The 1975 squad entered the season with the No.2 ranking in the AP Poll and as one of the favorites to compete for the national championship. Their championship hopes were dashed after they were upset by an unranked Missouri team in their season opener at Legion Field. Although Alabama dropped into the No.14 position prior to their second game against Clemson, they would not lose another game during the season as they climbed up the polls back into a top five position by season's end.
After their shutout over Clemson, Alabama traveled to Nashville in the first road game of the season where they defeated Vanderbilt. The Crimson Tide then returned to Birmingham and defeated Ole Miss the week before their victory over Washington in the first meeting between the schools since the 1926 Rose Bowl. They followed this with wins over Tennessee, TCU, Mississippi State, LSU and Southern Miss on homecoming in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide then closed the season with wins against Auburn in what was Ralph Jordan's final game as the Tigers' head coach and Penn State in the Sugar Bowl that ended an eight-game winless streak (0–7–1) in bowl games, and started a bowl winning streak that went six years.
As they entered their first game of the 1975 season, Alabama was ranked as the nations No.2 team prior to their Monday night game against Missouri.[4] Before a nationally televised audience, the Crimson Tide fell behind to the Tigers 20–0 at halftime and were ultimately defeated 20–7 in the first major upset of the season.[2][3][5]
Willie Shelby 1-yard run (Danny Ridgeway kick failed)
Alabama 35–0
3
Alabama
Willie Shelby 15-yard run (Danny Ridgeway kick)
Alabama 42–0
4
Alabama
John Boles 5-yard run (Danny Ridgeway kick)
Alabama 49–0
4
Alabama
Rick Watson 3-yard run (Danny Ridgeway kick)
Alabama 56–0
After their loss against Missouri, the Crimson Tide had a bye prior their game against Clemson, and entered the contest as the No.14 team prior to their game against the Tigers. At Denny Stadium, Alabama ran for 437 yards and eight touchdowns in this 56–0 shutout of Clemson.[5][6][7]
Mike Stock 8-yard pass from Richard Todd (Danny Ridgeway kick)
Alabama 10–0
2
Alabama
James Taylor 17-yard run (Danny Ridgeway kick)
Alabama 17–0
2
Alabama
Bucky Berrey 28-yard field goal
Alabama 20–0
3
Alabama
Bucky Berrey 29-yard field goal
Alabama 23–0
3
Vanderbilt
Fred Fisher 1-yard run (Mark Adams kick)
Alabama 23–7
3
Alabama
Bucky Berrey 31-yard field goal
Alabama 26–7
4
Alabama
Calvin Culliver 46-yard run (Bucky Berrey kick)
Alabama 33–7
4
Alabama
Robert Fraley 56-yard run (Bucky Berrey kick)
Alabama 40–7
After their victory over Clemson, Alabama moved into the No.11 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Vanderbilt.[10] In their first road game of the season, the Crimson Tide score on their first four possession en route to a 40–7 victory over the Commodores at Nashville.[5][8][9]
Michael Sweet 1-yard pass from Tim Ellis (2-point pass failed)
Alabama 32–6
After their victory over Vanderbilt, Alabama moved into the No.9 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Ole Miss at Legion Field.[13] Against the Rebels, the Crimson Tide scored twice in a 0:44 span early in the game en route to a 32–6 victory at Birmingham.[5][11][12]
After their victory over Ole Miss, Alabama moved into the No.7 position in the AP Poll prior to their non-conference game against Washington.[16] Playing the Huskies for the first time since the 1926 Rose Bowl, Alabama had 496 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns in this 52–0 shutout of Washington.[5][14][15]
Jerry Brown 9-yard pass from Richard Todd (Danny Ridgeway kick)
Alabama 30–7
After their blowout victory over Washington, Alabama moved into the No.6 position prior to their game against Tennessee.[19] Against the Volunteers, Richard Todd ran for three and threw for a fourth touchdown in this 30–7 victory at Legion Field.[5][17][18]
George Pugh 7-yard pass from Jeff Rutledge (Danny Ridgeway kick)
Alabama 45–0
After their victory over Tennessee, Alabama retained their No.6 position prior to their match-up against Texas Christian University (TCU) of the Southwest Conference at Legion Field.[22] Against the Horned Frogs, Alabama posted its third shutout of the season with this 45–0 victory over TCU.[5][20][21]
Harvey Hull 45-yard fumble return (Kinney Jordan kick)
7–7
2
MS State
Kinney Jordan 23-yard field goal
MS State 10–7
3
Alabama
Tyrone King 26-yard interception return (Danny Ridgeway kick)
Alabama 14–10
4
Alabama
Willie Shelby 1-yard run (Danny Ridgeway kick)
Alabama 21–10
As they entered their game against Mississippi State, Alabama retained their No.6 position in the AP Poll.[25] At Jackson, the Crimson Tide overcame a 10–7 halftime deficit and came-from-behind and defeated the Bulldogs 21–10.[5][23][24]
After their victory over Mississippi State, Alabama moved into the No.5 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against LSU.[28] With this 23–10 victory over the rival Tigers, the Crimson Tide secured the 1975 conference championship.[5][26][27]
After they clinched the conference championship with their victory over LSU, Alabama retained the No.5 position of the AP Poll prior to their game against Southern Miss.[31] On homecoming against the Golden Eagles, the Crimson Tide captured the 600th win in school history with this 27–6 win at Denny Stadium.[5][29][30]
As they entered the annual Iron Bowl, Alabama moved into the No.4 position in the AP Poll prior to their match-up at Legion Field.[34] In what was the final game ever coached by Ralph Jordan as the head coach of the Tigers, the Crimson Tide were victorious with this 28–0 shutout at Birmingham.[5][32][33]
"1975 Season Recaps"(PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original(PDF) on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
"1975 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on November 25, 2011. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
"Missouri shocks Alabama, 20–7". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Associated Press. September 9, 1975. p.B3. Retrieved August 24, 2014– via Google News Archives.
McKenzie, Mike (September 8, 1974). "Bets on Bama in opener with Missouri". The Tuscaloosa News. p.9. Retrieved August 24, 2014– via Google News Archives.
"Buckeyes, Trojans move up in poll". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. September 23, 1975. p.12. Retrieved August 24, 2014– via Google News Archives.
"Sooners stay on top, Alabama ninth". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. September 30, 1975. p.10. Retrieved August 24, 2014– via Google News Archives.
"Bama swamps Horned Frogs, 45–0". The Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. October 26, 1975. p.1B. Retrieved August 24, 2014– via Google News Archives.
Saggus, James (November 2, 1975). "Alabama beats scrappy 'Dogs". The Florence Times. Associated Press. p.22. Retrieved August 25, 2014– via Google News Archives.
Shearer, Ed (November 10, 1975). "Alabama wins another SEC crown". Daily News. Associated Press. p.9. Retrieved August 25, 2014– via Google News Archives.
"Alabama rolls over Eagles, 27–6". Palm Beach Post-Times. Associated Press. November 16, 1975. p.E6. Retrieved August 25, 2014– via Google News Archives.
"Michigan overtakes Alabama in poll". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. November 11, 1975. p.11. Retrieved August 25, 2014– via Google News Archives.
"Bama whips Auburn for SEC title, 28–0". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press International. November 30, 1975. p.D1. Retrieved August 25, 2014– via Google News Archives.
"1975 Season Roster"(PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original(PDF) on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
