Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has thrown 168 consecutive passes without an interception, the third-longest streak in Alabama history. AJ McCarron holds the record with 291 straight passes without being picked off. Tagovailoa also has 25 touchdown passes this season, the fourth-most in a season in school history. He has 36 career touchdown passes, passing Andrew Zow for sixth most in school history.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy caught his 10th touchdown reception of the season on Saturday, tied for the third-most in a season in school history (Al Lary, 1950).
Alabama’s offense rolled up 545 total yards. The Crimson Tide offense has finished with more than 500 yards in every game this season.
Fast starts
For the eighth game in a row, Alabama scored on its first offensive drive. Tagovailoa threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Juedy. It took nine plays and 58 yards total – 4 minutes and 2 seconds of game clock.
The Crimson Tide has now won 23 consecutive games when scoring on its first possession. Last time it immediately put up points and then ultimately lost was the 2014 Sugar Bowl.
In the first quarter alone this season, Alabama is outscoring opponents 165-31.
It’s scoring fast, too.
Alabama had two scoring drives last less than a minute in the first quarter against Tennessee. It had an eight-second series and an 11-second series, marking the Crimson Tide’s 19th and 20th under-a-minute drives this season.
UA made 21 plays in the first quarter for 217 offensive yards.
Tide bits
Game captains were senior center Ross Pierschbacher, junior outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings and sophomore Quinnen Williams. … Tennessee won the toss and deferred until the second half. Alabama is 4-4 in coin tosses this season. … Attendance was announced as 97,087. …. Nick Saban remained undefeated in 12 games against Tennessee. That’s one of five SEC programs that Alabama is undefeated against under Saban. The other four are Arkansas (12-0), Kentucky (4-0) Missouri (3-0), and Vanderbilt (3-0). Saban has also won 80 straight games against unranked teams at Alabama. Alabama has won 23 straight games against the SEC East dating back to its 2010 loss at South Carolina. … Saban remained undefeated in 15 games against his former assistant coaches while at Alabama. … A Tennessee fan appeared to throw a cup of ice at Saban as the coach left the field for the locker room at halftime. Video showed sheriffs entering the stands and removing a fan shortly after.
Staff writer Terrin Waack contributed to this report.
Reach Ben Jones at ben@tidesports.com or 205-722-0196.
