TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 5/5 Alabama football team began the 2024 season in style, as head coach Kalen DeBoer earned his first victory in his Crimson Tide debut following a 63-0 win over Western Kentucky Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Alabama produced 600 yards of total offense in its first showing of the season while limiting Western Kentucky to just 145 total yards. Quarterback Jalen Milroe needed just seven completions on nine attempts to notch 200 yards through the air, including three touchdowns. He added two rushing scores to his ledger as well, accounting for five total touchdowns in the win. Freshman wide received Ryan Williams’ first two catches as a member of the Crimson Tide both found the endzone with the freshmen totaling 139 yards in his first collegiate game. Kendrick Law’s lone reception resulted in a 22-yard touchdown.
Justice Haynes led Alabama with 102 yards on four carries, highlighted by an 85-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. After the starters were pulled midway through the third quarter, running back Daniel Hill and quarterback Ty Simpson each provided rushing touchdowns late in the ballgame.
Defensively, Keon Sabb shined in his initial Alabama appearance, nabbing two first half interceptions. Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell led Alabama with nine total tackles, while Que Robinson notched the Crimson Tide’s only sack.
Notes
- 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.
- The Crimson Tide improved to 84-11-2 (.885) all-time across 97 total home-opening games.
- Alabama has now reeled off 23-consecutive home-opening victories, a streak that began in 2002.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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 100+ receiving yards since Jermaine Burton on Nov. 25, 2023 versus Auburn.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- The Tide had not posted a defensive shutout since Nov. 19, 2022, when Alabama defeated Austin Peay 34-0.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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).
How It Happened
First Quarter
- 10:07 – UA | Jalen Milroe was responsible for the first Crimson Tide touchdown of 2024, taking a designed QB run through the middle of the Hilltoppers defense for a 12-yard rushing score. The drive was a quick 2-play, 16-yard scoring drive, set up by Keon Sabb’s first Alabama interception (7-0, Alabama).
- 5:01 – UA | Milroe evaded interior pressure, escaping to his left before finding Kendrick Law for a 22-yard touchdown reception. The three-play, 26-yard drive was made possible by Sabb’s second interception of the game, returning the pick 64 yards. (14-0, Alabama).
- 2:27 – UA | Facing a third down and 13 at his own 16-yard line, Milroe found an uncovered Ryan Williams for an 84-yard touchdown. The drive needed just three plays, totaling 81 yards. (21-0, Alabama).
Second Quarter
- 12:35 – UA | Jam Miller found the endzone for the first time in 2024, scampering 39-yards down the right sideline to extend the Crimson Tide lead. The rushing score was bookended by Milroe’s 40-yard carry the play before, equating to a two-play, 80-yard scoring drive (28-0, Alabama).
- 2:53 – UA | Justice Haynes’ first touchdown of the new season went for 85 yards, taking the inside handoff untouched for the score. The drive needed just two plays to cover 96 yards (35-0, Alabama).
- 1:30 – UA | Milroe again found Williams for another lengthy touchdown, as the freshman broke a tackle in the middle of the field en route to a 55-yard receiving score. The touchdown just before halftime needed just two plays, going for 55 yards (42-0 Alabama)
Third Quarter
- 6:30 – UA | Milroe used his legs yet again, evading defenders for a 21-yard rushing touchdown to finalize a nine-play, 61-yard drive (49-0, Alabama).
- 2:51 – UA | Daniel Hill became the second freshman to score in his collegiate debut, churning his legs for a two-yard rushing touchdown. The scoring drive accounted for 51 yards on six plays (56-0, Alabama).
Fourth Quarter
- 10:04 – UA | Keeping the football on the read option, Ty Simpson punctuated a 10-play, 63-yard drive with a 15-yard rushing score (63-0, Alabama).
Up Next
- Alabama will return to Bryant-Denny Stadium for a matchup with USF next Saturday, Sept. 7.
- The Crimson Tide and Bulls are scheduled for a 6 p.m. CT kickoff on ESPN.