2018 Alabama Crimson Tide football team


The 2018 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This season marked the Crimson Tide's 124th overall season, 85th as a member of the Southeastern Conference, and 27th within the SEC Western Division. They played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and were led by twelfth-year head coach Nick Saban.
Alabama, coming off a national championship winning season in 2017, began the season ranked first in the AP Poll for the third consecutive year and fifth time under Nick Saban. The Tide opened the year with a dominant victory over Louisville in the Camping World Kickoff played in Orlando, Florida. Alabama won their remaining regular season games to achieve their second undefeated regular season in three years. As champions of the SEC's Western Division, they played in the 2018 SEC Championship Game, defeating Eastern Division champion Georgia, in a rematch of the 2017 national title game, 35–28, to win the school's 27th SEC title. In the final College Football Playoff rankings of the year, Alabama was ranked first, which earned them their fifth consecutive playoff berth and a spot in the 2018 Orange Bowl against fourth-ranked Oklahoma. Alabama won that game 45–34 to advance to the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship against Clemson, their fourth consecutive playoff match-up against Clemson and the third to be in a national title game. The Crimson Tide lost in a blowout, 16–44, representing the Tide's worst loss in the Saban era.
The Crimson Tide were led on offense by sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who won the starting job over two-year starter Jalen Hurts. Tagovailoa set the NCAA FBS record for passing efficiency rating, was a consensus first-team All-American, and finished second in voting for the Heisman Trophy behind Oklahoma's Kyler Murray. Hurts, despite losing the starting role, received praise for sticking with the team and helping to mount a comeback in the SEC Championship Game when Tagovailoa went down with an ankle injury. Also receiving consensus first-team All-America honors on offense were wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, winner of the Biletnikoff Award, and offensive tackle Jonah Williams. On defense, Alabama featured two consensus All-Americans, defensive lineman Quinnen Williams and defensive back Deionte Thompson.

Previous season

Alabama came into the season ranked No. 1 in both preseason polls and finished the 2017 regular season with a record of eleven wins and one loss, the sole loss being to Auburn in the Iron Bowl. The Crimson Tide were ranked number 4 the season prior to their national championship appearance against Georgia. The Crimson Tide opened the season with eleven consecutive victories that included one over Florida State at a neutral site, against Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and Tennessee in a game that saw many team records broken and a victory over LSU at Bryant–Denny Stadium. In their twelfth game, Alabama was upset by Auburn, keeping them out of the SEC Championship Game. During the final College Football Playoff Selection poll, Alabama was included at number 4 and played number 1 Clemson in a rubber match of the past two playoffs in the semi-final game played at the Sugar Bowl winning 24–6. Alabama was matched in the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship game against number 3 Georgia who beat Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl, 54–48. Alabama won in overtime, 26–23, to secure the CFP National Championship. Alabama was also selected as champions by the Associated Press for a record 11th time in program history and recognized by the National Football Foundation as the McArthur Bowl recipient, giving Alabama their 17th claimed national title. The Crimson Tide finished the 2017 season with a record of 13–1.

Offseason

Offseason departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Minkah Fitzpatrick#29DB6'1202JuniorJersey City, NJDeclared for the 2018 NFL Draft
Ronnie Harrison#15DB6'3214JuniorTallahassee, FLDeclared for the 2018 NFL Draft
Daron Payne#94DT6'2308JuniorIrondale, ALDeclared for the 2018 NFL Draft
Calvin Ridley#3WR6'1190JuniorCoconut Creek, FLDeclared for the 2018 NFL Draft
Bo Scarbrough#9RB6'2235JuniorNorthport, ALDeclared for the 2018 NFL Draft
Cam Sims#17WR6'5214SeniorMonroe, LAGraduated
Anthony Averett#28CB6'0185SeniorWoodbury, NJGraduated
Tony Brown#2DB6'0198SeniorBeaumont, TXGraduated
Rashaan Evans#32LB6'3234SeniorAuburn, ALGraduated
Levi Wallace#39CB6'0179SeniorTucson, AZGraduated
Bradley Bozeman#75C6'5314SeniorRoanoke, ALGraduated
Mekhi Brown#48LB6'4249RS SophomoreColumbus, GATransferred to Tennessee State.
Da'Shawn Hand#9DE6'4288SeniorWoodbridge, VAGraduated
JK Scott#10P6'6202SeniorDenver, COGraduated
Joshua Frazier#69DT6'4315SeniorSpringdale, ARGraduated
Dallas Warmack#59OL6'2299RS SophomoreAtlanta, GATransferred to Oregon.

Recruiting

The 2018 football recruiting cycle was the first in which the NCAA authorized two signing periods for high school seniors in that sport. In addition to the traditional spring period starting with National Signing Day on February 7, 2018, a new early signing period was introduced, with the first such period falling from December 20–22, 2017.

Source:

Incoming transfers

Alabama added one transfer to the 2018 roster.
NameNo.Pos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrev. School
Austin Jones#29PK5'10"205Senior Orlando, FLTemple

Returning starters

Offense
Defense
Special Teams

Position key

Preseason

Award watchlists

Listed in the order that they were released
Lott TrophyAnfernee JenningsLBJR
Chuck Bednarik AwardAnfernee JenningsLBJR
Chuck Bednarik AwardRaekwon DavisDEJR
Chuck Bednarik AwardMack WilsonLBJR
Maxwell AwardJalen HurtsQBJR
Maxwell AwardTua TagovailoaQBSO
Maxwell AwardDamien HarrisRBSR
Davey O'Brien AwardJalen HurtsQBJR
Doak Walker AwardDamien HarrisRBSR
John Mackey AwardHale HentgesTESR
Rimington TrophyRoss PierschbacherOLRS SR
Butkus AwardAnfernee JenningsLBJR
Butkus AwardDylan MosesLBSO
Butkus AwardMack WilsonLBJR
Bronko Nagurski TrophyRaekwon DavisDEJR
Outland TrophyJonah WilliamsOLJR
Outland TrophyRoss PierschbacherOLRS SR
Paul Hornung AwardTrevon DiggsDBJR
Wuerffel TrophyHale HentgesTESR
Walter Camp AwardRaekwon DavisDLJR
Walter Camp AwardDamien HarrisRBSR
Ted Hendricks AwardIsaiah BuggsDESR
Ted Hendricks AwardRaekwon DavisDEJR
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose AwardJalen HurtsQBJR

SEC media poll

The SEC media poll was released on July 20, 2018 with the Crimson Tide predicted to win the West Division and the SEC overall.
Media poll

Preseason All-SEC teams

The Crimson Tide had 13 players at 14 positions selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.
Offense
1st team
Damien Harris – RB
Jonah Williams – OL
Ross Pierschbacher – C
2nd team
Lester Cotton – OL
3rd team
Jerry Jeudy – WR
Matt Womack – OL
Defense
1st team
Raekwon Davis – DL
Anfernee Jennings – LB
Mack Wilson – LB
Deionte Thompson – DB
2nd team
Isaiah Buggs – DL
3rd team
Dylan Moses – LB
Specialists
2nd team
Trevon Diggs – all purpose player
3rd team
Trevon Diggs – RET

Spring game

The 2018 Crimson Tide had spring practice from April 2018. The 2018 Alabama football spring game, "A-Day" took place in Tuscaloosa, AL on April 21, at 1 p.m. CST.

Schedule

Alabama announced its 2018 football schedule on September 19, 2017. The 2018 Crimson Tide schedule consists of 7 home and 4 away games for the regular season. Alabama will host four SEC conference opponents Texas A&M, Missouri, Mississippi State and arch-rival Auburn for the 125th annual Iron Bowl to close out the regular season and will travel for four SEC opponents to Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee and close out on the road at LSU. Alabama is not scheduled to play SEC East opponents Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Vanderbilt in the 2018 regular season. The Crimson Tide's bye week comes during week 9 on October 27.
Alabama's out of conference opponents represent the ACC, Southern and Sun Belt. The Crimson Tide will host three non–conference games which are against Arkansas State and Louisiana of the Sun Belt and The Citadel of the SoCon and travel to Orlando, FL for Camping World Kickoff host Louisville from the ACC.

Coaching staff

;Graduate Assistant
;Analysts

Depth chart

Game summaries

vs. Louisville

Sources:
2–11991L, 7–34

Statistics
StatisticsLouisvilleAlabama
First downs1921
Total yards268519
Rushing yards16222
Passing yards252297
Turnovers21
Time of possession28:5131:09

vs. Arkansas State

2–02008W, 35–0

Statistics
StatisticsArkansas StateAlabama
First downs1926
Total yards391599
Rushes–yards173278
Passing yards218321
Passing: Comp–Att–Int22–51–120–29–0
Time of possession28:1631:44

at Ole Miss

53–10–22017W, 66–3

Statistics
StatisticsAlabamaOle Miss
First downs279
Total yards516248
Rushes–yards210115
Passing yards306133
Passing: Comp–Att–Int19–28–07–22–2
Time of possession34:2025:40

vs. Texas A&M

8–22017W, 27–12

Statistics
StatisticsTexas A&MAlabama
First downs2224
Total yards393564
Rushes–yards130109
Passing yards263415
Passing: Comp–Att–Int23–44–225–33–0
Time of possession32:3627:24

vs. Louisiana

8–01990W, 25–6

Statistics
StatisticsLouisianaAlabama
First downs1526
Total yards288608
Rushes–yards200268
Passing yards88340
Passing: Comp–Att–Int11–20–213–16–0
Time of possession29:5630:04

at Arkansas

21–72017W, 41–9

Statistics
StatisticsAlabamaArkansas
First downs2422
Total yards639405
Rushes–yards246172
Passing yards393233
Passing: Comp–Att–Int14–18–026–40–1
Time of possession27:0432:56

vs. Missouri

3–22014W, 42–13

Statistics
StatisticsMissouriAlabama
First downs1325
Total yards212564
Rushes–yards70184
Passing yards142380
Passing: Comp–Att–Int13–2619–30
Time of possession27:4332:17

at Tennessee

55–36–82017W, 45–7

Statistics
StatisticsAlabamaTennessee
First downs3013
Total yards545258
Rushes–yards42–21830–31
Passing yards327227
Passing: Comp–Att–Int21–32–114–25–0
Time of possession32:3327:27

at LSU

52–25–52017W, 24–10

Statistics
StatisticsAlabamaLSU
First downs2913
Total yards576196
Rushes–yards37–28125–12
Passing yards295184
Passing: Comp–Att–Int25–42–118–35–1
Time of possession35:1824:42

vs. Mississippi State

82–17–32017W, 31–24

Statistics
StatisticsMississippi StateAlabama
First downs623
Total yards169305
Rushes–yards30–4445–142
Passing yards125163
Passing: Comp–Att–Int11–20–017–27–1
Time of possession26:0533:55

vs. The Citadel

Statistics
StatisticsThe CitadelAlabama
First downs1321
Total yards275561
Rushes–yards60–27523–190
Passing yards0371
Passing: Comp–Att–Int0–2–021–26–0
Time of possession36:2321:29

vs. Auburn

45–36–12017L, 14–26

Statistics
StatisticsAuburnAlabama
First downs1923
Total yards283500
Rushes–yards43–13026–123
Passing yards153377
Passing: Comp–Att–Int15–32–126–33–0
Time of possession34:3725:23

vs. Georgia (SEC Championship Game)

39–25–42018 CFP NCGW, 26–23 OT

Statistics
StatisticsAlabamaGeorgia
First downs2123
Total yards403454
Rushes–yards29–15739–153
Passing yards246301
Passing: Comp–Att–Int17–34–225–40–0
Time of possession24:3035:30

vs. Oklahoma (Orange Bowl–CFP Semifinal)

1–3–12014 Sugar BowlL, 31–45

Statistics
StatisticsOklahomaAlabama
First downs2628
Total yards471528
Rushes–yards32–16342–200
Passing yards308328
Passing: Comp–Att–Int19–37–025–28–0
Time of possession23:5236:08

vs. Clemson (National Championship)

14–42018 Sugar BowlW, 24–6

Statistics
StatisticsClemsonAlabama
First downs2123
Total yards482443
Rushes–yards31–13537–148
Passing yards347295
Passing: Comp–Att–Int20–32–022–36–2
Time of possession28:2331:37

Rankings

In-season polls

Statistics

Team

Offense

Defense

Scores by quarter
Scores by quarter
Scores by quarter

Awards and honors

Weekly awards

1st Team
2nd Team

Reese’s Senior Bowl

Players drafted into the NFL

RoundPickPlayerPositionNFL Club
13Quinnen WilliamsDTNew York Jets
111Jonah WilliamsOTCincinnati Bengals
1Josh JacobsRBOakland Raiders
250Irv Smith Jr.TEMinnesota Vikings
387Damien HarrisRBNew England Patriots
4115Christian MillerLBCarolina Panthers
5139Deionte ThompsonSArizona Cardinals
5153Ross PierschbacherCWashington Redskins
5155Mack WilsonLBCleveland Browns
6192Isaiah BuggsDTPittsburgh Steelers

Media Affiliates

Radio

TV