Alabama Football Net Yards per Play in the Saban Era

Below are Saban's teams ranked in order of Net Yards/Play:

**Note: Previous seasons are full season statistics while 2021 is just a partial season.

1. 2011: +3.14
2. 2019: +3.08
3. 2018: +2.87
4. 2012: +2.77
5. 2020: +2.77
6. 2017: +2.60
7. 2016: +2.48

**NOTE: Six of the seven teams at the top played for a National Title, with the only exception being the 2019 team.

8. 2010: +2.32
9. 2013: +2.32
10. 2009: +1.88
11. 2014: +1.79
12. 2021: +1.78 (so far)
13. 2015: +1.59
14. 2008: +1.22
15. 2007: +0.05

Of the bottom 7 teams prior to this season, only 2 of the 7 played for the National Title (both actually won the title), with 5 falling short of making the title game. This year's team currently sits firmly in this group.

It's worth noting that Bama's schedule typically gets more difficult down the stretch, especially in seasons in which they play in the SEC Championship and possibly a semifinal and national title game. It's likely Bama's net yards/play will fall slightly between now and the end of the season as their schedule gets a bit more difficult.

The 2019 team was statistically the second best team under Saban, however it must be noted that that team never played in an SEC Title Game, a semi-final game, or a National Title game.... 3 games that are likely going to bring those statistics down a bit.

These stats obviously don't mean that this Bama team is incapable of winning a Championship (as proved by the 2009 and 2015 teams), however it does appear that statistically speaking, this is one of the "weaker" (obviously that's a relative term) Saban teams. It will be interesting down the stretch to see if this team goes the way of 2009 and 2015 or the way of 2010 or 2014... seasons that obviously turned out with very different outcomes.