ARLINGTON, Texas — Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is now the single-season record holder in Tuscaloosa for touchdown passes and passing yards in a single season after setting both records during the 27-6 Cotton Bowl win vs. No. 4 Cincinnati. Young surpassed Tua Tagovailoa’s previous record of 43 passing touchdowns in the first quarter when he hit Slade Bolden from eight yards out on the first drive of the game to give the top-ranked Crimson Tide a 7-0 lead over the Bearcats.
It took Tagovailoa 15 games to accumulate those 43 touchdown passes in 2018, which saw the Crimson Tide fall to Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Young, however, was able to break the record in 14 games despite a more run-based attack vs. the Bearcats. Here’s a look at the record-breaking toss — the only one Young attempted on the opening drive.
But Young wasn’t finished. The sensational QB then broke the Alabama single-season passing yardage record in the fourth quarter, eclipsing the 4,500 mark set by Mac Jones last year. Young entered the game with 4,322 yards and hit Cameron Latu for a nine-yard touchdown to push his single-season total to 4,503 yards early in the fourth quarter.
Young became the first Alabama quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy when he hoisted the most prestigious individual award in college football on Dec. 11.