9-0 loss to Auburn on Nov. 18, 2000. Alabama has a 208-55 (.791) record over the course of the current streak.
STACKING UP 100s: Alabama’s explosive offense has produced 11 individual 100-plus yard receiving performances through eight 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 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.
FIRST-HALF 100s: DeVonta Smith recorded 104 yards receiving in the first half of today’s Iron Bowl. With Smith’s 104-yard half, Crimson Tide wideouts have totaled 100-plus yards in the first half on 10 occasions in UA’s last 21 games, including the first three games to start the year and five of eight contests overall in 2020.
HE’S HEATING UP: Despite starting the season with back-to-back solid games, DeVonta Smith has leveled up in his last six starts. Since the start of the Ole Miss game, Smith has totaled 922 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 58 receptions. He’s averaging 9.7 receptions per game and 15.9 yards per catch over that stretch along with 153.7 receiving yards per game and 1.8 touchdowns. All five of his 100-plus yard performances have come during the six games, including a 203-yard effort against Mississippi State. The senior has also posted seven-plus catches in all six games while totaling two-or-more touchdowns in four of those contests.
SMITH REWRITING ALABAMA RECORD BOOKS: Wide receiver DeVonta Smith passed up the 2020 NFL Draft to return for his senior season and is on-pace to rewrite the Alabama record books. Smith has totaled 190 catches for 3,183 yards and 35 touchdowns while averaging 16.8 yards per grab. His career totals all rank him in the top-five for each receiving category.
SMITTY OVER 100 AGAIN: DeVonta Smith finished today’s Iron Bowl with 171 yards receiving to go over the 100-yard marker for the fifth time this season. Those five 100-plus yard performances give him 10 for his career as he entered his senior campaign with five in hand. Smith totaled two in 2018 and followed that up with three as a junior a season ago. His 10 100-plus yard performances tie with Jerry Jeudy (2017-19) for the third-most in Alabama history. The program record for 100-yard games is 14 by Amari Cooper from 2012-14.
SMITH ECLIPSES 1,000 YARD RECEIVING MARK FOR SECOND SEASON: With his 171-yard performance against Auburn, DeVonta Smith is now over 1,000 receiving yards (1,074) in a season for the second time in his career. He tallied 1,256 during the 2019 season.
JONES TIES IRON BOWL RECORD: Mac Jones tossed five touchdowns in the 42-13 win over Auburn, which ties the Iron Bowl record. Tua Tagovailoa also had five passing touchdowns in the 2018 installment of the series.
HARRIS MOVING UP THE CHARTS: After carrying 11 times for 96 yards and one touchdown against Auburn, Harris has totaled 3,270 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns for his career. Those numbers include 783 yards and four scores as a sophomore to go with 370 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman, in addition to his junior totals. Alabama’s all-time leader for career rushing yards is Derrick Henry with 3,591 from 2013-15 while the career rushing touchdowns leader is split between Mark Ingram (2008-10) and Henry at 42.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
LAST 18 QUARTERS FOR THE TIDE DEFENSE: Alabama’s defense has come into its own over the last 18 quarters of football (4.5 games). Since halftime of a 41-24 win over then-No. 3/3 Georgia on Oct. 17, Alabama has only allowed 33 points (0 to UGA; 17 at Tennessee; 0 vs. Mississippi State; 3 vs. Kentucky; 13 vs. Auburn) or 7.3 points per game. The Crimson Tide has allowed an average of just 65.6 yards per quarter (1,181 yards in 18 quarters) in that same time frame or 262.4 yards per game.
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: Alabama’s defense forced two turnovers in the win over Auburn, as both Brian Branch and Malachi Moore recorded interceptions. The Crimson Tide has now forced at least one turnover in 74 of the last 80 contests dating back to the start of the 2015 season. During the current run, Alabama has forced 134 turnovers (89 interceptions, 45 fumbles) and returned 29 of those miscues for touchdowns.
MOORE INTERCEPTIONS FOR THE FRESHMAN: Malachi Moore has already forced four turnovers this season, including three interceptions. Those three picks make him the first Alabama freshman since 2015 to intercept multiple passes. That 2015 season saw Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ronnie Harrison and Marlon Humphrey (redshirt freshman) all record multiple interceptions. Humphrey finished with three picks that season while Fitzpatrick and Harrison each recorded two. Moore has also forced one fumble which he then recovered for a scoop-and-score of 28 yards against Tennessee on Oct. 24.
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 60-for-60 overall, including 8-of-8 on field goals to go with 52 made PATs in as many attempts. Reichard has also contributed on kickoffs, totaling 2,118 yards on 38 boots for a 55.7 yards per kick average with seven touchbacks.
GAME CAPTAINS: Alabama’s captains for today’s game with Auburn were Miller Forristall, Alex Leatherwood and LaBryan Ray. Forristall went to midfield for the coin toss.
SENIOR DAY: Saturday’s Iron Bowl matchup with Auburn was Alabama’s Senior Day. Honored at Saturday’s ceremonies were: Deonte Brown (OL), Logan Burnett (QB), Ben Davis (LB), Landon Dickerson (OL), Joe Donald (LB), Thomas Fletcher (SN), Miller Forristall (TE), Najee Harris (RB), Joshua Lanier (WR), Alex Leatherwood (OL), Joshua McMillon (LB), Dylan Moses (LB), Chris Owens (OL), Brian Robinson Jr., (RB), Charlie Scott (P), DeVonta Smith (WR) and Carl Tucker (TE).
BEATING THE BEST: The Crimson Tide is 63-17 (.788) against the Associated Press Top 25 since the start of 2008. Alabama is 3-0 against the Top 25 this season with a 41-24 win over then-No. 3 Georgia on Oct. 17 and a 52-24 win over then-No. 13 Texas A&M on Oct. 3.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
35-OR-MORE IN 21 STRAIGHT: The Crimson Tide scored 42 points in this afternoon’s Iron Bowl. That total marked the 21st 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.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES: Alabama extended its school record for consecutive games with a score to 263 thanks to DeVonta Smith’s 66-yard touchdown catch on the Crimson Tide’s second offensive possession of today’s game. Alabama was last held off the scoreboard in a 9-0 loss to Auburn on Nov. 18, 2000. Alabama has a 208-55 (.791) record over the course of the current streak.
STACKING UP 100s: Alabama’s explosive offense has produced 11 individual 100-plus yard receiving performances through eight 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 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.
FIRST-HALF 100s: DeVonta Smith recorded 104 yards receiving in the first half of today’s Iron Bowl. With Smith’s 104-yard half, Crimson Tide wideouts have totaled 100-plus yards in the first half on 10 occasions in UA’s last 21 games, including the first three games to start the year and five of eight contests overall in 2020.
HE’S HEATING UP: Despite starting the season with back-to-back solid games, DeVonta Smith has leveled up in his last six starts. Since the start of the Ole Miss game, Smith has totaled 922 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 58 receptions. He’s averaging 9.7 receptions per game and 15.9 yards per catch over that stretch along with 153.7 receiving yards per game and 1.8 touchdowns. All five of his 100-plus yard performances have come during the six games, including a 203-yard effort against Mississippi State. The senior has also posted seven-plus catches in all six games while totaling two-or-more touchdowns in four of those contests.
SMITH REWRITING ALABAMA RECORD BOOKS: Wide receiver DeVonta Smith passed up the 2020 NFL Draft to return for his senior season and is on-pace to rewrite the Alabama record books. Smith has totaled 190 catches for 3,183 yards and 35 touchdowns while averaging 16.8 yards per grab. His career totals all rank him in the top-five for each receiving category.
SMITTY OVER 100 AGAIN: DeVonta Smith finished today’s Iron Bowl with 171 yards receiving to go over the 100-yard marker for the fifth time this season. Those five 100-plus yard performances give him 10 for his career as he entered his senior campaign with five in hand. Smith totaled two in 2018 and followed that up with three as a junior a season ago. His 10 100-plus yard performances tie with Jerry Jeudy (2017-19) for the third-most in Alabama history. The program record for 100-yard games is 14 by Amari Cooper from 2012-14.
SMITH ECLIPSES 1,000 YARD RECEIVING MARK FOR SECOND SEASON: With his 171-yard performance against Auburn, DeVonta Smith is now over 1,000 receiving yards (1,074) in a season for the second time in his career. He tallied 1,256 during the 2019 season.
JONES TIES IRON BOWL RECORD: Mac Jones tossed five touchdowns in the 42-13 win over Auburn, which ties the Iron Bowl record. Tua Tagovailoa also had five passing touchdowns in the 2018 installment of the series.
HARRIS MOVING UP THE CHARTS: After carrying 11 times for 96 yards and one touchdown against Auburn, Harris has totaled 3,270 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns for his career. Those numbers include 783 yards and four scores as a sophomore to go with 370 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman, in addition to his junior totals. Alabama’s all-time leader for career rushing yards is Derrick Henry with 3,591 from 2013-15 while the career rushing touchdowns leader is split between Mark Ingram (2008-10) and Henry at 42.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
LAST 18 QUARTERS FOR THE TIDE DEFENSE: Alabama’s defense has come into its own over the last 18 quarters of football (4.5 games). Since halftime of a 41-24 win over then-No. 3/3 Georgia on Oct. 17, Alabama has only allowed 33 points (0 to UGA; 17 at Tennessee; 0 vs. Mississippi State; 3 vs. Kentucky; 13 vs. Auburn) or 7.3 points per game. The Crimson Tide has allowed an average of just 65.6 yards per quarter (1,181 yards in 18 quarters) in that same time frame or 262.4 yards per game.
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: Alabama’s defense forced two turnovers in the win over Auburn, as both Brian Branch and Malachi Moore recorded interceptions. The Crimson Tide has now forced at least one turnover in 74 of the last 80 contests dating back to the start of the 2015 season. During the current run, Alabama has forced 134 turnovers (89 interceptions, 45 fumbles) and returned 29 of those miscues for touchdowns.
MOORE INTERCEPTIONS FOR THE FRESHMAN: Malachi Moore has already forced four turnovers this season, including three interceptions. Those three picks make him the first Alabama freshman since 2015 to intercept multiple passes. That 2015 season saw Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ronnie Harrison and Marlon Humphrey (redshirt freshman) all record multiple interceptions. Humphrey finished with three picks that season while Fitzpatrick and Harrison each recorded two. Moore has also forced one fumble which he then recovered for a scoop-and-score of 28 yards against Tennessee on Oct. 24.
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 60-for-60 overall, including 8-of-8 on field goals to go with 52 made PATs in as many attempts. Reichard has also contributed on kickoffs, totaling 2,118 yards on 38 boots for a 55.7 yards per kick average with seven touchbacks.
