Notebook: Nick Saban Picks Up 200th Win at Alabama

Saban's milestone win in Tuscaloosa came in an unexpected nail-biter against Arkansas at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — After six National Championships, eight SEC Championships, four Heisman Trophy Winners, and countless other milestones, Nick Saban won his 200th game at Alabama on Saturday afternoon.

The win came in a 24-21 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks, a team that has taken multiple SEC West teams to the brink this season and did it again with a heroic second-half comeback that fell just short. 

"Hopefully we can learn how to beat the other team. Not just win the game, but beat the other team," Saban said after the game. "I always get asked what the halftime message was, but this one is obviously not worth repeating."

Reichard hitting milestones

Saban wasn't the only member of the Crimson Tide program to hit a significant milestone on Saturday. Kicker Will Reichard moved into first place on the SEC all-time scoring list, passing former Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson with 489 career points.

Reichard has yet to miss a kick on the season, and is climbing the NCAA all-time scoring leaderboard by the week. Reichard needs 44 more points to tie the all-time NCAA record.

Penalties down, but still a factor

One week after committing 14 penalties on the road against Texas A&M, the Crimson Tide cut its penalty number significantly, only being flagged five times against Arkansas. 

Despite the low number, though, Alabama had some costly penalties that kept Arkansas in the game much longer than Saban and the team would have liked. Included in those were a facemask and a pass interference on the same drive that gave the Razorbacks 30 yards on the way to their first touchdown of the game.

The low number of penalties is a positive sign, but Alabama still needs to limit handing the other team yards in difficult spots that allow for drives to continue. 

Run game features new faces

Alabama went into the Arkansas game averaging just 143 rushing yards per game, which if it continued, would be the lowest mark of the Saban era.

On Saturday, the Crimson Tide amassed 177 yards on the ground and featured two running backs that haven't seen the field much this season. 

The mainstays in Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams both had solid games, racking up 83 and 68 yards respectively, but sophomore Jam Miller and freshman Justice Haynes were also given opportunities to make plays. 

Miller ran for 40 yards on just four carries and Haynes carried the ball twice for 11 yards.

Tide-bits

• Jalen Milroe's 79-yard touchdown pass to Kobe Prentice was Prentice's first touchdown of the season.

• Alabama's defense once again got after the quarterback, sacking Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson four times in the game. 

• Even with the absence of Malachi Moore from the secondary, the Alabama defense held Jefferson to just 150 yards passing. 

• Wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks' 25-yard catch in the first half increased his season yardage total sixfold. Brooks had just two catches for five yards on the season entering the game, after nearly leading the team in receiving a year ago.

• Nick Saban still has not lost to Arkansas since coming to Alabama, extending the Crimson Tide's win streak over the Razorbacks to 17 games.

• Alabama's captains for the game were Chris Braswell, Deontae Lawson and Robbie Ouzts.

• The game's officiating crew consisted of Scott Walker (referee), Tom Quick (umpire), Gary Jayroe (head linesman), Chad Lorance (line judge), Matt Hollifield (back judge), Philip Davenport (field judge), Victor Sanchez (side judge), and Mike Block (center judge).

Alabama Survives Scare Against Arkansas