Alabama-LSU Postgame Notebook

Postgame notes from Saturday night’s game between No. 1 Alabama and No. 13 LSU in Baton Rouge, La.

Saturday’s game against LSU was Alabama’s 1,241st college football game. That figure takes into account games both forfeited and vacated per NCAA rulings. Without accounting for those stipulations, the game was actually Alabama’s 1,263rd football game. Saturday’s game with LSU was Alabama’s 590th all-time SEC game and the Tide has an official record of 392-167-20 (.694), accounting for forfeiture and vacated games. Alabama’s actual, on-field record in SEC games is 403-167-20 (.700).

With the victory, the Tide’s actual on-field record is 902-317-44 (.731), including a mark of 81-10 (.890) this decade. Alabama has defeated 13 consecutive ranked opponents dating back to a loss to Ole Miss in September of 2015. Alabama’s all-time record against ranked opponents is 151-124-7 (.548). Alabama’s all-time record against ranked opponents at road sites is 51-47-2 (.520). The Crimson Tide has won its last eight games against ranked opponents as the visiting team. Alabama is 122-75-3 (.618) as a ranked team playing a ranked opponent.

ICYMI: No. 1 Alabama escapes LSU, 10-0

Saturday’s game was the 424th road game at an opponent’s venue in Alabama history and the 84th played in the state of Louisiana (54-24-6; .643). The win improved Alabama to 268-142-14 (.649) in road games. The game was televised by CBS and the Tide is 67-43-1 (.608) all-time in games televised by CBS. The victory improved Alabama’s record against LSU to 51-25-5 (.605) all-time, including 6 consecutive victories in the series dating back to a 9-6 loss in 2011. The Tide is 28-9-3 (.733) against LSU on the road. Alabama is 17-15-1 (.530) against LSU when the Tigers are nationally ranked.

Nov 5, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) leaps over the line against the LSU Tigers during the first quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Going Streaking

With the win over LSU, Alabama owns the longest winning streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision, having won 21 consecutive games dating back to last season (last loss: Sept. 19, 2015 vs. Ole Miss). The 21-game streak is the fourth longest in school history (the record is 28 games, accomplished twice: 1991-93 & 1978-80) and is the longest under the direction of head coach Nick Saban (previous long: 19 games 2009-10).

During the current stretch the Crimson Tide has won nine games at Bryant-Denny Stadium, eight road games and four consecutive neutral-site games while going 14-0 against teams from the Southeastern Conference. During the streak, Alabama has outscored its opponents by 472 points (748-276; 35.6-13.1), an average of 22.5 points per game.

Nov 5, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) leaps through the line against the LSU Tigers during the first quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Saban Superlatives

Head coach Nick Saban owns a 64-29-1 (.697) mark in road games across his four career stops, including a 36-6 (.857) mark while at Alabama. Saban has notched five perfect road seasons (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015) and has lost more than one game on the road in only two seasons (2007, 2010). Alabama has won 23 of its last 25 road games dating back to the start of the 2011 season and is riding a 10-game road winning streak.

Saban owns a 46-14 (.767) mark in SEC road games across his time at LSU and Alabama, including a 34-6 (.850) mark with the Crimson Tide. Saban has notched six perfect SEC road seasons (2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2015). Saban owns a 101-26 (.795) career record in 127 games against SEC opponents. While at Alabama, he has compiled a 71-13 (.845) record versus conference foes, and is outscoring opponents by a staggering 3,319-1,297, or 39.5-15.4 points per game. Of his 13 losses against SEC opponents while at Alabama, all but two (Florida, 2008 and South Carolina, 2010) have been by seven points or less. Saban’s first matchup with an SEC team came in the 1995 Independence Bowl against LSU, where his Michigan State Spartans fell, 45-26, to the Tigers. He would later go on to coach LSU to 30-12 overall record against conference opponents.

Alabama’s 10-0 win over No. 15 LSU gives head coach Nick Saban 69 career wins vs. Associated Press Top 25 teams, good for third all-time. Former Penn State head coach Joe Paterno leads the list with 86, four victories ahead of Florida State’s Bobby Bowden (82). Paul “Bear” Bryant is fourth at 66. Recently retired Duke, Florida and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is fifth at 64. Saban’s winning percentage against AP ranked teams (69-37, .651) tops Bryant (.592), Bowden (.557), Spurrier (.529) and Paterno (.512).

Saban is quickly moving up the charts for victories in SEC regular-season games against conference opponents with 100 following the win at LSU on Saturday night. His 100 wins moves him into sixth, passing Auburn’s Shug Jordan and Tennessee’s Phil Fulmer on the league’s list of conference wins. Each coach ahead of Saban on the list, except for recently retired South Carolina and Florida head coach Steve Spurrier, is in the College Football Hall of Fame. Paul “Bear” Bryant tops the list with 159 conference wins at Kentucky (1946-53) and Alabama (1958-82). Spurrier is second with 131 league wins followed by Johnny Vaught (Ole Miss, 106), and Vince Dooley (Georgia, 105). Saban ranks first in league history in SEC regular season winning percentage at .794 (100-26). He is second in league history in winning percentage in all games at .822 (157-34). Saban is eighth on the SEC career wins list at 157. Tennessee’s Robert Neyland is seventh at 173.

Nov 5, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Danny Etling (16) looks to pass under pressure from Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Tim Williams (56) during the second quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive Dominance

Jonathan Allen’s first quarter sack of Danny Etling was his team-leading seventh of the season and the 25th of his career, moving him into a tie for second with Kindal Moorehead(1998-2002) on the Alabama all-time list. The Crimson Tide’s all-time leader for career sacks is Derrick Thomas (1985-88) with 52.0.

Tim Williams’ shared a sack on LSU’s opening drive, tying him for the team lead with seven on the season and giving him 19 for his career, moving him into a tie for eighth all-time in Alabama history with Jeremy Nunley (1990-93). Antwan Odom (2000, 2002-03) is seventh with 20.5.

The Tide’s 10-0 shutout of LSU on Saturday night in Baton Rouge marked Alabama’s first SEC road game shutout victory since a 52-0 win at Arkansas on Sept. 15, 2012. The shutout marked Alabama’s 16th SEC road shutout win since 1958. The shutout victory is Alabama’s 16th in the series with LSU, the first since the memorable 21-0 win in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game in the Sugar Bowl at New Orleans. The 10-0 shutout on Saturday is the first for the Tide over the Tigers in Baton Rouge since 2002, and is the Tide’s 96th overall shutout since 1958.

Nov 5, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers defensive back Donte Jackson (1) celebrates after a missed field goal by Alabama Crimson Tide place kicker Adam Griffith (99) during the second quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive Notes, etc.

With a rushing touchdown against LSU on Saturday night, Jalen Hurts has been responsible for 22 touchdowns this season (12 passing, 10 rushing), moving him solely into ninth on the Alabama single-season list.

Alabama’s first half scoring streak of 126 games, the longest streak in the nation, was snapped with tonight’s 0-0 halftime tie. Prior to this evening, the last time UA failed to score in the first half was on Sept. 29, 2007, when Alabama and Florida State headed into halftime in a scoreless tie. The Seminoles won that game, 21-14. Alabama was 110-16 record during the streak.

The Tide’s school record consecutive games scoring streak was extended to 207 games with Jalen Hurts’ 21-yard run in the fourth quarter tonight. Alabama was last held off the scoreboard in a 9-0 loss to Auburn on Nov. 18, 2000.

JK Scott’s 66-yard punt to open the second quarter is his longest of the season. His previous long was 63 yards, which he achieved twice: against Ole Miss on Sept. 17 and Arkansas on Oct. 8. Scott’s career long is a 73-yarder vs. Ohio State in 2014 (in the 2015 Sugar Bowl).

The 0-0 score after two quarters on Saturday at LSU marks the first halftime tie for the Tide since the 2016 College Football Playoff Championship Game when Alabama and Clemson entered the locker room tied at 14-14.

Captains for Saturday night’s game at LSU were Jonathan Allen, Ryan Anderson and Cam Robinson.