Alabama Football: Measuring the ’18 Tide against last 20 National Champions

Alabama football is on course to shatter its own records for points scored. Check out how the ’18 Tide compares to the last 20 National Champions in points scored and points allowed.

The Alabama football season record for average points scored in games is 43 points, accomplished in 1945. The Alabama football season record for average points allowed in games is 0.8 from the 1925 season. The Crimson Tide points allowed record will never be broken. The 2018 team is well on course to break the season record for average points scored.

After six games, the Crimson Tide is averaging 56 points scored per game. Better defenses in the second half of the season could bring the scoring average down. The average could go down considerably and still break the 1945 record.

After six games, the Crimson Tide is averaging 16 points allowed per game. That average places Alabama football at No. 12 in the FBS.

Alabama football fans are more concerned about national championships than team records. In considering championships, points allowed are at least as important as points scored. Are the points averages for the 2018 Crimson Tide on track for another national championship? Below we look at the last 20 national champions, going back to Tennessee in 1998, and compare them to the 2018 Tide. All stats were sourced from ncaa.com.

• The average points scored by the last 20 national champions is 38.59 points per game.
• The lowest average points scored in the 20-season span was 29.3 points by Ohio State in 2002.
• The highest average points scored was 51.6 points by FSU in 2013. The only other national champion to average more than 50 points scored was USC at 50.2 in 2005.
• The average points allowed by the last 20 national champions is 14.96 points per game.
• The lowest average points allowed in the 20-season span was 8.5 points by Alabama in 2011.
• The highest average points allowed was 23 points by USC in 2004.

A quick conclusion is Alabama football is producing national championship quality stats in points scored and points allowed. Two points to keep mind – six games are not a season and the next six (seven probably) will be against tougher competition than the first six. A comparison of season stats cannot predict the outcome of a playoff or national championship game. They can be worthwhile indicators if the two teams have comparable strength of schedule numbers.

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A fair question is how much are these stats skewed by an abundance of garbage time in Alabama football games. Given the Crimson Tide’s early leads in games, the numbers are skewed. Brian Fremeau of FEI ratings publishes stats with garbage time removed. Based on his calculation, Alabama football is No. 1 in the nation in both points scored per drive and in points allowed.

For the record, Army holds the NCAA record for average points scored per game. In 1944, the Cadets averaged 56 points per game.