- With all of the great defenses that Alabama has had under Nick Saban, last season might have been the gold standard. The Tide held opponents to 8.2 points per game, the best scoring FBS defense since Auburn in 1988 (7.2). Georgia Southern was the only opponent that scored more than 14 points against Alabama in 2011.
- The Tide allowed 12 touchdowns last season in 158 possessions, which is the lowest touchdown percentage (7.6) of any team in the last eight seasons. Three of those 12 touchdowns were scored when the defense was not on the field.
- It was virtually impossible to move the ball against Alabama last season. The Tide held opponents to 3.3 yards per play, the lowest average of any team since 2000 and they allowed just 75 plays of 10 yards or more. That is 47 fewer than any other FBS team and it was the lowest percentage (10.4) of such plays allowed by any team in the last eight seasons.
- Alabama ultimately forced a ā3 & outā on 61 of its opponentsā 158 possessions (38.6 percent), the most total possessions and the highest percentage in the FBS. In the last eight seasons, only Ohio State in 2007 (40.1) and TCU in 2009 (39.0) forced ā3 & outsā at a higher rate.
- The Tideās opponents had a combined pass efficiency of 83.7, lowest in the FBS since the 2001 Miami Hurricanes. Alabama allowed 15 completions that gained 20 yards or more--10 fewer than any other FBS team--and on throws that traveled 20 yards or more downfield, the Tide had the same number of interceptions (seven) as their opponents had completions.
[h=4]Alabama Defense
2011 Season[/h]
| FBS Rank | ||
|---|---|---|
| Yds per play | 3.3 | 1st |
| 10+ yd plays | 75 | 1st |
| ā3 & outsā | 61 | 1st |
| PPG | 8.2< | 1st |
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[TD="colspan: 3"]>Shut out LSU in Nat'l Championship Game[/TD]
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