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Alabama-Florida SEC Championship Postgame Notebook
Postgame notebook from No. 1 Alabama’s 54-16 victory over No. 15 Florida in the 25th SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga.
Saturday’s game against Florida was Alabama’s 1,245th 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 1,267th football game. With the victory over the Gators, Alabama has won three consecutive SEC titles for the third time in its history and the first time since 1977-78-79. Alabama’s other SEC title streaks include winning five straight (1971-72-73-74-75) and three straight (1964-65-66).
With the victory, Alabama’s actual, on-field record in SEC games is 406-167-20 (.702). With the victory, the Tide’s actual on-field record in all games is 906-317-44 (.732), including a mark of 85-10 (.895) this decade. With the win over the 15th-ranked Gators, Alabama has defeated 15 consecutive ranked opponents dating back to a loss to Ole Miss in September of 2015. Alabama’s all-time record against ranked opponents is 153-124-7 (.551). Alabama is 124-75-3 (.621) as a ranked team playing a ranked opponent.
Saturday’s game was televised by CBS and the Tide is 69-43-1 (.621) all-time in games televised by CBS. The victory improved Alabama’s record against Florida to 25-14-0 (.641) all-time, accounting for a vacated victory in 2005. The actual, on-field series record is 26-14-0 (.650) in favor of the Crimson Tide. Alabama has won the last six meetings in the series dating back to a 31-20 loss in the 2008 SEC Championship Game. Alabama and Florida have met in the SEC Championship Game nine times with the Crimson Tide holding 5-4 advantage in those contests. Since Nick Saban took over as Alabama’s head coach in 2007, the Tide has won six of seven against the Gators, including the last six consecutive. Alabama is 12-8-0 (.600) against Florida when the Gators are nationally ranked.
Alabama captured its 26th conference football championship – and its third consecutive championship – with today’s 54-16 win over Florida. Alabama won the first SEC championship during the 1933 season as head coach Frank Thomas led the Crimson Tide to 5-0-1 conference record. Thomas led Alabama to four SEC championships. Paul “Bear” Bryant directed the Crimson Tide to six national championships and 13 SEC titles during his 25-year run in Tuscaloosa. Alabama won five straight SEC championships from 1971-75 and captured eight of the 10 SEC championships from 1970-79. In addition to Thomas and Bryant, Alabama has had five other coaches win SEC championships, including Harold “Red” Drew (1953), Bill Curry (1989), Gene Stallings (1992), Mike DuBose (1999) and Nick Saban (2009, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016). In addition to its 26 SEC championships, Alabama also won four Southern Conference titles (1924, 1925, 1926 and 1930), giving the school 31 conference football championships.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban has won his last nine “championship” games with wins over Florida (2009, 2015, 2016), Georgia (2012) and Missouri (2014) in the SEC Championship and victories over Texas (2009), LSU (2011), Notre Dame (2012) and Clemson (2015) in national championship contests. Overall, Saban is 12-1 in those games at Alabama and LSU with seven SEC titles and five national titles.
Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban claps during the first quarter of the SEC Championship college football game against the Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Under head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide is 105-6 (.963) when leading at the half. Alabama led Florida, 33-16, at the half today and now has held the lead at the break in 22 of its last 28 games dating back to the start of the 2015 season, including 11 of 13 games this season.
Alabama owns the longest winning streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision, having won 25 consecutive games dating back to last season (a loss on Sept. 19, 2015, vs. Ole Miss). The 25-game streak is the third-longest in Alabama and SEC history (28 games twice: 1991-93 & 1978-80) and is the longest under the direction of head coach Nick Saban (previous long: 19 games in 2009-10). During this stretch, the Crimson Tide have won 12 games at Bryant-Denny Stadium, eight straight road matchups and five consecutive neutral-site contests while going 17-0 against teams from the Southeastern Conference. Alabama has outscored its opponents by 596 points (944-310; 37.8-12.4), an average of 25.4 points per game, during the streak.
With the win over Auburn, Alabama has reached the 13-win mark for the fourth time in school history (1992, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016) and the third time under Nick Saban. Alabama has now won 13 or more games in a season five times (including 14-win seasons in 2009 and 2015), the most by any school in college football history.
Alabama has played 72 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 62-10 (.861) record. Those numbers get even more impressive when you look at the 10 seasons under the direction of head coach Nick Saban(2007-present). Since the ninth game of the 2008 season (114 games), Alabama has played 48 games while being ranked No. 1, posting a 43-5 (.896) record during that span.
With the win over No. 15 Florida today, Alabama has won 15 straight games vs. ranked opponents, the longest streak since Southern California won 16 straight from 2002-05 under Pete Carroll and the third-longest run of all-time. The current streak began at Georgia (Oct. 3) last season with a 38-10 win over the No. 8 Bulldogs in Athens. In those 15 games, the Tide is 7-0 against top-10 teams and 3-0 vs. the top five (LSU, Michigan State and Clemson). The Tide’s last loss to a top-25 team was Sept. 19, 2015, against Ole Miss (37-43).
SABAN’S 48th GAME AS AP No. 1 AT ALABAMA: Today’s game with Florida was Nick Saban’s 48th career game coaching Alabama as the Associated Press No. 1 team, the most games coached as No 1 at one school. At 43-5 (.896), Saban has won more games coaching a 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 each. Bowden was 40-5 as No. 1 and Hayes went 40-4-1. Saban accomplished the feat in his 10th season at Alabama while Bowden spent 34 seasons at FSU and Hayes was at OSU for 28. The Crimson Tide have been ranked No. 1 in 35.3 percent of their 136 games under Saban. Florida State was No. 1 in 10.8 percent of Bowden’s 417 games and Ohio State was No. 1 in 16.7 percent of the 276 games coached by Hayes.
Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban owns a 104-26 (.800) career record in 130 games against SEC opponents. While at Alabama, he has compiled a 74-13 (.851) record versus conference foes, and is outscoring opponents by a staggering 3,454-1,328, or 39.7-15.3 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.
SABAN VS. AP TOP 25: Alabama’s win over Florida today gives head coach Nick Saban 71 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). Alabama’s 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 (71-37, .657) tops Bryant (.592), Bowden (.557), Spurrier (.529) and Paterno (.512).
Alabama head coach Nick Saban is 8-4 in his career against the Florida Gators, including a 3-1 mark in SEC Championship Games. He owns a 6-1 mark at Alabama with his only loss coming in the 2008 SEC Championship, 31-20. His LSU teams went a combined 2-3 from 2000-04.
Saturday’s SEC Championship Game was the 55th for members of Alabama’s senior class. The group boasts a four-year record of 50-5 (.909) and one national championship. The 50 wins equals the NCAA record of 50 wins held by the senior classes of Alabama (2015), Ohio State (2015) and Boise State (2011).
Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts is the first true freshman to start at quarterback for any team in the history of the SEC Championship Game.
The Crimson Tide is 23-7-1 (.758) in domed stadiums, including a 14-2 mark since 2009 and 15-4 in Nick Saban’s tenure. The Tide opened the 2016 season with a 52-6 win over USC at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Alabama had four appearances in domes last season, including the season opener against Wisconsin and the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic against Michigan State – both of which were at AT&T Stadium. Alabama also defeated Florida at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta to claim the program’s 25th SEC title, and defeated Clemson at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., to win the school’s 16th national championship.
Alabama is now 82-48-4 (.627) in neutral site contests. The list includes all Alabama-Auburn games not played on campus, including Legion Field from 1948-88. The Crimson Tide opened the 2016 season with a 52-6 win over USC at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Alabama played four neutral site games last season, opening the year with a 35-17 win over Wisconsin in the AdvoCare Classic in Arlington. In the postseason, UA claimed its 25th SEC championship with its 29-15 win over Florida in Atlanta, and followed that with a 38-0 win over Michigan State in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. Alabama capped the season with a 45-40 win over Clemson in the CFP Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Crimson Tide is 15-4 in neutral site games during head coach Nick Saban’s tenure at Alabama.
Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Calvin Ridley (3) runs the ball ahead of Florida Gators defensive back Quincy Wilson (6) during the second quarter of the SEC Championship college football game at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Alabama is the first major college team since in the modern era (post-World War II) to win three consecutive conference championships with three different first-year starting quarterbacks (Blake Sims, 2014; Jake Coker, 2015; Jalen Hurts, 2015).
Alabama’s school-record consecutive games scoring streak was extended to 211 games today with Adam Griffith’s 31-yard first quarter field goal. Alabama was last held off the scoreboard in a 9-0 loss to Auburn on Nov. 18, 2000.
Jalen Hurts’ first quarter touchdown pass was his 34th passing or rushing touchdowns this season, which ranks No. 2 on the single season Touchdown Responsibility list. Hurts has thrown 22 touchdown passes and rushed for 12 scores in 2016. Blake Sims (2014) holds the single-season record with 35 touchdowns (28 passing, 7 rushing).
Calvin Ridley’s four receptions today give him 155 for his career, good for fourth place on the Alabama career receptions list. Julio Jones (2008-10) is third at 179. Amari Cooper (2012-14) is the career leader with 228.
Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick (29) makes an interception and returns it for a touchdown against the Florida Gators during the first quarter of the SEC Championship college football game at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Florida’s first-quarter touchdown today snapped Alabama’s streak without a touchdown allowed at 273 minutes and 3 seconds. Prior to today, an Alabama opponent last scored a touchdown in the third quarter of the Texas A&M game on Oct. 22. The Crimson Tide blanked the Aggies over the final 27:54 of that game and then shutout No. 15 LSU, 10-0, in Baton Rouge the following week. The Tide limited Mississippi State to a field goal on Nov. 12 in a 51-3 victory before allowing only a field goal while defeating Chattanooga, 31-3, on Nov. 19, and allowing four field goals in a 30-12 win over Auburn on Nov. 26.
Minkah Fitzpatrick’s 44-yard interception return for a touchdown today was Alabama’s FBS-best 10th defensive touchdowns this season and his second interception return for a score in 2016.
The 44-yard interception return for a touchdown by Minkah Fitzpatrick today was the fourth of his career, setting a new Alabama record. Fitzpatrick shared the previous career record of three with Antonio Langham (1990-93), C.J. Mosley (2010-13) and Eddie Jackson (2013-16). Fitzpatrick returned two interceptions for scores at Texas A&M in 2015 and had a school-record 100-yard interception return at Arkansas on Oct. 8 this season.
Senior defensive lineman Jonathan Allen recorded 1.5 sacks vs. Florida today to move into sole possession of second place on the Alabama career sack list with 26.5. Derrick Thomas is the Crimson Tide career leader with 52.0 (1985-88).
Allen’s 1.5 sacks also give him 42 tackles for loss in his career, good for fourth on the Alabama career list in that category. Kindall Moorehead (1998-2002) is third with 48.5.
Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Joshua Jacobs (25) celebrates a touchdown with teammates during the first quarter of the SEC Championship college football game Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Minkah Fitzpatrick’s 44-yard interception return and Josh Jacobs’ 27-yard blocked punt return marked the 57th and 58th non-offensive touchdowns of the Nick Saban era and the 13th and 14th for the Crimson Tide this season, extending the Crimson Tide’s single-season record. The 14 non-offensive touchdowns leads the Football Bowl Subdivision this season.
With two non-offensive touchdowns today, Alabama has scored multiple non-offensive touchdowns in a game four times this season (Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee and Florida).
Josh Jacobs’ 27-yard blocked punt return today is the first blocked punt return for a touchdown in SEC Championship Game history.
With his four extra points today, senior placekicker Adam Griffith has 58 this season to extend his Alabama career school record to 178. Griffith’s 55 career field goals (on 80 attempts) is fifth on Alabama’s career list. Van Tiffin (1983-86) is fourth at 59. Leigh Tiffin (2006-09) is the career leader with 83 field goals.
Adam Griffith now ranks second on Alabama’s career kicking points scored list with 343 points (55 FG, 178 PAT). Leigh Tiffin (2006-09) is Alabama’s leader with 385 points (83 field goals, 136 PATs).
With his 10 points today (2 FG, 4 PATs), senior place-kicker Adam Griffith has scored 115 points in 2016 (19 field goals and 58 PATs) to give him 343 career points (55 FG, 178 PATs), two points behind Phillip Doyle (1987-90), who is in second place on Alabama’s career scoring list with 345 points (1 TD, 78 field goals, 105 PATs). Leigh Tiffin (2006-09) is Alabama’s all-time scoring leader with 385 points (83 field goals, 136 PATs).
Alabama’s captains for Saturday’s game vs. Florida were linebacker Ryan Anderson, tight end O.J. Howard and defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson.
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