No. 8 Michigan •
Sources: On October 14, 2010, officials from both Alabama and the
University of Michigan announced the Crimson Tide and
Wolverines would meet to open the 2012 season in the
Cowboys Classic at
Arlington,
Texas. In the game, Alabama took a 21–0 first quarter lead and defeated the Wolverines 41–14 to open the season. Michigan won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half, and Alabama opened play with a
three-and-out. Michigan was then held to only one first down before they
punted on their first possession. On the drive that ensued, Alabama's mix of
play-action passes and
rushes ended with a two-yard touchdown reception by Michael Williams from
A. J. McCarron for a 7–0 lead. After the Crimson Tide defense again forced a Wolverine punt, on Alabama's next drive, McCarron connected with DeAndrew White for a 51-yard touchdown reception and a 14–0 lead. On third down,
Eddie Lacy rushed nine yards into the end zone for a touchdown and a 21–0 lead at the end of the first quarter. However, McCarron was
sacked for a 16-yard loss and as a result, Cade Foster later missed a 52-yard field goal wide left. For their individual performances, Yeldon was named SEC Co-Freshman of the Week and Milliner was named both SEC and Walter Camp Foundation Defensive Player of the Week. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Wolverines to 2–2. In the home opener for the 2012 season, Alabama shut out the
Hilltoppers of
Western Kentucky University (WKU) 35–0. To open the game, Alabama scored on a 14-yard
A. J. McCarron touchdown pass to Christion Jones that capped a four-play, 72-yard drive. However, the Crimson Tide was unable to capitalize on the turnover after McCarron was
sacked twice and were forced to
punt. Late in the game, backup running back Jalston Fowler suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Hilltoppers to 2–0.
Arkansas •
Sources: In their first road game of the season at their opponents' home stadium, Alabama began conference play against the
Arkansas Razorbacks at
Fayetteville. During Arkansas's previous game against
Louisiana–Monroe, the Razorbacks' starting quarterback
Tyler Wilson suffered a
concussion and as a result was not cleared by team doctors to play against Alabama. With Wilson out,
redshirt freshman Brandon Allen made his first start at quarterback and the Crimson Tide had their second consecutive shutout in their 52–0 victory over Arkansas. After each team traded
punts on their first possessions, Arkansas
long snapper Will Coleman
snapped the ball over the head of
punter Dylan Breeding that gave Alabama possession at the Razorbacks' six-yard line. On the next play,
Eddie Lacy scored on a six-yard run for a 7–0 Crimson Tide lead. The final touchdown of the game was set up late in the game after Knile Davis lost his second fumble of the game on a Jeoffrey Pagan tackle that was recovered by Denzel Devall. Two plays later, backup quarterback Blake Sims made the final score 52–0 with his 27-yard
quarterback sneak for a touchdown. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Razorbacks to 13–8 (16–7 without NCAA vacations and forfeits).
Florida Atlantic •
Sources: In their fourth game of the 2012 season, Alabama defeated the
Florida Atlantic Owls in their first all-time meeting by a final score of 40–7. The Crimson Tide scored on the third play of their first offensive possession when
A. J. McCarron connected with Kenny Bell for an 85-yard touchdown pass and an early 7–0 lead. After the Alabama defense held the Owls to a
three-and-out on their first possession, the Crimson Tide took a 14–0 lead on their drive that ensued when McCarron threw a four-yard touchdown pass to DeAndrew White. As such, late in the fourth quarter the Crimson Tide shutout streak that stretched back to the third quarter of their week one victory over Michigan ended when the Owls' Graham Wilbert threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Alex Deleon that made the final score 40–7. The late FAU touchdown ended the Alabama shutout streak at 192:25 minutes that stretched back to the 0:14 mark of the third quarter in their game against Michigan. Alabama played their first home conference game in their annual
rivalry game, against the
Ole Miss Rebels at Tuscaloosa. In the game, 21 second quarter points after the Rebels' briefly held a lead resulted in the 33–14 Crimson Tide victory. After each team traded
punts on their first possessions, Jeremy Shelley connected on the first of four
field goals from 38 yards out to give the Crimson Tide an early 3–0 lead. After Shelley made his second 38-yard field goal to extend the Alabama lead to 6–0, Ole Miss responded with a 13-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with a one-yard Jeff Scott touchdown run that gave the Rebels a 7–6 lead early in the second quarter. On the Rebels' next possession,
Bo Wallace threw an
interception to
Dee Milliner, and four plays later
A. J. McCarron threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to
Amari Cooper that extended the Alabama lead to 20–7. Starting wide receiver DeAndrew White and backup running back
Demetrius Hart both suffered knee injuries during the course of the game that sidelined both of them for the remainder of the season. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Rebels to 46–9–2 (50–8–2 without NCAA vacations and forfeits).
Missouri •
Sources: In what was their first meeting since Alabama defeated the
Tigers 38–28 during the
1978 season, and their first as conference foes, Alabama won 42–10 at
Missouri on a stormy afternoon. The Crimson Tide opened the scoring on their second offensive play when
Eddie Lacy had a 73-yard touchdown run for an early 7–0 Alabama lead. After each team traded
punts,
Vinnie Sunseri intercepted a Corbin Berkstresser pass that set up Alabama's second scoring drive from the 50-yard line.
A. J. McCarron first had a 44-yard completion to Kenny Bell, and then Lacy scored his second touchdown of the afternoon on a three-yard run two plays later for a 14–0 lead. The third Crimson Tide touchdown of the first quarter was set up after
Landon Collins blocked a Trey Barrow punt that was recovered at the Missouri 17-yard line. Three
T. J. Yeldon runs later, Alabama led 21–0.
Tennessee •
Sources: In their annual
rivalry game, Alabama defeated the
Tennessee Volunteers at Knoxville 44–13 for their sixth consecutive victory in the series. After the teams traded
punts to open the game, Alabama scored their first touchdown on their second possession on a 23-yard
A. J. McCarron pass to
Amari Cooper. The Volunteers responded on the drive that ensued with a 32-yard Michael Palardy
field goal that cut the Crimson Tide lead to 7–3. Yeldon also had his third 100-yard rushing game of the season with his 129 yards on 15 carries and 2 touchdowns.
No. 13 Mississippi State •
Sources: In their annual
rivalry game, Alabama defeated the
Mississippi State Bulldogs at Tuscaloosa on
homecoming 38–7. The Crimson Tide led 21–0 early in the second quarter after they scored touchdowns on their first three offensive possessions. They opened the game with a 41-yard Cyrus Jones
kickoff return that set up a 59-yard drive that ended with an 11-yard
T. J. Yeldon touchdown run.
No. 5 LSU •
Sources: In their annual
rivalry game, Alabama trailed the
LSU Tigers 17–14 with only 1:34 remaining in the game. The Crimson Tide then went on a five-play, 72-yard drive, capped by a 28-yard
A. J. McCarron touchdown pass to
T. J. Yeldon with only 0:51 left, and defeated LSU 21–17 at Baton Rouge. After each team traded
punts on their first possessions, LSU took a 3–0 first quarter lead when Drew Alleman connected on a 38-yard
field goal. After each team again traded punts, Alabama scored the first touchdown of the game early in the second quarter. A seven-yard
Eddie Lacy touchdown run completed an 11-play, 92-yard drive and gave the Crimson Tide a 7–3 lead. After another Alabama punt and a missed 54-yard Alleman field goal, the Crimson Tide took a 14–3 halftime lead on a nine-yard McCarron touchdown run with only 0:11 left in the half. After a pair of short passes, the game ended when Mettenberger was
sacked by Damion Square as time expired. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Tigers to 47–25–5.
No. 15 Texas A&M •
Sources: In their first meeting as conference foes, Alabama was
upset by the
Texas A&M Aggies in Tuscaloosa 29–24. After the Crimson Tide opened with a
three-and-out, A&M scored on their first possession, aided by a 29-yard run by quarterback
Johnny Manziel, on a one-yard
Christine Michael touchdown run for a 7–0 lead. On their next possession, the tide reached their own- 48, but
A. J. McCarron threw his first
interception of the season to Sean Porter. Four plays later the Aggies led 14–0 after Manziel nearly fumbled, rolled out and found Ryan Swope wide open for a 10-yard touchdown pass.
Western Carolina •
Sources: In the final non-conference game the 2012 season, Alabama shut out the
Western Carolina Catamounts 49–0 in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide scored three touchdowns in each of the first two quarters and took a 42–0 halftime lead. Alabama took the opening possession 62 yards in six plays and
Eddie Lacy scored the first touchdown on a seven-yard run for a 7–0 lead. After the defense held the Catamounts to a
three-and-out,
T. J. Yeldon scored the second Crimson Tide touchdown on a three-yard run for a 14–0 lead.
Auburn •
Sources: In the 2012 edition of the
Iron Bowl, Alabama shut out the
Auburn Tigers 49–0 at Tuscaloosa. After the Alabama defense held Auburn to a
three-and-out on their first possession, their offense responded with their second touchdown of the afternoon on a two-yard
T. J. Yeldon touchdown run for a 14–0 lead. On the Auburn possession that ensued, the Alabama defense collected their first turnover of the game when
Robert Lester intercepted a Jonathan Wallace pass at the Tigers' 29-yard line.
No. 3 Georgia •
Sources: With their victory over Auburn in the
Iron Bowl, Alabama clinched the SEC Western Division championship and qualified to play
Georgia in the
2012 SEC Championship Game where they defeated the
Bulldogs 32–28. After each team traded
punts on their opening possessions, Christian Robinson recovered an
A. J. McCarron fumble for the Bulldogs and gave Georgia possession at the Alabama 40-yard line. The Crimson Tide defense then held the Bulldogs to a 50-yard
field goal attempt that was missed by Marshall Morgan that kept the game scoreless. In the game Lacy rushed for 181 yards and Yeldon rushed for 153 yards and Lacy was named the SEC Championship Game MVP for his performance. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Bulldogs to 37–25–4.
No. 1 Notre Dame •
Sources: With their victory over Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, Alabama qualified for the
2013 BCS National Championship Game, and against
Notre Dame the Crimson Tide captured their third BCS Championship in four years with a 42–14 victory over the
Fighting Irish. After Notre Dame won the
coin toss and elected to defer until the second half, Alabama took their opening possession 82 yards in five plays and
Eddie Lacy gave the Crimson Tide an early 7–0 lead with his 20-yard touchdown run. On the first Irish possession that followed, the Crimson Tide held them to a
three-and-out and forced a
punt. The kick was subsequently
fumbled by Christion Jones and recovered by Notre Dame; however, a kick catching interference penalty was called against the Irish and gave back possession to Alabama. The Crimson Tide then drove 97 yards in ten plays that ended with a 34-yard McCarron touchdown pass to
Amari Cooper that extended their lead to 35–0. Cooper also set the single season record for touchdown receptions in a season after he caught a pair to give him 11 for the season and surpassed the previous record of 10 caught by
Al Lary in
1955. ==Rankings==