The Crimson Tide held Ole Miss under 80 yards on the ground, while gaining more than 200 rushing yards in the victory                                                                    

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 1/1 University of Alabama football team recorded its 69th win against an Associated Press Top-25 team since 2008, and its third this season, defeating No. 12/12 Ole Miss 42-21 in Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday in the Crimson Tide’s Southeastern Conference home opener.

 

Quarterback Bryce Young completed 21-of-27 passes for 241 yards and recorded two touchdowns against the Rebels. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. recorded career highs in both rushing yards (171) and rushing touchdowns (4) against Ole Miss. He is just the second UA player this year to carry for 100-plus yards in a game, joining Roydell Williams.

 

Wide receiver John Metchie III and tight end Cameron Latu both hauled in touchdown catches on the day. Jameson Williams led all receivers with 65 yards on five receptions, while Slade Bolden was second with 58 yards on four catches.

 

Defensive back DeMarcco Hellams (11) and linebacker Henry To’oTo’o (10) both tallied double-digit tackles to lead the Tide, while defensive back Jordan Battle paced Alabama with seven solo stops. Linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and defensive linemen Phidarian Mathis tallied a sack each against the Rebels.

 

Placekicker Will Reichard tacked on six extra points during the matchup.

 

Postgame Notes

  • Head coach Nick Saban is 24-0 all-time against his former staffers during his tenure at Alabama, including a 2-0 mark against Lane Kiffin after the Rebels’ head man served as a Saban assistant at UA from 2014-16. Overall, Saban is 3-0 all-time against Kiffin when meeting as head coaches, including Kiffin’s stint at Tennessee.
  • Alabama’s win against Ole Miss marked head coach Nick Saban’s 93rd career win – 70th at Alabama – against an Associated Press Top-25 team.
    • It also marked his 23rd career win by 25-plus points against a ranked opponent.
  • Alabama has now scored 30-or-more points in 31-straight games.
    • The Tide is tied with UCF for the record, with the Knights recording 30-or-more points in 31-straight games from 2017-19.
  • The Crimson Tide has won 45-straight games when scoring a touchdown on the first offensive possession of the game, thanks to Byrce Young’s 16-yard touchdown pass to John Metchie III on the opening drive.
  • The Tide has now gained 400-plus yards of total offense in 44 of its last 46 games.
  • Alabama held Ole Miss scoreless at the half, marking the first time it has held a ranked team off the board at the break since shutting out then-No. 16 Mississippi State on Nov. 10, 2018.
  • Player Highlights:
    • Young completed 7-of-7 passing attempts in the first quarter against the Rebels, the second-straight season a Crimson Tide quarterback completed all passes against the Rebels in the opening frame (Mac Jones/10-of-10 in 2020).
    • With Will Anderson Jr.’s 2.5 tackles for loss against Ole Miss, he has collected 11 tackles for loss this season. It is .5 tackles for loss more than he recorded through all 13 of his starts in 2020.
  • Alabama’s captains against Ole Miss were linebackers Christian Harris and Henry To’oTo’o and quarterback Bryce Young.

 

How It Happened

FIRST QUARTER

  • 02:20 – UA | Bryce Young connected with John Metchie III on a 16-yard touchdown pass, concluding a 14-play, 94-yard opening drive.

 

SECOND QUARTER

  • 12:14 – UA | Brian Robinson Jr. rushed one yard into the Ole Miss end zone to end a 10-play, 47-yard series.
  • 02:55 – UA | Cameron Latu scored on a three-yard touchdown pass by Young, capping a drive that lasted six plays and 27 yards.
  • 00:57 – UA | Robinson Jr. once again, rushed just a single yard into the Rebels’ end zone to end a four-play, 14-yard series.

 

THIRD QUARTER

  • 12:32 – UA | Robinson Jr. scored his third touchdown of the game on another one-yard rush, concluding a six-play, 77-yard drive.
  • 08:25 – OM | Matt Corral ran 10 yards into the Alabama end zone to end an 11-play, 75-yard drive.

 

FOURTH QUARTER

  • 10:47 – UA | Robinson Jr. set a career-best mark when he recorded his fourth touchdown of the game on a two-yard rush, capping a nine-play, 66-yard drive.
  • 08:43 – OM | Snoop Connor rushed one yard into the Alabama end zone, concluding a seven-play, 70-yard series.
  • 02:23 – UA | Chase Rogers hauled in a two-yard pass from Corral to close out the scoring