AT&T Stadium was built in 2009 for the Dallas Cowboys and was supposed to grow into a major home field advantage. The stadium has been anything but, though. The Cowboys have a record of just 27-28 at home.
The NFL team has won more road games than home games since the opening its AT&T Stadium. Many visitors, however, have made it into more of an advantage than the Cowboys have. The Crimson Tide has a better record in the stadium than its owners.
Alabama has played three games at AT&T Stadium and won them all decisively. The Crimson Tide has played Michigan, Wisconsin and Michigan State so far in the Arlington, Texas, stadium. It heads back Saturday, though, to open its season against Southern California.
Michigan was the first victim of the Crimson Tide in Arlington back in 2012 when Alabama was just coming off its 2011 National Championship season. The Big 10 university didn’t stand a chance, losing 41-14.
The Crimson Tide out gained the Wolverines by 162 yards, mostly because of its running game. Alabama out -rushed Michigan by 163 yards. Former Crimson Tide running back T.J. Yeldon rushed for 111 yards, while former quarterback AJ McCarron threw for 199 yards.
Former Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson was the only bright spot for the Wolverines. He threw for 200 yards and scored two touchdowns, one throwing and one rushing.
Wisconsin was the next to fall in the AT&T Stadium at the start of the 2015 season. The Crimson Tide defeated the Badgers, 35-17.
Once again, Alabama out-gained its opponent, this time by 234 yards with the running game playing a its usual, prominent role. Alabama almost out-rushed Wisconsin by 200 yards, with future Heisman winner Derrick Henry leading the way. Henry, who left the Crimson Tide in 2016 for the NFL, rushed for 147 yards, while former Alabama quarterback Jake Coker threw for 213 yards.
Former Wisconsin wide receiver Alex Erickson finished with almost 100 total yards, specifically 25 rushing and 73 receiving. He scored one of the two touchdowns.
Finally, the Crimson Tide played Michigan State in the first round of last year’s college football playoffs. The Crimson Tide shut out the Spartans, 38-0. Alabama once again dominated its opponent in rushing, this time by 125 yards. Coker, however, stole the show, throwing for 286 yards.
Alabama’s defense took over the game from the start. Former defensive back Cyrus Jones led the defense with an interception, and he scored a special teams touchdown as Alabama’s leading punt returner.
The Crimson Tide return to its growing second home to start its season against USC on Saturday.
