Post Game Notes: Alabama 27, Texas A&M 19

GAME CAPTAINS: Alabama’s captains for tonight’s game vs. Texas A&M were linebacker Rashaan Evans, quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Bo Scarbrough.

UNRANKED, NO PROBLEM UNDER SABAN: Alabama has defeated 70 consecutive unranked teams under head coach Nick Saban. The last loss to an unranked team came against Auburn to close out the 2007 season. The current streak began with a win over Colorado on Dec. 30, 2007, in the Independence Bowl. Under Saban, Alabama holds a 74-3 (.961) (70-3, .959 after vacations) mark against unranked opponents, including a perfect mark in unranked matchups since 2008.

ALABAMA AS THE NATION’S NO. 1: Alabama has played 80 games as the nation’s top-ranked team since the inception of the Associated Press Poll in 1936. In those games, the Crimson Tide boasts a 69-11 (.863) record. Those numbers are even more impressive when you look at the 11 seasons under the direction of head coach Nick Saban (2007-present). Since the ninth game of the 2008 season (122 games), Alabama has played 56 games while being ranked No. 1, posting a 50-6 (.893) record during that span.

SABAN’S 56th GAME AS AP No. 1: The matchup against Texas A&M tonight was Nick Saban’s 56th career game coaching Alabama as the Associated Press No. 1 team, the most games coached as No. 1 at one school. At 50-6 (.893), Saban has won more games coaching as the No. 1 team at one school than any other coach in college football history. Woody Hayes (Ohio State) and Bobby Bowden (Florida State) are tied for second with 40 wins apiece. Bowden was 40-5 at Florida State as No. 1 and Hayes went 40-6 with Ohio State.

112-7 UNDER SABAN WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF: Under head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide is 112-7 (.941) when leading at the half. Alabama led Texas A&M 17-3, at the half tonight and has held the lead in 30 of its last 36 games dating back to the start of the 2015 season, including 13 of 15 games in 2016 and all six games this season.

TURNOVER-FREE STREAK ENDS AT 37 QUARTERS: Alabama had run 638 plays, dating back to the second quarter of the Auburn game on Nov. 24, 2016, without committing a turnover. The first Crimson Tide miscue in 37 quarters came in the third quarter of tonight’s contest against the Aggies on a fumble recovery.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

BUGGS LEADS DEFENSE WITH CAREER-BEST 10 TACKLES: Junior defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs led the Alabama defense with a career-best, and team season-high, 10 tackles, including six solo stops. His previous high was four, which he set in the Colorado State game on Sept. 16.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

4TH DOWN EXECUTION: Alabama is a perfect 9-for-9 on fourth down attempts this season after converting on its only attempt in tonight’s game at Texas A&M. The Crimson Tide went 2-for-2 against Florida State, 1-for-1 against Fresno State, 2-for-2 at Vanderbilt and 3-for-3 against Ole Miss.

SCORING STREAK CONTINUES: Alabama’s school record consecutive games scoring streak was extended to 219 games tonight with Damien Harris’ first quarter 75-yard touchdown run. Alabama was last held off the scoreboard in a 9-0 loss to Auburn on Nov. 18, 2000.

FAST STARTERS: Alabama has now outscored its opponents 83-9 in the first quarter and 145-26 in the first half this season.

CAREER LONG FOR HARRIS: Damien Harris’ first quarter 75-yard touchdown run is the longest run of his career. Harris’ previous long was a 73-yard carry against USC on Sept. 3, 2016.

RIDLEY EXTENDS CAREER GAMES WITH A RECEPTION STREAK: Calvin Ridley extended his consecutive games with a reception streak to 36 games tonight with his second quarter 11-yard catch from Jalen Hurts. The streak ranks No. 3 among active players in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Ridley has caught a pass in every game of his Alabama career.

HARRIS HITS CENTURY MARK FOR FIFTH TIME: With 119 rushing yards in the first half tonight, Damien Harris eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the ground for the second time this season and fifth time in his career. Harris rushed for a career high 151 yards against Vanderbilt on Sept. 23 and finished with 124 yards tonight.

HURTS ADDS TO CAREER TOUCHDOWN RESPONSIBILITY LIST: Jalen Hurts’ second quarter touchdown run tonight moved him into sole possession of fifth place on the Alabama career touchdown responsibility list. He added on another, this time passing to freshman Henry Ruggs III, bringing Hurts to 48 combined passing and rushing touchdowns. Shaun Alexander (1996-99) is fourth with 50. Hurts has thrown 30 career touchdown passes and rushed for 18 career scores. Hurts was tied with Mark Ingram (2008-10) entering tonight’s game.

HURTS FOURTH ON UA QB CAREER RUSHING LIST: Jalen Hurts’ 56 rushing yards tonight gives him 1,471 yards in 21 career games, a total that ranks third all-time among quarterbacks at Alabama. Dixie Howell (1933-34) is second on the Tide career list with 1,508 yards.

HURTS WITHOUT AN INTERCEPTION: Jalen Hurts has now attempted 191 passes without an interception dating back to the first half of the Auburn game on Nov. 24, 2016. The streak is currently the third-longest in school history behind AJ McCarron’s 291 attempts in 2011-12 and Brodie Croyle’s 190-attempt streak in 2005.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

SCOTT TIED FOR TOP SPOT ON ALABAMA CAREER PUNTING YARDS LIST: Senior punter JK Scott’s four attempts at Texas A&M gave the senior 208 for his career, the second-most in Alabama history. P.J. Fitzgerald (2006-09) is Alabama’s career leader with 238 punts. Scott’s 146 punting yards against the Aggies gives him 9,485, tying him with Fitzgerald for the No. 1 spot in career yardage.

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