Under Nick Saban’s watch, Alabama has carved more records into the Iron Bowl history books than a knife’s work on turkeys on Thanksgiving. Last season, Derrick Henry surpassed Auburn legend Bo Jackson for most rushing yards in the game with 271 yards. In 2014, multiple Iron Bowl records were set, too. The two teams combined for 99 points, the most combined points in the history of the series. Blake Sims tied AJ McCarron’s 2012 record of four touchdown passes thrown in a single game. What are five Saban-era records Alabama could set this year?
- The mark of four touchdown passes by Sims and McCarron isn’t likely to be broken by Jalen Hurts. Hurts threw four touchdowns not long ago against Mississippi State, but the Bulldogs are 118th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game. Auburn’s defense is considerably better. However, Hurts could set the mark of total rushing yards by a quarterback. The previous mark during the Saban era is Nick Marshall’s 99 rushing yards in Auburn’s 34-28 win in 2013. Auburn’s balance that season played a significant role in the team’s victory. Hurts has surpassed 99 yards four times already this season, and one of those performances came against the stout defense of LSU.
- Another offensive mark during the Saban era is most rushing yards. While Alabama set the school mark with 286 rushing yards last season, Auburn rushed for 296 yards in 2013, the same year Marshall rushed for 99 yards. In 2013, Auburn had the three-headed rushing force of Tre Mason, Nick Marshall and Corey Grant. Alabama has a stable with Damien Harris, Jalen Hurts, Bo Scarbrough and Joshua Jacobs. Scarbrough participated at practice this week and is expected to play, so getting around 300 yards rushing from three talented runners is a realistic possibility. If Alabama grabs an early lead, expect the team to rely heavily on the running game to milk the clock and protect the lead.
- Alabama had quite the run earlier this season with a proliferation of non-offensive touchdowns. Through the team’s first eight games, the Crimson Tide racked up 12 non-offensive touchdowns. In subsequent games against LSU, Miss. State and Chattanooga, the non-offensive touchdowns fell off completely. However, the team only needs two non-offensive touchdowns to tie the Saban-era record by one team in this game. In 2011, Auburn scored two non-offensive touchdowns with Kenneth Carter’s fumble recovery for a touchdown and Onterrio McCalebb’s 83-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. In fact, Auburn scored only non-offensive touchdowns in that game. Interestingly, Alabama’s Dee Milliner returned an interception for a touchdown, making three the total non-offensive touchdown mark for a single game. Jonathan Allen has two of the 12 non-offensive touchdowns and will surely be a force in Saturday’s game.
- During Saban’s tenure, the highest sack total in the Iron Bowl by a single player is Courtney Upshaw with 2. With Alabama’s numbers this year, one player could easily tie that mark and possibly surpass it. Jonathan Allen had 2 sacks against USC and more recently, Tim Williams had 2 sacks against Texas A&M. Williams leads Alabama with 8 sacks. Allen (7) and Ryan Anderson (6.5) are right behind him. Alabama is currently tied for second in the nation in sacks per game at 3.64. Last season’s sack-happy Alabama squad had 3 sacks against Auburn.
- Another defensive mark Alabama could set this season is fewest rushing yards allowed. Alabama leads the nation in the category, allowing just 68.9 rushing yards per game. The lowest total by Auburn with Saban as head coach is a paltry 57 rushing yards set in 2008. Alabama stomped Auburn 36-0 that year, so it certainly is a tall task. However, Alabama held a potent Tennessee running attack of Alvin Kamara, Jalen Hurd (still on the team at that point) and Joshua Dobbs to just 32 rushing yards. Hurd was the team’s leading rusher in the game with 28 yards. Leonard Fournette had just 35 rushing yards against Alabama earlier this season.
