The Crimson Tide earned the 16th consecutive win over the Bulldogs with the victory

 

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The No. 12/11 Alabama football team overwhelmed Mississippi State by using a balanced offensive attack and strong defensive performance on its way to a 40-17 victory Saturday night in Davis Wade Stadium.

 

Alabama running back Roydell Williams (5) runs the ball against Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, MS on Saturday, Sep 30, 2023.

The Crimson Tide (4-1, 2-0 SEC) combined for 357 total yards of offense which included 164 yards through the air and 193 on the ground. Additionally, the defense had a strong outing as it accounted for three interceptions, eight tackles for loss and a touchdown while limiting the Bulldogs to just 261 yards of total offense in the win.

 

Quarterback Jalen Milroe had another solid night running the Tide offense, completing 10-of-12 passes for 169 yards on the night. He also rushed the ball 11 times for 69 yards and a pair of scores to account for 238 yards of total offense. Both Jase McClellan (15 rushes for 63 yards and a touchdown) and Roydell Williams (10 rushes for 44 yards) also produced in the ground game as the duo combined for 107 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown (4.3 yards per carry).

 

The Crimson Tide was led defensively on the night by Jihad Campbell’s career-high 14 tackles to go along with an interception, tackle for loss and a half sack. Caleb Downs had 13 tackles which included five solo stops and a pick, while Trezman Marshall added nine tackles, two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

 

Notes

  • With the win, the Crimson Tide secured its 16th consecutive win in the series against Mississippi State
  • Head coach Nick Saban improved to 22-1 for his career against the Bulldogs including a 16-1 record while at Alabama
  • Saban won his 150th SEC game as a head coach with the win Saturday night over the Bulldogs (150-31, .829)
  • By completing his final six passes last week against Ole Miss and his first eight passes of the game tonight, quarterback Jalen Milroe completed 14 consecutive passes. That number is tied for third in the UA record books for most consecutive completions.
  • Milroe finished the game with an 83.3 completion percentage (10-of-12 passing) which ranks in a tie for eighth-best completion percentage in a contest (minimum of 10 completions). Over his last two games in which he was reinserted as a starter, Milroe’s completion percentage stands at 81.8 percent (27-of-33)
  • Chris Braswell’s interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter was the Tide’s first defensive score of the season and the 91st non-offensive touchdown under head coach Nick Saban
  • It was the ninth-straight year that the Alabama defense has recorded at least one pick six
  • Alabama’s 31 first half points were the most points the Crimson Tide has scored in any half this season
  • Place kicker Will Reichard hit four field goals (48, 38, 34, 48) and accounted for 16 total points which ranks in a tie for third-most points scored by a kicker in a single game
  • With his 16 total points on the night, Reichard moves into seventh on the NCAA all-time scoring list with 484 points
  • With 43 rushes tonight along with 45 rushes vs. Ole Miss last week, the Crimson Tide has accounted for 88 total rushes and 324 yards on the ground across its last two contests
  • Tonight’s contest vs. Mississippi State kicked off at 8 p.m. CT, which is the latest kickoff for an Alabama football game since hosting Tennessee for an 8 p.m. kick time on Oct. 19, 2019

 

How It Happened

FIRST QUARTER

  • 04:48 – UA | The game’s first points came via a Jalen Milroe 53-yard rushing touchdown after a three-play, 70-yard drive in 1:21
  • 03:51 – UA | Chris Braswell crossed the goal line on a 28-yard interception return for the first defensive touchdown of the season

 

SECOND QUARTER

  • 12:44 – MS | Mississippi State got on the board after a 31-yard field goal from Kyle Ferrie which finished off a 12-play, 62-yard drive in 6:07
  • 10:07 – UA | Will Reichard converted a 48-yard field goal to cap off a six-play 46-yard drive
  • 06:26 – MS | The Bulldogs scored their first touchdown thanks to a 15-yard rush from Mike Wright to end a nine-play 64-yard drive in 3:33
  • 01:07 – UA | Jase McClellan carried it across goal line for a two-yard rushing touchdown ending a 12-play, 75-yard drive
  • 00:31 – UA | The Tide took advantage of another interception as Milroe crossed into the endzone for his second touchdown of the game, this time from 10-yards out

 

THIRD QUARTER

  • 09:11 – MS | The second half started with a touchdown on MSU’s opening drive when quarterback Will Rogers connected with Keyvone Lee for a one-yard reception finishing out an 11-play 75-yard drive
  • 02:50 – UA | Reichard capped off a 12-play 54-yard drive with a 38-yard field goal

 

FOURTH QUARTER

  • 09:04 – UA | Reichard connected on his third field goal of the game, this time from 34 yards out to finish a six-play, 18-yard drive that lasted 3:29
  • 06:08 – UA | Reichard hit his third consecutive field goal of the half and fourth of the game when he kicked it through the uprights from 48 yards out

 

Up Next

  • Alabama remains on the road when it travels to take on Texas A&M next Saturday, Oct. 8
  • The Crimson Tide and Aggies are scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff at Kyle Field with the game airing live on CBS