No. 1 Alabama struggled in the first half but found its groove in the second, scoring 40 of its 50 points, en route to its 50-17 win, its 11th of the season.

Play of the game: Alabama had just taken a 17-10 lead early in the second half when Alabama safety Deionte Thompson forced a fumble on a Citadel ball carrier. Outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings scooped the ball up and returned it 18 yards for

Offensive player of the game:

Cody Estremera: Jaylen Waddle

James Ogletree: Jaylen Waddle

Defensive player of the game:

Cody Estremera: Anfernee Jennings

James Ogletree: Anfernee Jennings

Fan players of the game:

Offense: Tua Tagovailoa

Defense: Quinnen Williams

Notes:

• Alabama’s opening drive of the game spanned eight plays and 80 yards. Tua Tagovailoa converted two third-and-longs (one with his arm and one with his legs) before finding Jaylen Waddle on a 21-yard touchdown pass.
• Following an Alabama three-and-out, The Citadel scored on a 45-yard run on the next play. It was the first scoring play has allowed since Oct. 20.
• The Crimson Tide regained the lead six minutes of game time later on a 23-yard field goal from Joseph Bulovas.
• The Citadel made a 48-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to tie the game at 10-10.
• Alabama’s Miller Forristall fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half, giving The Citadel the ball at the Alabama 31-yard line. The Bulldogs missed a 45-yard field goal that would have given Alabama its first deficit since week three at Ole Miss.
• After the missed field goal, Alabama drove 72 yards in five plays, capping the drive with a five-yard fade pass from Tagovailoa to Waddle, the freshman’s second score of the afternoon. Tagovailoa tied the Alabama record for single-season passing touchdowns (30).
• The Citadel fumbled on its next play and Anfernee Jennings returned it 18 yards for a touchdown that extended the lead to 24-10.
• Tagovailoa broke the all-time passing touchdowns record in the third quarter with a 68-yard touchdown pass to Irv Smith Jr. The tight end took a short underneath pass down the sideline and made a defender miss on his way to the end zone.
• Tagovailoa found the end zone himself on the Crimson Tide’s next drive with a one-yard QB sneak.
• Jalen Hurts entered the game in the early fourth quarter, his first action since the Tennessee game on Oct. 20. He found DeVonta Smith on a seven-yard touchdown pass, his first passing touchdown since Sept. 29.
• One play earlier, Damien Harris broke off a 73-yard run but laid on the ground for a couple minutes afterward. He went to the locker room for the remainder of the game.
• Alabama missed two extra points during the game, the ninth and tenth misses this season on PATs or field goals under 30 yards.
• The Citadel finished with 274 rushing yards, the most Alabama has allowed since the January 2015 Sugar Bowl against Ohio State (281).