A Look Back at Some Of Alabama's Shutout Victories Under Nick Saban

Since Nick Saban took over at Alabama in 2007, he has coached the Tide to 23 shutout victories. Of those 23 shutouts, 12 were against conference opponents (7 of which were rivalry games), 18 were won by a margin of 34 or more points, 1 was in a semi-final playoff game, and 1 was for a victory in the BCS National Championship. Let’s look back at some of the more impressive and memorable defensive gems the Tide defense has pitched.

The 2008 Iron Bowl, Auburn @ Alabama

Before Nick Saban’s incredible championship run at Alabama, he delivered a gift to the Crimson Tide faithful that was almost as sweet as the Championship trophy that would be lifted back to Tuscaloosa just a year later. In Saban’s second year as the head coach of Alabama, he ended the longest Alabama losing streak in the Iron Bowl’s long history by thumping Tommy Tuberville’s Auburn Tigers 36-0. The Tigers had no answer for a staunch Alabama defense that was loaded with future NFL talent. Alabama held Auburn to just 4-14 on 3rd down, 1.9 YPC on 30 carries, 170 total yards of offense, and recovered all 3 of Auburn’s fumbles on offense (Two of which were forced on Auburn’s first two drives of the 2nd half). Oh, and the Tigers only made it across midfield once during the game. Nothing short of domination.

Key Player(s) and Plays: Kareem Jackson forced a fumble recovered by Rolando McClain, and Prince Hall forced a fumble that was recovered by Rashad Johnson. Terrence Cody also recovered a fumble due to an offensive miscue.

The 2011 BCS National Championship, Alabama vs LSU in New Orleans

The 2011 Crimson Tide defense is still regarded to this day as one of the best overall units to ever play the game of college football. The roster was loaded to the brim with raw talent and incredible defensive leaders. Mark Barron, HaHa Clinton-Dix, C.J. Mosley, Dont’a Hightower, and Courtney Upshaw to name a few. It should come as no surprise that the Tide gave up just 106 total points all season, and dealt 3 shutouts during the season. None more important than the biggest rematch in the program’s history, the 2011 BCS National Championship game against LSU in New Orleans. After a heart-breaking defeat in overtime to the tune of 9-6, Alabama somehow stepped up to the challenge of being even better defensively in this larger than life rematch, holding LSU to 92 total yards of offense and zero points. Alabama even forced/recovered a fumble and intercepted LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson in this game, to further stake the claim that this is one of the best defensive performances and defensive units ever witnessed in the sport.

Key Player(s) and Plays: With 6:15 left in the 4th quarter, down 15-0 and finally past midfield, LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson was strip sacked by Dont’a Hightower and the ball was recovered by Nick Gentry. The Tide scored a touchdown shortly after, and sealed LSU’s fate in the game.



The 2015 CFB Playoff Cotton Bowl, Alabama vs Michigan State

After a disappointing end to the 2014 season, Alabama lost a lot of key players on both offense and defense. Amari Cooper, TJ Yeldon, Blake Sims, and Landon Collins were no longer there to lead their units, and there were a lot of fresh faces on both sides of the ball. Alabama seemed to have confirmed the hopes of the media and the critics that the Saban era of dominance was coming to a close after a tough loss at home to Ole Miss. But in what was nothing short of an act of sheer willpower and resiliency, Alabama went undefeated the rest of the regular season that followed and cemented their place in the College Football Playoff once again. The stage was set. The Big Ten Champion Michigan State Spartans versus the SEC Champion Crimson Tide in a semi-final playoff game on NYE. Michigan State had more than proven themselves during the regular season, with only one loss by a point on the road at Nebraska. The media and public alike couldn’t make a decisive choice on who they thought would claim victory and advance to the championship. However, the Tide had an answer. This is a game in which no matter what Michigan State tried to do offensively, it just wouldn’t work. It felt as though the Alabama defense was two steps ahead of the opposing offense at all times. Alabama blanked Michigan State 38-0, and the Spartans finished the game with just 29 total rushing yards. Veteran quarterback Connor Cook was sacked 4 times, had 4 of his passes deflected, and had two of his passes intercepted. Important to note as well that these two interceptions eliminated what would easily have been Michigan State’s best chance to score.

Key Player(s) and Plays: There were plenty of great plays made by the Alabama defense, but none more important than Cyrus Jones’ interception off a pass that was floated to the end zone with just seconds remaining in the first half. This was Michigan State’s best drive of the game, and Jones’ interception to prevent a score seemingly leeched all the energy and momentum Michigan State may have had going into the locker room. Oh, and let's not forget the absolutely insane one-handed interception that Dillon Lee had at the end of the game to close out the game.

2018 Alabama @ LSU

When a team schedules a night game in Death Valley/Baton Rouge, the next thing they do is mark it on their calendars and start preparing themselves mentally. It is the kind of environment that will eat your chances of winning alive if you make even just one simple mistake. The stadium is daunting, and the air is electric with the fury of the LSU faithful. When two rivals both already in the top 4 of the college football playoff rankings meet here in early November, the stakes are nothing short of tremendous. When the undefeated playoff hopeful Georgia Bulldogs came to town, they were met with a 36-16 beatdown at the hands of Orgeron’s Tigers, and LSU entered the playoff rankings at #3. This set the stage for what would be an epic showdown between two fierce rivals whose previous meetings can only be described as monumental battle royals in which the violence does not cease until the clock hits 00:00. But this time, the Tide defense came out with an intensity that could not be matched by the Tiger offense that had been averaging 30 points per game. On a night where the atmosphere in Death Valley would surely strike fear and reluctance in the hearts of any opposing player on the field, the LSU Tigers were shut out 29-0 by the Crimson Tide. The LSU offense mustered just 12 total rushing yards, and 196 total yards offensively. The Tide defense held the Tigers to 5-16 on 3rd down, 0.5 YPC, and had a monumental interception in the end zone to complete the shutout.

Key Player(s) and Plays: Quinnen Williams was unstoppable in this game, recording 7 solo tackles and 3.5 tackles for a loss, 2.5 of which were sacks. Christian Miller also recorded 1.5 sacks, and Mack Williams made a leaping interception off Joe Burrow in the end zone at the end of the game to make sure LSU didn’t get on the board.