Alabama Football: Where the Tide stands statistically after five games

Now that Alabama football leads the national polls , let’s see how he Crimson Tide stands in the most important FBS and SEC statistics.

After Alabama football and most teams have played five games, national statistics are beginning to have enough data to merit attention. Differences in schedule difficulty affect statistical results after so few games. Those differences will moderate but not disappear in the latter half of the season.

Without directly comparing the Alabama football schedule to other top SEC teams, it is fair to say the Crimson Tide schedule is so far not the toughest. Alabama football stats after playing Duke, New Mexico State, South Carolina, Southern Miss and Ole Miss should be strong. The five teams are a combined 10-14 on the season with the Duke Blue Devils leading the way at 3-1. None of the five teams are in the top 50 of the FBS in Total Offense.

Alabama Football Offensive Superlatives

The Crimson Tide, led by Tua Tagovailoa and the best wide receivers in college football has been outstanding in passing offense. Credit should also be given to the schemes and play-calling of Steve Sarkisian.

• First Downs – No. 5 nationally and No. 1 in the SEC
• Passing Offense – No. 3 nationally and No. 2 in the SEC; LSU leads the SEC
• Passing Yards-Per-Completion – No. 14 nationally and No. 2 SEC; LSU leads SEC
• Passing Efficiency – No. 2 nationally and No.1 in the SEC
• Total Offense – No. 4 nationally and No. 2 in the SEC; LSU leads the SEC
• Scoring Offense – No. 4 nationally and No. 2 in the SEC; LSU leads the nation

Other Good Alabama Football Stats

• Scoring Defense – No. 13 nationally and No. 4 in the SEC; Florida leads the SEC
• Passing Yards Allowed – No. 29 nationally and No. 3 in the SEC; Missouri leads the SEC
• Sacks Allowed – No. 21 nationally and No. 2 in the SEC; Georgia leads the SEC
• Turnover Margin – No. 4 nationally and No. 1 in the SEC
• Punt Return Defense – No. 16 nationally and No. 3 in the SEC; Florida leads the SEC
• Kickoff Return Defense – No.11 nationally and No. 4 in the SEC; Tennessee leads the SEC

The not so good Alabama football stats

• Total Defense – No. 38 nationally and No. 7 in the SEC; Missouri leads the SEC
• Rushing Defense – No. 49 nationally and No. 8 in the SEC; Georgia leads the SEC
• Rushing Offense – No. 57 nationally and No. 7 in the SEC; Georgia leads the SEC
• Fewest Penalties – No. 95 nationally and No. 12 in the SEC; Tennessee leads the SEC
• Fewest Penalty Yards – No. 102 nationally and No. 14 in the SEC; Tennessee leads the SEC
• Net Punting – No. 113 nationally and No. 14 in the SEC; Kentucky leads the SEC
• First Downs Defense – No. 82 nationally and No. 8 in the SEC; Missouri leads the SEC

A more complete look at Alabama football stats can be found here.

‘Not so good’ is a kind description for some stats in the last group listed above. The penalties and punting stats are terrible. And an Alabama football rushing defense eighth in the SEC is stunningly weak.