The Crimson Tide dominated the Bulldogs in Nick Saban’s 200th game as Alabama’s head coach

                                                                  

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The No. 5/5 University of Alabama football team held Mississippi State to less than 10 points Saturday night, defeating the Bulldogs 49-9 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss. It marked the 95th time the Crimson Tide has held an opponent under 10 points during Nick Saban’s tenure as head coach.

 

Quarterback Bryce Young completed 20-of-28 passes for 348 yards and four touchdowns to four different targets against the Bulldogs. The sophomore was also 6-of-6 for 159 yards on 3rd down passing, with three of those plays resulting in a touchdown.

 

Running back Brian Robinson Jr. rushed 19 times for 73 yards and two touchdowns to go with five catches, 68 yards and a touchdown receiving.

 

Wide receiver John Metchie III reeled in 117 yards and a touchdown off seven catches, eclipsing the 100-yard barrier for the first time this season. Wide receiver Jameson Williams had two catches for 77 yards, including a 75-yard catch and run for a touchdown. Wide receiver Traeshon Holden had three catches for 70 yards and a score.

 

Linebacker Will Anderson Jr., had a career night in Starkville, recording four sacks and four tackles for loss. Linebacker Henry To’oTo’o led the game with a season-high 13 total tackles, including a game-high seven solo stops, adding 1.5 tackles for loss. Linebacker Jordan Battle had two interceptions on the night, including a 40-yard pick six in the first quarter, to go with seven tackles, including five solo stops.

 

Placekicker Will Reichard came away with seven extra points during the game.

 

Postgame Notes

  • Saturday marked Nick Saban’s 200th game as the Crimson Tide’s head coach.
  • Alabama has scored 30-or-more points in 33-straight games, the longest streak in major college football history.
  • Dating back to the start of the 2015 season, UA’s defense has limited the opposition to 10 or fewer points 38 times across 91 total contests.
  • Will Anderson Jr. became just the third player in Alabama history to record at least four sacks in a game and the first since 1988. Derrick Thomas had five sacks at Texas A&M and four sacks at Kentucky, both in 1988, while Leroy Cook had four sacks against Tennessee in 1975.
    • Going into Saturday’s matchup at Mississippi State, Anderson Jr. had 10 career sacks (seven in 2020, three in 2021).
    • Anderson Jr. also regained the national lead in tackles for loss following his performance at Mississippi State, recording 15 this season. The sophomore had a career-high four tackles for loss in the game.
  • Alabama recorded its 85th non-offensive touchdown of the Saban era Saturday, when Jordan Battle returned a 40-yard interception for a touchdown.
    • It marked Battles second career pick-six.
    • It marked the Crimson Tide’s first interception return for a touchdown this season.
    • The Crimson Tide’s five non-offensive touchdowns this season ties last season’s total.
  • John Metchie III totaled 97 yards in the first half against Mississippi State, the first time he has totaled as many yards in not just a half, but a game, this season.
    • The junior caught a 46-yard pass from Byrce Young on Alabama’s opening drive, his longest reception of the season. His previous longest was 41 yards against Mercer in the home opener.
  • Alabama’s captains at Mississippi State were defensive back Jordan Battle, linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and quarterback Bryce Young.

 

How It Happened

FIRST QUARTER

  • 10:34 – UA | Bryce Young connected with John Metchie III on a 46-yard touchdown pass on the Crimson Tide’s opening drive to cap a six play, 65-yard drive that started with Josh Jobe’s interception.
  • 06:52 – MSU | Brandon Ruiz kicked a 44-yard field goal to post Mississippi State’s first points in the game.
  • 03:54 – UA | Jordan Battle scored on a 40-yard, pick-six.

 

SECOND QUARTER

  • 03:15 – UA | Brian Robinson Jr. smashed his way into the Bulldog end zone from one yard out, concluding a series that lasted 16 plays, 93 yards and 7 minutes and 17 seconds.
  • 00:59 – MSU | Ruiz kicked a 37-yard field goal.

 

THIRD QUARTER

  • 14:46 – UA | Jameson Williams scored on a 75-yard touchdown pass from Young on Alabama’s first play of the second half.
  • 10:40 – MSU | Ruiz kicked a 37-yard field goal.
  • 03:24 – UA | Robinson Jr. scored his second touchdown, and his first receiving touchdown, of the evening on a 51-yard pass from Young, concluding a seven-play, 84-yard series.

 

FOURTH QUARTER

  • 12:37 – UA | Robinson Jr. rushed three yards into the Bulldog end zone to cap a 10-play, 60-yard drive.
  • 06:20 – UA | Traeshon Holden took a Young pass 29 yards into the endzone, closing the game’s scoring.

 

Up Next

Alabama will host Tennessee at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 23. The homecoming game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. CT kickoff on ESPN.