Bryce Young Breaks Multiple Alabama Single-Season Passing Records
ARLINGTON, Texas — Alabama quarterback Bryce Young broke multiple single-season program passing records on Friday in the 2021 Cotton Bowl against No. 4 Cincinnati. As a sophomore, Young now owns both the Crimson Tide's single-season passing touchdown and passing yards records.
On the 11th play of Alabama's opening drive, Young completed his first pass of the game to wide receiver Slade Bolden for an 8-yard touchdown reception, giving Young his 44th passing touchdown of the season. The previous record was 43, set by Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa back in 2018.
For the passing yards record, Young entered the game just 178 yards shy of Mac Jones' 2020 record of 4,500 passing yards. In the first half, Young finished with 130 passing yards — just 48 yards short.
In the fourth quarter, Young passed Jones' passing yards record with a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cameron Latu. The touchdown pass gave Young a total of 181 passing yards, putting him at 4,503 yards on the season.
Along with winning the Heisman Trophy, being named AP Player of the Year and winning the Maxwell Award, Young is now a record holder. On top of the two program records, Young also had a record-setting day back in the SEC Championship Game — the game that he tied Tagovailoa's single-season touchdown record.
Against Georgia back on Dec. 4, Young recorded three touchdowns to tie Tagovailoa's record. Young's first two touchdowns came in the second quarter, the first being a 67-yard connection between Jameson Williams to give Alabama its first points of the game. Not only was the play the longest play of the first half, but it was also the longest play that Georgia's defense has given up all season.
Young's second touchdown was on the Crimson Tide's next drive, with Young finding John Metchie III for a 13-yard score.
Young's record-tying 43rd touchdown came on Alabama's opening drive of the second half. On the fifth play of the drive, Young found Williams once again, this time for a 55-yard strike.
Additionally, Young broke the SEC Championship Game record for most passing yards with 321 yards, breaking former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones' record of 318 yards set in 2020. In the first half of the game, Young also set the SEC Championship Game record for most yards in a first half with 286. The previous record was set by Auburn's Cam Newton with 281 passing yards back in 2010.
This story will be updated with Young's final stats through the end of the Cotton Bowl.
