1985 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1985 Alabama Crimson Tide football Southeastern Conference SEC 14 13 9–2–1 4–1–1 Ray Perkins 3rd George Henshaw 3rd Joe Kines 1st Jon Hand Thornton Chandler Bryant–Denny StadiumLegion Field Aloha Bowl champion Aloha Bowl W Won 24–3 vs. USC The 1985 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA", "Bama" or "The Tide") represented the University of Alabama in the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 93rd overall and 52nd season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Ray Perkins, in his third year, and played their home games at both Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of nine wins, two losses and one tie (9–2–1 overall, 4–1–1 in the SEC) and with a victory in the Aloha Bowl over USC. Highlights of the 1985 season included a last-second, 20–16 comeback victory on Labor Day over Georgia to open the season.The Tide Rolls with a Shula named Mike Hank Hersch http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065186/index.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20091203153454/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065186/index.htm dead December 3, 2009 Sports Illustrated SI.com September 8, 1986 February 21, 2012 The 1985 edition of the Iron Bowl against Auburn is regarded as one of Alabama's most dramatic victories in the history of the series. In the game, Alabama led 16–10 after three quarters, but saw four lead changes in the fourth quarter, including two in the final minute.1985 Game Recaps, Game No. 11 It ended with Van Tiffin's 52-yard field goal as time expired to give Alabama a 25–23 victory. Tiffin's field goal is remembered simply as "The Kick" in Alabama lore.Ken Rappaport Barry Wilmer Football Feuds: The Greatest College Football Rivalries 2007 The Lyons Press Guilford, Connecticut 978-1-59921-014-8 85–86The Week Hank Hersch http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065186/index.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20091203153454/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065186/index.htm dead December 3, 2009 Sports Illustrated SI.com December 9, 1985 February 21, 2012 Due to NCAA sanctions that led to the forfeit of Alabama's 1993 17–17 tie with Tennessee, and college football's adoption of an overtime that does not allow ties, the 14–14 tie with LSU remains the last official tie in school history.1993 will be lost season for Tide Tommy Deas NYT Regional Newspapers https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M7gfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rtcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1260%2C413740 D4 The Gadsden Times August 4, 1995 February 21, 2012Kelly Whiteside Overtime system still excites coaches https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2006-08-24-overtime_x.htm USA Today McLean, Virginia August 25, 2006 February 21, 2012 Schedule 1985 AP Central September 2 Monday 7:00 p.m. w y Georgia Sanford Stadium Athens, GA rivalry ABC 20–16 81,277 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71558733/tide-turns-on-dogs/ The Atlanta Constitution Tide turns on Dogs September 3, 1985 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com September 14 6:45 p.m. w y 20 Texas A&M Legion Field Birmingham, AL ESPN 23–10 74,697 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71558888/alabama-drops-am/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Alabama drops A&M September 15, 1985 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com September 21 1:30 p.m. w y 16 Cincinnati Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL PPV 45–10 58,714 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71558984/bama-overwhelms-bearcats/ The Cincinnati Enquirer 'Bama overwhelms Bearcats September 22, 1985 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com September 28 11:30 a.m. w y 15 Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN WTBS 40–20 41,186 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71559108/vu-errors-help-tide-roll-4020/ The Tennessean VU errors help Tide roll, 40–20 September 29, 1985 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com October 12 2:30 p.m. l y y 10 Penn State 8 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry ABC 17–19 85,444 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71559218/penn-state-rolls-1917-over-bama/ The Pittsburgh Press Penn State rolls, 19–17, over Bama October 13, 1985 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com October 19 11:30 a.m. l 15 Tennessee 20 Legion Field Birmingham, AL WTBS Third Saturday in October 14–16 75,808 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71559343/ground-kicking-games-propel-vols-past/ The Montgomery Advertiser Ground, kicking games propel Vols past Tide October 20, 1985 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com October 26 1:30 p.m. w y y Memphis State Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN PPV 28–9 37,609 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71559501/alabama-claims-a-comedy-of-errors/ The Anniston Star Alabama claims a comedy of errors October 27, 1985 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com November 2 1:30 p.m. w y Mississippi State Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL rivalry 44–28 60,210 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71559642/ The Clarion-Ledger Alabama whets SEC taste in romp over State November 3, 1985 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com November 9 2:30 p.m. t y 20 LSU 15 Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA rivalry ABC 14–14 76,772 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71559932/lsu-tigers-crimson-tide-struggle-to/ The Daily Advertiser LSU Tigers, Crimson Tide struggle to 14–14 stalemate November 10, 1985 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com November 16 1:30 p.m. w y 20 Southern Miss Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL 24–13 58,714 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71560096/usms-upset-bid-officially-doused/ Hattiesburg American USM's upset bid 'officially' doused November 17, 1985 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com November 30 2:30 p.m. w y Auburn 7 Legion Field Birmingham, AL Iron Bowl ABC 25–23 75,808 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71560236/game-winning-field-goal-is-new/ The Montgomery Advertiser Game-winning field goal is new experience for Tiffin December 1, 1985 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com December 28 7:00 p.m. w y y 13 USC Aloha Stadium Halawa, HI Aloha Bowl ISN 24–3 35,183 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71560386/crimson-tide-washes-over-usc-243/ The Honolulu Advertiser Crimson Tide washes over USC, 24–3 December 29, 1985 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com https://rolltide.com/sports/2016/6/10/sports-m-footbl-archive-m-footbl-archive-1985-html.aspx?id=193 1985 Alabama football archives RollTide.com University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics February 20, 2021 Rankings November 2025 1985 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP 0 16 NR NR 20 16 15 12 10 15 NR NR 20 20 NR NR 15 15 13 Coaches 0 16 NR 16 12 10 8 8 14 NR 20 20 NR NR NR 14 14 14 Game summaries Texas A&M Aggies 0 3 7 0 No. 20 Crimson Tide 7 3 0 13 September 14 Legion Field 74,697 ESPN yes 1 ALA Chester Braggs 2-yard run (Van Tiffin kick) ALA 7–0 2 2 2:46 A&M Eric Franklin 20-yard field goal ALA 7–3 ALA Van Tiffin 57-yard field goal ALA 10–3 3 A&M Anthony Toney 1-yard run (kick) Tied 10–10 4 3 11:15 ALA Van Kiffin 40-yard field goal ALA 13–10 ALA Van Kiffin 51-yard field goal ALA 16–10 1:07 ALA Craig Turner 32-yard run (Tiffin kick) ALA 23–10 yes 1985 Texas A&M Aggies football team ALABAMA 23, TEXAS A&M 10 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/09/15/ALABAMA-23-TEXAS-AM-10/6927495604800/ UPI Archives September 15, 1985 July 17, 2022 At LSU Alabama at LSU No. 20 Crimson Tide 7 0 0 7 No. 15 Tigers 0 0 14 0 November 9 Tiger Stadium,Baton Rouge, Louisiana 2:30 p.m. CST 76,772 Joe Hicks Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, and Tim Brant ABC Sports yes 1 7:57 BAMA Gene Jelks 34-yard run (Van Tiffin kick) Alabama 7–0 3 14:06 LSU Garry James 49-yard run (Ron Lewis kick) Tied 7–7 3 10:12 LSU Wendell Davis 67-yard pass from Jeff Wickersham (Lewis kick) LSU 14–7 4 1:23 Gene Jelks 3-yard pass to Mike Shula (Tiffin kick) Tied 14–14 yes 1985 LSU Tigers football team Vs. Auburn Crimson Tide 10 6 0 9 No. 7 Tigers 0 10 0 13 November 30 Legion Field 75,808 yes Q1 ALA Turner 1-yard run (Tiffin kick) ALA 7–0 Q1 ALA Tiffin 26-yard field goal ALA 10–0 Q2 ALA Tiffin 32-yard field goal ALA 13–0 Q2 AUB Jackson 7-yard run (Johnson kick) ALA 13–7 Q2 ALA Tiffin 42-yard field goal ALA 16–7 Q2 AUB Johnson 49-yard field goal ALA 16–10 Q4 AUB Jackson 1-yard run (Johnson kick) AUB 17–16 Q4 ALA Jelks 74-yard run (pass failed) ALA 22–17 Q4 :57 AUB Ware 1-yard run (run failed) AUB 23–22 Q4 :00 ALA Tiffin 52-yard field goal ALA 25–23 yes 1985 Auburn Tigers football team Iron Bowl Van Tiffin kicked his fourth field goal of the game, from 52 yards out, as time expired to give Alabama the Iron Bowl victory. Eugene Register-Guard. 1985 Dec 1. Retrieved 2015-Sep-18. Vs. USC (Aloha Bowl) 1985 Aloha Bowl 1985 USC Trojans football team Roster 1985 Alabama Crimson Tide f Albert Bell 1 WR Jr y Albert Bell (American football) Howard Cross 85 TE Fr y Bobby Humphrey 26 RB Fr y Gene Jelks 22 RB Fr Bennie Magee 17 WR Fr y Bennie Magee (American football) Mike Shula 11 QB Jr y Cornelius Bennett 97 LB Jr y Chris Goode 36 CB So y Chris Goode (American football) Derrick Thomas 55 LB Fr y Chris Mohr 5 P Fr y Van Tiffin 3 K Jr y *Ray Perkins References General 1986 Alabama Football Media Guide 1985 Game Recaps 1986 UA Athletics Media Relations Office Tuscaloosa, Alabama http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/85-m-footbl-recaps.pdf February 21, 2012 December 4, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131204104855/http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/85-m-footbl-recaps.pdf dead Specific Alabama Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football seasons Category:Aloha Bowl champion seasons Alabama Crimson Tide football