The Crimson Tide raced out to an early lead, scoring 21 points in the first quarter and held on to win its SEC opener

 GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 1/1 University of Alabama football team beat No. 11/9 Florida, 31-29, to win its Southeastern Conference opener Saturday afternoon at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The victory marked head coach Nick Saban’s 50th SEC road win at Alabama.

 

Quarterback Bryce Young threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns on 22-for-35 passing in The Swamp. Jameson Williams was the Crimson Tide’s yardage leader with 61 yards on four catches, while Jase McClellan added 41 yards and four receptions to go with a touchdown. John Metchie III led all receivers in catches with six for 42 yards. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. was the Tide’s top rusher with 75 yards on 14 carries, including a three-yard rushing score, while also catching a seven-yard touchdown pass.

 

Defensive back DeMarcco Hellams recorded a team-high 11 tackles and a game-best six solo stops. Defensive back Jalyn Armour-Davis had a first-quarter interception that set Alabama up with a short field, leading to the Tide’s third touchdown of the first period

 

Placekicker Will Reichard added a 24-yard field goal and four extra points during the afternoon matchup.

 

Postgame Notes

  • Alabama is 3-0 overall, 1-0 in the Southeastern Conference, while Florida drops to 2-1 overall, 0-1 in the SEC
    • UA leads the all-time series against UF 28-14 and has won eight straight
      • With its eighth straight win this afternoon, Alabama tied its own record for the second-longest winning streak by any team against Florida. The Crimson Tide last accomplished that feat from 1964-86.
    • Alabama leads the series 12-2 in games played in Gainesville
    • Head coach Nick Saban is 10-4 in his career against Florida, including an 8-1 mark at Alabama
    • The Crimson Tide has won 43 straight games when scoring a touchdown on the first offensive possession of the game, thanks to Bryce Young’s seven-yard touchdown pass to Jase McClellan on the afternoon’s opening drive
  • Alabama has won 38 of its last 42 road games dating back to the 2011 campaign
    • UA collected its 32nd straight win over an SEC Eastern Division opponent, including a 4-0 run against Florida during that streak, with its 31-29 win in Gainesville
      • Overall, the Tide is 42-3 against the SEC East under Saban
  • Saban moved to a 264-65-1 all-time record, including a 173-23 mark at Alabama
    • Saban is 80-32-1 in road games across his four career stops, including a 52-9 mark while at the Capstone
    • Saban owns a 62-16 mark in SEC road games across his time at LSU and Alabama, including a 50-8 record while in Tuscaloosa
    • Saban is 14-1 in SEC road openers since he arrived in 2007, and he is also 11-0 at Alabama when the Tide’s first SEC game of the season is on the road
  • The Crimson Tide’s 31-29 win over the Gators was Saban’s 92nd career win, and 69th at Alabama, against the Associated Press Top 25. He is followed by Joe Paterno (86), then Bobby Bowden (82)
    • Saban is third in all-time road wins against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 with 25 wins. Bowden is the all-time leader (33), followed by Paterno (27)
  • Alabama’s captains for Saturday’s Southeastern Conference road opener against Florida were linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, quarterback Bryce Young and defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis

 

How It Happened

FIRST QUARTER

  • 11:12 – UA | Jase McClellan caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Young to cap an eight-play, 75-yard opening drive for the Crimson Tide.
  • 07:08 – UF | Chris Howard got the Gators on the board with a 25-yard field goal on Florida’s opening drive.
  • 04:14 – UA | Young connected with Jahleel Billingsley on a 26-yard touchdown pass to complete a seven-play, 75-yard drive. The score was Billingsley’s first of the season.
  • 00:48 – UA | Brian Robinson Jr. caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Young. Jalyn Armour-Davis’ interception got the Tide the ball and led to the six-play, 38-yard drive.

 

SECOND QUARTER

  • 06:34 – UF | Malik Davis rushed for 26 yards to record Florida’s first touchdown of the game.

 

THIRD QUARTER

  • 10:20 – UF | Dameon Pierce scored on a three-yard rushing touchdown to close out a 10-play, 75-yard series.
  • 04:33 – UA | On fourth and inches, Robinson Jr. rushed three yards into the Florida end zone, capping a 13-play, 75-yard drive.
  • 00:29 – UF | Emory Jones scored on a five-yard rushing touchdown to complete a 99-yard drive for the Gators.

 

FOURTH QUARTER

  • 09:25 – UA | Will Reichard added three points to the Tide’s total with a 24-yard field goal.
  • 03:10 – UF | Pierce ended the night’s scoring with a 17-yard rushing touchdown, but a failed two-point conversion by Florida proved the difference in the game.

 

Up Next

Alabama will return home to square off against Southern Miss at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 25. The matchup is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff on the SEC Network.