For the 2017 University of Alabama football season, TideSports intern Terrin Waack has provided select stellar stats, obscure facts and notable quotes from the most recent game to show how the Crimson Tide uses “The Process” against its opponents.  

AUBURN — No. 1 Alabama lost to No. 6 Auburn, 26-14, at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday in front of 87,451 people for the in-state rivals’ annual Iron Bowl.

Stellar stats

  • This isn’t a stat, but it is stellar. Alabama’s Shaun Dion Hamilton was a captain for the Iron Bowl. The senior is out with a season-ending injury. Rashaan Evans was also a captain. He was born and raised in Auburn, but chose the Crimson Tide over the Tigers.
  • That was Alabama’s fourth loss to Auburn since 2007 when Nick Saban became head coach, most against any opponent.
  • In the first quarter, UA quarterback Jalen Hurts fumbled and lost Alabama the ball. It was just his second turnover of the entire season. OK, but soon after, Auburn fumbled the ball back to Alabama, and it did so at the UA 9-yard line. Oops. The Crimson Tide has forced at least one turnover in 40 of its last 42 games – 70 total.
  • Under Saban, Alabama is 0-12 in games where it trails by double digits in the fourth quarter.
  • The Crimson Tide did not post points in the first or fourth quarter. The last game Alabama finished with gooseeggs in more than one quarter was against LSU on No. 5, 2016.

Obscure facts

  • Auburn’s first-quarter drive that went for 94 yards and a score was the longest drive Alabama has allowed this season.
  • Every time Auburn has played a No. 1-ranked Alabama team in Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Tigers have won. Granted, that’s only a 2-0 record.
  • Guess what? The Crimson Tide goofed up a field-goal attempt against the Tigers. It wasn’t to the extent of the 2013 kick-six, but JK Scott did end up throwing and completing a pass to kicker Andy Pappanastos, so that was odd.
  • Saban has never beaten an Auburn team that has nine or more wins, and that dates back to his time at LSU (2000-present).
  • Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham became the third quarterback to complete at least 75 percent of his passes against Alabama during the Saban era. Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel (2012) and South Carolina’s Stephen Garcias (2010) are the other two. Those teams all pulled off the upset.

Wait, what?

  • Alabama basketball finished its game Saturday night with only three players. Seven were ejected for leaving the bench during an altercation, one fouled out not long after, and then another went down with an injury. So, for the last 10:41, UA played with just Collin Sexton, Riley Norris and Galin Smith. Alabama lost but just by five points, too.

CFP rankings check-in

  1. Alabama — lost to Auburn, 26-14.
  2. Miami — lost to Pittsburgh, 24-14.
  3. Clemson — defeated South Carolina, 34-10.
  4. Oklahoma — defeated West Virginia, 59-31.

Quoting Nick Saban

On the team ending its regular season with a loss…

“I am sorry that I could not do a better job as a coach and as a leader to help them play better in this game so that they would have an opportunity to play in the SEC championship.”

Quoting the Crimson Tide

Defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne on if the better team won…

“No. It was just us messing up.”

Quoting the opponent

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn on his immediate thoughts after the victory…

“Our team did it.”

Name of the game

AU: Big Kat Bryant

The freshman is the only Tiger listed as a Buck and the cousin of former Auburn defensive lineman Montravius Adams, who now plays for the Green Bay Packers.

GAME LEADERS

Top 3 rushers

  1. AU: Kerryon Johnson, 30 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown
  2. UA: Jalen Hurts, 18 carries for 82 yards
  3. AU: Jarrett Stidham, 12 carries for 51 yards and a touchdown.

Top 3 receivers

  1. AU: Ryan Davis, 11 receptions for 139 yards
  2. UA: Calvin Ridley, three receptions for 38 yards
  3. UA: Jerry Jeudy, a reception for 36 yards and a touchdown

Top 3 passers

  1. AU: Jarrett Stidham, 21-28-0 for 237 yards (sacked once)
  2. UA: Jalen Hurts, 12-22-0 for 112 yards and a touchdown (sacked twice)
  3. AU: Kerryon Johnson, 1-1-0 for 3 yards and a touchdown

Top 3 defenders

  1. UA: Dylan Moses, 10 total tackles
  2. UA: Rashaan Evans, nine total tackles (a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry)
  3. UA: Minkah Fitzpatrick, eight total tackles (half a tackle for loss and a pass breakup)

NEXT UP

Alabama closed out its regular season, 11-1. Its College Football Playoff chances are now in the hands of the committee. The final rankings will be released on Dec. 3. Regardless, Alabama is bowl eligible.

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