- The following are the game notes for Alabama’s 63-0 win over Western Kentucky at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, August 31, 2024:
- 1. The win stands as the first victory of Kalen DeBoer’s tenure at Alabama, with first-year Crimson Tide head coaches now combining to own a 22-7 record (22-6 without interim head coaches) in their respective UA debuts.
- 2. The Crimson Tide improved to 84-11-2 (.885) all-time across 97 total home-opening games.
- 3. Alabama has now reeled off 23-consecutive home-opening victories, a streak that began in 2002.
- 4. The 63-0 win is the largest margin of victory for a first-year UA head coach in his coaching debut in program history. It is also the third-largest margin of victory in a season-opening win in program history (66-0 win over California on Sept. 15, 1973 / 89-0 win over Delta State, Sept. 21, 1951).
- 5. Jalen Milroe was responsible for five touchdowns (3 passing, 2 rushing) marking the third time in his career he’s accomplished the feat. His five touchdowns tie him for fourth-most in school history.
- 6. Milroe’s 84-yard touchdown connection to Ryan Williams in the first quarter now stands as the longest pass of the junior’s career and was Williams’ first-career score on his first-ever reception. Williams’ 139 receiving yards makes him the first Alabama player to eclipse the 100+ receiving yards since Jermaine Burton on Nov. 25, 2023 versus Auburn.
- 7. Justice Haynes’ 85-yard touchdown scamper in the second quarter was not only the longest touchdown carry of his career, but the longest touchdown run by a Crimson Tide player since Jase McClellan’s 81-yard rushing score at Texas on Sept. 10, 2022.
- Haynes’ score is also the longest Alabama scoring play since Bryce Young and Jameson Williams combined for a 94-yard touchdown on Sept. 4, 2021, versus Miami.
- 8. Saturday marks the first instance of the Crimson Tide producing two 80+ yard scores since Sept. 7, 1991, against Tennessee (Chris Anderson, 96-yard run, Danny Woodson, 85-yard run).
- 9. The 63 points scored by the Crimson Tide are the most in a game since Alabama’s 66-10 win over Chattanooga on Nov. 18, 2023.
- 10. The Tide had not posted a defensive shutout since Nov. 19, 2022, when Alabama defeated Austin Peay 34-0.
- 11. Keon Sabb is the first player since Terrion Arnold on Nov. 25, 2023 at Auburn to record two interceptions in a game, doing so in his Crimson Tide debut.
- 12. Alabama reached 600 yards of total offense (334 rushing, 266 passing) for the first time since Sept. 24, 2022, against Vanderbilt (400 passing, 228 rushing).
- 13. The Crimson Tide defense limited the Hilltoppers to just 145 yards of total offense (103 passing, 42 rushing), the lowest mark by an Alabama opponent since Vanderbilt’s 129 total yards on Sept. 24, 2022 (115 passing, 14 rushing).
Offensive Leaders for the Crimson Tide
Passing
Jalen Milroe: 7-for-9, 300 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing
Justice Haynes: 4 carries, 102 yards, 1 TD
Jalen Milroe: 10 carries, 86 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Ryan Williams: 2 catches, 139 yards, 2 TD
Kendrick Law: 1 catch, 22 yards, TD
Kobe Prentice: 3 catches, 43 yards
Defensive Leaders for the Crimson Tide
Jihaad Campbell – 9 Tackles
Deontae Lawson – 9 Tackles
Bray Hubbard – 6 Tackles
Keon Sabb – 2 INT