▁rec ruit ing ▁class , ▁the ▁C rim son ▁T ide ▁opened ▁the ▁season ▁in ▁the ▁No .   1 ▁position ▁in ▁the ▁pol ls . ▁Alabama ▁then ▁won ▁their ▁first ▁eleven ▁games ▁and ▁retained ▁their ▁un anim ous ▁No .   1 ▁ranking ▁throughout . ▁The ▁C rim son ▁T ide ▁opened ▁the ▁season ▁with ▁a ▁victory ▁over ▁Virginia ▁Te ch ▁in ▁the ▁Ch ick - fil - A ▁K ick off ▁Game ▁at ▁Atlanta . ▁After ▁their ▁first ▁by e ▁week ▁Alabama ▁tra ve led ▁to ▁K yle ▁Field ▁where ▁they ▁defeated ▁Texas ▁A & M ▁in ▁a ▁ 4 9 – 4 2 ▁shoot out ▁that ▁saw ▁the ▁A gg ies ▁have ▁the ▁best ▁off ensive ▁day ▁against ▁a ▁C rim son ▁T ide ▁defense ▁in ▁the ▁history ▁of ▁the ▁program . ▁ ▁The ▁defense ▁respond ed ▁after ▁the ▁A & M ▁game ▁and ▁did ▁not ▁allow ▁a ▁touch down ▁over ▁the ▁next ▁ 1 4 - quarters ▁in ▁vict ories ▁over ▁Colorado ▁State , ▁Ole ▁Miss , ▁Georgia ▁State ▁and ▁Kentucky . ▁After ▁the ▁touch down - free ▁stre ak ▁ended , ▁started ▁a ▁three - game ▁hom est and ▁that ▁saw ▁Alabama ▁shut out ▁Ark ansas ▁and ▁defeat ▁both ▁Tennessee ▁and ▁L SU ▁in ▁back - to - back ▁rival ry ▁games . ▁They ▁next ▁defeated ▁Mississippi ▁State ▁and ▁Ch att ano oga ▁that ▁set ▁up ▁a ▁top ▁five ▁match up ▁against ▁A ub urn . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁Iron ▁Bowl , ▁Alabama ▁k icker ▁Adam ▁Griff ith