TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 8/8/8 Alabama football team downed Chattanooga, 66-10, on Senior Day Saturday afternoon inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. With the win, the Crimson Tide (10-1) earned its 10th victory of the 2023 season, stretching its NCAA record of consecutive 10-win campaigns to 16 straight.
Alabama piled up 574 yards of offense which included a season-best 315 yards on the ground – the most rushing yards for the Tide in a game since posting 317 at Arkansas in 2022. Four different Crimson Tide players gained 50 or more yards en route to the win, led by Jam Miller’s 77 yards on six totes. In all, Miller, Ty Simpson (1-78 yards), Jase McClellan (6-62, TD) and Roydell Williams (7-52, TD) combined to account for 20 carries, 269 yards and 2 touchdowns, while averaging 13.5 yards per tote.
Quarterback Jalen Milroe had another productive outing, finishing with 197 yards through the air on 13-of-16 throwing and three touchdowns before being pulled early in the third quarter. Jermaine Burton was the main beneficiary of Milroe’s success, as he finished with 105 yards and a touchdown on three receptions.
Defensively, Caleb Downs stole the show with an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown to go along with his seven tackles and on pass breakup on the day. Jihaad Campbell led the Tide with 10 stops, including six solo stops and a pass breakup.
Senior Day
Today’s matchup against Chattanooga marked Alabama’s Senior Day
The Tide senior class improves to 48-5 record over the past four years, includes a pair of Southeastern Conference Championships and the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship
The seniors recognized were (alphabetical order): Jonathan Bennett (RB), Chris Braswell (LB), Jermaine Burton (WR), Zarian Courtney (WR), Justin Eboigbe (DL), Robert Ellis (TE), Kyle Flood Jr. (LB), Jaylen Key (DB), Trezmen Marshall (LB), Jase McClellan (RB), Caleb McDougle (DB), Seth McLaughlin (OL), Malachi Moore (DB), Will Reichard (PK), Quandarrius Robinson (LB), Charlie Skehan (TE), Jordan Smith (LB), Tim Smith (DL), Adam Thorsland (TE), Bennett Whisenhunt (LB), Roydell Williams (RB) and Sam Willoughby (WR).
Notes
Alabama’s 66 points scored on the day were the most it has had in a game dating back to a 66-3 win over Western Carolina in 2019
With today’s victory, the Crimson Tide earned its 10th win on the year which extends its NCAA record for 10-win seasons to 16 straight
Head coach Nick Saban finished the year 6-1 at home and improved to 108-9 (.923) at Bryant-Denny Stadium during his time at Alabama. That number includes a 104-6 (.945) mark since the start of the 2008 season.
By converting the last three pass attempts in last week’s game at Kentucky and his first 10 passes this afternoon vs. Chattanooga, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe completed 13 consecutive passes. That ties him for fifth on the school’s all-time list and were the most consecutive completions since Bryce Young had 13 straight vs. New Mexico State in 2021
Alabama recorded its 93rd non-offensive touchdown of the Saban era when Caleb Downs returned a third-quarter punt 85 yards to paydirt, while marking the sixth punt return for a score in the last seven years
Will Reichard converted a 50-yard field goal in the second quarter, setting a school record in the process by converting his eighth field goal of 50 or more yards on the season
The Crimson Tide scored 38 points in the first half which is the most points scored in any half on the year
Alabama has now won 53 of its last 54 contests when scoring a touchdown on its first offensive possession of the game
How It Happened
FIRST QUARTER
13:04 – UA | The Crimson Tide struck first when Jalen Milroe connected with Jermaine Burton for receiving touchdown capping a four-play, 67-yard drive in 1:47
09:27 – UA | Jase McClellan crossed the goal line for a two-yard rushing touchdown ending a five-play, 70-yard drive in 2:37
01:30 – UA | Roydell Williams found the endzone for an 11-yard score to close out an 11-play, 90-yard that took 5:59 off the clock
SECOND QUARTER
10:42 – UA | Milroe connected with Robbie Ouzts for a seven-yard receiving touchdown ending a three-play, 55-yard drive in 1:15
07:07 – UA | Will Reichard converted a 50-yard field goal to finish off a four-play, six-yard drive in 1:27
03:39 – UTC | Gino Appleberry gave the Mocs their first score of the day when he crossed the endzone after a 40-yard rush to cap a six-play, 75-yard drive in 3:28
01:01 – UA | Milroe found Malik Benson for a 20-yard receiving touchdown finishing off a five-play, 60-yard drive in 2:19
THIRD QUARTER
10:46 – UTC | The Mocs opened the second half with a 23-yard field goal from Clayton Crile ending a nine-play, 69-yard drive in 4:14
08:39 – UA | Justice Haynes crossed the goal line from one-yard out to finish off a six-play, 55-yard drive in 2:00
04:59 – UA | Caleb Downs electrified the crowd with an 85-yard punt return
FOURTH QUARTER
13:04 – UA | Richard Young scored a touchdown when he plunged in from one-yard out to end a four-play, 80-yard drive in 1:12
03:17 – UA | Haynes finished off the scoring when he took it in from 33 yards out to paydirt to finish off a six-play, 54-yard drive take lasted 2:58
Up Next
Alabama will take on the Auburn Tigers next Saturday afternoon in Auburn, Ala.
The contest will kickoff at 2:30 p.m. CT and be televised on CBS
