⚡ CFB Dashboard

Statistical rankings this early in the season are always a little tricky. How do you compare what one team has done against multiple SEC opponents -- like Kentucky against Alabama and at Texas A&M -- against what another team has done against no SEC opponents, like Vanderbilt or Missouri? Some SEC teams have already played an FCS opponent. Some, like Alabama, wait until late in the season. It's a jumbled picture statistically, and Alabama is near the middle of the pack in strength of schedule to this point (51st-hardest, according to ESPN). How difficult its first three games were against Florida State, Kentucky and East Carolina will evolve over the season. Last year, the Tide's opening three games against Florida State (5-7), ULM (3-9) and Wisconsin (4-8) were not particularly difficult. But it's still worth taking a look at how Alabama's first three games in 2026 compare to 2025, and where the Tide stands in the national picture to this point. Here are 10 statistical trends of note through the first quarter of the season: 1. Alabama rushers have avoided 31 tackles on 125 rushes, according to Pro Football Focus. That's more than double the first three games of last season, when Alabama players avoided 14 tackles on 87 rushes. Kalen DeBoer said Wednesday night that the team's internal tracking also has seen an uptick in that category. Alabama is tied for the 29th-most avoided tackles this season after it ranked 115th through three games last season. 2. Alabama running backs have been stopped for negative or zero yards 14 times, which is tied for 27th-most in the country and double the number for the team at this point last season. Alabama backs (and the offensive line) did a better job avoiding lost yardage through three games last season, when Tide running backs were stopped for negative or no yards only seven times -- tied for seventh-fewest in the country. The distribution of negative runs this season has been fairly even, with Daniel Hill, EJ Crowell and Trae'shawn Brown all having at least three each. 3. Alabama running backs have gained 15 or more yards eight times, which is tied for 18th-most in the country and four times the number for the team at this point last season. Alabama backs had only two runs of 15 or more yards through the first three games last season, which was 111th in the nation. 4. Alabama running backs are averaging 5.6 yards per carry on first and second downs that are not goal-to-situations. In other words, these are normal running situations. That ranks 59th in the nation. At this point last season, Alabama running backs were averaging 4.4 yards per carry on first and second downs that were not goal-to-go situations. That ranked 109th. 5. Overall, Alabama running backs are averaging 5.3 yards per carry, which ranks 60th. Last season, Tide running backs averaged 4.9 yards per carry through three games, which ranked 87th. 6. Alabama running backs are averaging 3.4 yards per carry in the first half, which ranks 123rd in the nation, and 6.6 yards per carry in the second half, which ranks 31st in the country. Through the first three games last season, Alabama backs averaged 4.0 yards in the first half (109th) and 6.0 in the second half (48th). 7. Keelon Russell has either been sacked or ran for negative or zero yards eight times. That excludes kneel-downs and is 51st-most in the nation. It's about the same as last season, when Ty Simpson had seven sacks or lost/zero yardage runs through three games. 8. Russell has run seven times for 10 or more yards, which is tied for 23rd-most in the country among team quarterback runs. Ty Simpson had one run for 10-plus yards through three games last season. Two years ago, Jalen Milroe had 11 runs of 10-plus yards through the first three games, including five touchdowns. 9. Alabama has 11 rushing touchdowns through three games, which is tied for fourth-most in the nation. The Tide had four at this point last season, which was tied for 80th. Alabama had 13 rushing touchdowns in its first three games in 2024. 10. Alabama has four passing touchdowns, which is tied for 81st in the nation and the fewest for the Tide through three games since 2011. Last season, Alabama had 13 passing touchdowns through three games, second-most in the nation. Two years ago, Alabama had eight through three games. 11. Russell has a 157.1 passing efficiency rating, which is 43rd among quarterbacks with at least 15 pass attempts per game and the lowest for an Alabama starting quarterback through three games since Jalen Hurts in 2016 (136.5). Through three games last season, Simpson ranked eighth nationally with a 186.6 rating. Milroe ranked third in the nation through the first three games in 2024 with a 213.4 rating. 12. Russell's 68.7% completion percentage ranks 41st nationally among quarterbacks with at least 14 pass attempts per game and his 9.2 yards per attempt rank 25th. Through three games last season, Simpson ranked 17th (71.9%) and 12th (9.7). Through three games in 2024, Milroe ranked 34th (67.3%) and 5th (11.3). 13. Devan Thompkins' three sacks are tied for 10th nationally and are the most for an Alabama player through three games since Que Robinson's 3.0 in 2024. No Alabama player had more than one sack through three games last season. 14. Alabama's 10 sacks as a team are tied for 10th nationally, which is the program's most through three games since 10 in 2016. Alabama had four sacks through three games last season, which ranked 100th. 15. Opposing running backs are averaging 3.3 yards per carry against Alabama, which is 20th-lowest in the nation. Through three games last season, opponents' running backs averaged 4.1 yards per carry (58th). It was 3.8 (35th) through the first three games of 2024. 16. Alabama is allowing opponents to convert 30% of third downs, which is tied for 16th-lowest in the country. Last year through three games, the Tide was allowing 43.8% opponent conversions, which ranked 59th. 17. Alabama has forced seven opponent turnovers, which is tied for fifth-most in the nation. Alabama had six turnovers through three games last season, which was 13th. 18. Opposing quarterbacks have a 133.2 passing efficiency rating, which ranks 90th in the nation for Alabama's defense. Last season through three games, opposing quarterbacks had a 111.3 efficiency rating, which was 40th-best in the nation for Alabama. 19. Opposing quarterbacks are averaging 8.5 yards per pass attempt, which is 121st in the nation for Alabama. Last season through three games it was 6.6, or 63rd. 20. Alabama has allowed opponents to score touchdowns on 7 of 8 red zone trips, or 87.5%. That ranks 128th in the nation. Last season, opponents scored touchdowns on all three of their red zone trips in the first three games -- a 100% rate that was naturally last in the nation. 21. Alabama has been called for an average of seven penalties per game, which is tied with several teams as 77th in the country. However, Alabama's 43.0 penalty yards per game ranks 29th. Last season, Alabama was called for 6.67 penalties per game through three games for 60.67 yards per game. 22. Alabama is one of 46 teams to be perfect on field goals this season, as Conor Talty is 8-for-8. Clemson's Nolan Hauser (9-for-9) is the only other kicker with eight makes so far this season. Talty last season began 3-of-4 through three games, missing a 53-yarder. His longest attempt this season is 45 yards. 23. Alabama ranks 38th nationally in achieving touchbacks on 82.1% of kickoffs, or 23 of the first 28. Last season through three games, the Tide ranked 91st with 47.8% of its kickoffs as touchbacks through three games. 24. Alabama ranks No. 1 in the nation with 48.6 net yards per punt. Last season, the Tide ranked 42nd through three games with 42.4 net yards per punt. Alabama's five punts this season are tied for the fourth-fewest in the nation.