Alabama Athletics Communications

Head coach Nick Saban earned his 200th on-field victory at Alabama in the win

 

Alabama defensive back Jaylen Key (6) makes a tackle against Arkansas at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL on Saturday, Oct 14, 2023.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 11/10 Alabama football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks 24-21 Saturday afternoon in front of a sellout crowd inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Tide built an 18-point lead, 24-6, late in the third quarter and held on for the victory to remain unbeaten in SEC play (6-1, 4-0).

 

With the win, head coach Nick Saban earned his 200th on-field victory at Alabama, improving to 200-28 (.877) in 17 seasons at the Capstone.

 

Quarterback Jalen Milroe completed 10 of his 21 passes for 238 yards through the air (23.8 yards per pass) and a pair of touchdowns. It is the fourth time in his six starts this season that he has thrown for at least 220 yards and at least two touchdowns. Both Kobe Prentice (2 receptions, 93 yards) and Jermaine Burton (2 receptions, 60 yards) had touchdown receptions in the contest.

 

Overall, it was a balanced offensive attack as the Tide’s 415 yards of total offence included 177 yards on the ground. Running back Jase McClellan led the ground attack with 83 yards on 16 carries (5.2 yards per carry) while Roydell Wiliams added 68 yards on seven rushing attempts (9.7 ypc).

 

The Crimson Tide defense limited the Razorbacks to 250 yards of total offense led by seven tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss from Jaylen Key. Caleb Downs added seven tackles including six solo stops as he and Key were two of seven UA defensive players who had at least five tackles in the game.

 

Notes

  • Alabama improved its record on Homecoming to 87-13-1 (.866) while also extending the program’s winning streak in Homecoming Games to 20
  • Saturday’s 11 a.m. CT kickoff marked the earliest kickoff for an SEC home game since Nov. 12, 2016, when the Crimson Tide hosted Mississippi State for an 11 a.m. kick
  • With today’s win, Alabama claimed its 17th consecutive victory in the series vs. Arkansas and improves to 27-7 in all-time games against the Razorbacks
  • The Tide’s first touchdown of the game came in the first quarter when Jalen Milroe found Kobe Prentice for a 79-yard touchdown pass which marked the longest scoring play of his career
  • The 79-yard scoring play from Milroe to Prentice is the 29th time in program history that the Crimson Tide has had a scoring play of 79- or-more yards. It was also Alabama’s longest scoring play in two years when Bryce Young found Jameson Williams for a 94-yard touchdown pass against Miami (Sept. 24, 2021).
  • After catching only eight passes for 189 total yards and two touchdowns across the Tide’s first five games, wide receive Jermaine Burton has accounted for 257 yards on 11 catches and three touchdowns
  • After his first extra point of the game, Crimson Tide place kicker Will Reichard broke the SEC all-time career points record by accumulating his 481st point of his career
  • Reichard finished the contest with six points (three PATs, one FG) and now has 485 career points which ranks seventh on the NCAA all-time scoring list
  • The graduate kicker has also made 26 consecutive field goals dating back to his make against Mississippi State on Oct. 22 of last season

 

How It Happened

FIRST QUARTER

  • 09:15 – ARK | Arkansas got on the board first with a 55-yard field goal from Cam Little to finish out a seven-play, 27-yard drive in 2:22
  • 02:05 – ARK | Little hit his second field goal of the game to complete an eight-play, 49-yard drive lasting 4:15
  • 00:58 – UA | The game’s first touchdown came via a 79-yard throw-and catch from Jalen Milroe to Kobe Prentice which capped off a three-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 1:07

 

 

SECOND QUARTER

08:45 – UA | Milroe carried the ball across the goal line for a one-yard rushing touchdown to end a 10-play, 83-yard drive that lasted 5:13

  • 09:57 – UA | Milroe connected with Amari Niblack for a 29-yard receiving touchdown finishing off a five-play, 64-yard drive

 

THIRD QUARTER

  • 07:47 – UA | Will Reichard opened the second half by finishing off a seven-play, 77-yard drive with a 30-yard field goal
  • 00:33 – ARK | A five-yard reception to Isaiah Sategna from KJ Jefferson capped off a 10-play, 77-yard drive in 4:22

 

FOURTH QUARTER

  • 10:59 – ARK | Jefferson connected with Rashod Dubinion for a 14-yard receiving touchdown followed by a two-point conversion ending a nine-play, 69-yard drive lasting 2:59

 

Up Next

  • Alabama continues its three-game homestand when it hosts Tennessee Saturday, Oct. 21.
  • The Crimson Tide and Volunteers are scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff at Bryant-Denny Stadium with the game airing live on CBS