It should be safe to say that every Texas Longhorn football observer is aware of Nick Saban’s success at home.
In case you are waking up from a coma, Alabama currently has a 21-game win streak at home, while Saban’s record as the team’s head coach in Bryant-Denny Stadium is 103-8. There is no place like home for Saban.
As we prepare for the battle between Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, I decided to analyze the QB performances of both teams during those eight losses. The common factor in those losses is Alabama’s quarterbacks turned over the ball more than the road team. That was not the case in every game, but it occurred in the majority of those eight losses.
Before we dive into the numbers, I want to provide some important context. Alabama lost three times at home in 2007. That was Saban’s first season at Alabama and the team finished 7-6. As you know, Saban’s dynasty in Tuscaloosa began after that season, so we have to put 2007 in perspective.
Let us begin with the most recent loss and work backward:
8. November 10, 2019: LSU 46, Alabama 41
LSU – Joe Burrow 31-of-39, 393 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 189.5 passer rating
Alabama – Tua Tagovailoa 21-40, 418 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT, 168.3 passer rating
7. September 15, 2015: Ole Miss 43, Alabama 37
Ole Miss – Chad Kelly 18-33, 341 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 171.3
Alabama – Jake Coker 21-45, 201 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, 97.3; Cooper Bateman 11-14, 87 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 116.5
6. November 11, 2012: Texas A&M 29, Alabama 24
Texas A&M – Johnny Manziel 24-31, 253 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs, 167.3
Alabama – AJ McCarron 21-34, 309 yards, 1 TDs, 2 INTs, 136.0
5. November 7, 2011: LSU 9, Alabama 6 (OT)
LSU – Jordan Jefferson 6-10, 67 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 116.3; Jarrett Lee 3-7, 24 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 14.5
Alabama – AJ McCarron 16-28, 199 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INTs, 109.7
4. November 27, 2010: Auburn 28, Alabama 27
Auburn: Cam Newton 13-20, 216 yards, 3 TDs, 0 TDs, 205.2; 22 carries, 29 yards, 1 TD
Alabama: Greg McElroy 27-37, 377 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 176.4
Alabama: 7
Opponents: 0
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3. November 17, 2007: Louisiana-Monroe 21, Alabama 14
ULM: Kinsmon Lancaster 14-24, 161 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs, 128.4
Alabama: John Parker Wilson 21-31, 246 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 132.1
2. November 2, 2007: LSU 41, Alabama 34
LSU: Matt Flynn 24-44, 353 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs, 130.8
Alabama: John Parker Wilson 14-40, 234 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 103.9
1. September 22, 2007: Georgia 26, Alabama 23 (OT)
Georgia: Matthew Stafford 19-35, 224 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 115.5
Alabama: John Parker Wilson 17-35, 185 yards, 0 TDs, 0 TDs, 93.0
Here is another important fact.
Four of those eight losses occurred against future first-round draft picks (three were taken No.1 overall)
Joe Burrow – 1st overall pick by Cincinnati in 2020, Heisman Trophy winner
Chad Kelly – 7th round draft pick by Denver in 2017
Johnny Manziel – 1st round pick in Cleveland in 2014, Heisman Trophy winner
Jordan Jefferson – Undrafted (played in the CFL)
Cam Newton – 1st overall pick by Carolina in 2011, Heisman Trophy winner
Kinsmon Lancaster – Undrafted (played in the CFL)
Matt Flynn – 7th round pick by Green Bay in 2008
Matthew Stafford – 1st overall pick by Detroit in 2009
In case you are waking up from a coma, Alabama currently has a 21-game win streak at home, while Saban’s record as the team’s head coach in Bryant-Denny Stadium is 103-8. There is no place like home for Saban.
As we prepare for the battle between Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, I decided to analyze the QB performances of both teams during those eight losses. The common factor in those losses is Alabama’s quarterbacks turned over the ball more than the road team. That was not the case in every game, but it occurred in the majority of those eight losses.
Before we dive into the numbers, I want to provide some important context. Alabama lost three times at home in 2007. That was Saban’s first season at Alabama and the team finished 7-6. As you know, Saban’s dynasty in Tuscaloosa began after that season, so we have to put 2007 in perspective.
Let us begin with the most recent loss and work backward:
8. November 10, 2019: LSU 46, Alabama 41
LSU – Joe Burrow 31-of-39, 393 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 189.5 passer rating
Alabama – Tua Tagovailoa 21-40, 418 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT, 168.3 passer rating
7. September 15, 2015: Ole Miss 43, Alabama 37
Ole Miss – Chad Kelly 18-33, 341 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 171.3
Alabama – Jake Coker 21-45, 201 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, 97.3; Cooper Bateman 11-14, 87 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 116.5
6. November 11, 2012: Texas A&M 29, Alabama 24
Texas A&M – Johnny Manziel 24-31, 253 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs, 167.3
Alabama – AJ McCarron 21-34, 309 yards, 1 TDs, 2 INTs, 136.0
5. November 7, 2011: LSU 9, Alabama 6 (OT)
LSU – Jordan Jefferson 6-10, 67 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 116.3; Jarrett Lee 3-7, 24 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 14.5
Alabama – AJ McCarron 16-28, 199 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INTs, 109.7
4. November 27, 2010: Auburn 28, Alabama 27
Auburn: Cam Newton 13-20, 216 yards, 3 TDs, 0 TDs, 205.2; 22 carries, 29 yards, 1 TD
Alabama: Greg McElroy 27-37, 377 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 176.4
Alabama: 7
Opponents: 0
######
3. November 17, 2007: Louisiana-Monroe 21, Alabama 14
ULM: Kinsmon Lancaster 14-24, 161 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs, 128.4
Alabama: John Parker Wilson 21-31, 246 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 132.1
2. November 2, 2007: LSU 41, Alabama 34
LSU: Matt Flynn 24-44, 353 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs, 130.8
Alabama: John Parker Wilson 14-40, 234 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 103.9
1. September 22, 2007: Georgia 26, Alabama 23 (OT)
Georgia: Matthew Stafford 19-35, 224 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 115.5
Alabama: John Parker Wilson 17-35, 185 yards, 0 TDs, 0 TDs, 93.0
Here is another important fact.
Four of those eight losses occurred against future first-round draft picks (three were taken No.1 overall)
Joe Burrow – 1st overall pick by Cincinnati in 2020, Heisman Trophy winner
Chad Kelly – 7th round draft pick by Denver in 2017
Johnny Manziel – 1st round pick in Cleveland in 2014, Heisman Trophy winner
Jordan Jefferson – Undrafted (played in the CFL)
Cam Newton – 1st overall pick by Carolina in 2011, Heisman Trophy winner
Kinsmon Lancaster – Undrafted (played in the CFL)
Matt Flynn – 7th round pick by Green Bay in 2008
Matthew Stafford – 1st overall pick by Detroit in 2009
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