Alabama Football: Single game and career records fall in Tuscaloosa

Alabama football rolled over Ole Miss as Tua Tagovailoa and Devonta Smith set new Crimson Tide single game and career records.

The Alabama football passing game was as hot as the record temperature in Tuscaloosa. Tua Tagovailoa and Devonta Smith were the main ‘sizzlers’ as the Alabama Crimson Tide rolled over Ole Miss by a score of 59-31.

No doubt Nick Saban was happy for his two offensive players. Their achievements did not distract Saban from being upset his defense surrendered 31 points, orchestrated by a true freshman in his first college start. More on that below, but first the details of Tua’s and Smitty’s achievements.

Devonta Smith had a magical day for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Smitty caught 11 passes for 274 yards and five touchdowns.  The 274 yards and the five touchdown catches are new Alabama football single-game records. Smith broke Amari Cooper’s single-game yardage record of 224 yards, set twice by Coop. The record for touchdown receptions in a game was three, previously held by Cooper and four other Crimson Tide players.

Tua had been tied for the single-game touchdown record with Gary Hollingsworth. Given how rarely Tua plays in the fourth quarter of games, it had looked like he might never set a new record. The new record of six TD passes in a game was not the only record broken by Tua on Saturday. He now has accounted for 86 Crimson Tide touchdowns in his career, running and passing. The previous record was set by A.J. McCarron at 80 total touchdowns.

Through five games of the 2029 season, Tua has 113 completions in 148 attempts, for 1,718 yards. He has thrown 23 touchdown passes and zero interceptions.

Getting back to Nick Saban.

Nick Saban was not pleased with the Crimson Tide’s defensive play. Not only did Ole Miss score 31 points, how the Rebels scored was frustrating. Of particular concern to Saban was his defense being on the field for 88 snaps. Alabama football’s deepest teams did not hold up against so many offensive plays and the 2019 Tide is not one of Saban’s deepest defenses.

Also concerning was the Tide defense allowing Ole Miss to rush for 279 yards. Too often missed assignments, missed alignments and failing to contain the edge led to big gains by Ole Miss. The last time Alabama football surrendered more rushing yards was in a loss to Ohio State in 2014.

Xavier McKinney with 13 and Anfernee Jennings with nine total tackles led the Crimson Tide. The Tide defense did have seven tackles for a loss and six quarterback hurries.

Filling in for the injured Will Reichard, Joseph Bulovas made a 36-yard field goal. He also missed a 29-yarder. Bulovas made all the PAT attempts.

Tua may set new Crimson Tide records to be included in the list above. We will add them once his Alabama football career is complete