1959 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

To open the 1959 season, Fran Tarkenton led the Georgia Bulldogs to a 17–3 victory over the Crimson Tide at Athens.[13][14][15] The Bulldogs took an early 3–0 lead after Durward Pennington connected on a 35-yard field goal in the first quarter.[13][14] Georgia then extended their lead further to 10–0 at halftime on a 40-yard Bill Godfrey touchdown run in the second quarter.[13][14] After Alabama responded with their only points in the third on a 23-yard Fred Sington, Jr. field goal, Tarkenton scored on a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that made the final score 17–3.[13][14] The 17 points scored were the most allowed by a Bryant led defense to that point, and the Georgia win marked their first in an opening game since their 1954 season.[14] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Georgia to 23–18–4.[16]

A week after they opened the season with a loss at Georgia, the Crimson Tide shutout the Houston Cougars 3–0 in the first all-time meeting between the schools.[15][17][18] On a rainy evening, the only points scored came in the third quarter on a 25-yard Fred Sington, Jr. field goal.[17] In the game, the Crimson Tide defense had three interceptions, but was also penalized eight times for 99-yards in the victory.[17]

For the third time in as many seasons, the Crimson Tide played the Vanderbilt Commodores to a tie, this time by a 7–7 margin in Nashville.[15][19][20] After a scoreless first quarter, the Commodores took a 7–0 halftime lead after Tom Moore scored on a short touchdown run in the second quarter.[19][20] Alabama tied the game early in the fourth quarter on a short Pat Trammell touchdown run, Russell Morris missed a 37-yard field goal attempt later in the quarter and the game ended tied 7–7.[19][20] The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 18–16–4.[21]

In rainy conditions for the first home game of the 1959 season, the Crimson Tide shutout the Chattanooga Mocs 13–0 in Tuscaloosa.[15][22][23] Alabama took a 7–0 first quarter lead when Robert Skelton scored on an 18-yard touchdown run.[22][23] Pat Trammell then scored the second touchdown of the game in the third on a 54-yard run that made the score 13–0.[22][23] For the game, Trammell rushed for 106 yards on 17 carries to lead the Crimson Tide.[23] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Chattanooga to 8–0.[24]

In their annual rivalry game against Tennessee, Alabama played the No. 14 Volunteers to a 7–7 tie in Birmingham.[15][25][26] Tennessee took an early 7–0 lead in the first quarter. Bill Majors scored on a two-yard touchdown run that capped a nine-play, 45-yard drive.[25][26] The Crimson Tide responded in the second quarter when Pat Trammell threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Stanley Bell that tied the score 7–7.[25][26] The only other scoring opportunity came late in the fourth quarter, and after Frank Sington, Jr. missed an eight-yard field goal for Alabama, the game ended in a 7–7 tie.[25][26] The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 18–18–6.[27]

On homecoming in Tuscaloosa, Alabama shutout the Mississippi State Maroons 10–0 and secured their first conference victory of the 1959 season.[15][28][29] After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama took a 3–0 halftime lead after Fred Sington, Jr. connected on a 25-yard field goal.[28][29] They then extended their lead to 10–0 in the third quarter when Bobby Skelton threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Stanley Bell.[28][29] The Crimson Tide defense was dominant in the victory as they had four interceptions for the game.[28] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State to 31–10–3.[30]

In their annual home game at Ladd Stadium in Mobile, the Crimson Tide overcame five turnovers and defeated the Tulane Green Wave 19–7.[15][31][32] After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama took a 7–0 lead after Marlin Dyess scored on a four-yard touchdown run.[31][32] The Greenies responded later in the quarter with a 10-yard Phil Nugent touchdown pass to Pete Abadie that tied the game 7–7 at halftime.[31][32] The Crimson Tide then scored a pair of second half touchdowns. The first came in the third quarter on a 22-yard Bobby Skelton pass to Tommy Brooker and the second in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard W. E. Richardson run.[31][32] The win was both the 100th Southeastern Conference victory in the history of the Alabama program and the 100th victory for Bryant as a head coach.[31] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Tulane to 18–10–2.[33]

Behind a 43-yard game-winning Fred Sington, Jr. field goal, the Crimson Tide upset the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 9–7 at Legion Field.[15][34][35] Tech took an early 7–0 after Gary O'Steen fumbled the opening kickoff that gave the Yellow Jackets possession at the Alabama 27-yard line. Six plays later Marvin Tibbetts scored on a two-yard run.[34][35] Alabama's only touchdown drive was set up on their next possession after Tech fumbled a punt that was recovered by W. E. Richardson at their 49-yard line. Eight plays later, Marlin Dyess scored on a 10-yard run, but Bryant then elected to go for a two-point conversion that was unsuccessful and the Jackets led 7–6.[34][35] What proved to be the game-winning field goal came on a 43-yard Sington kick in the second quarter that made the score 9–7.[34][35] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 20–18–3.[36]

After their upset victory over Georgia Tech, the Crimson Tide entered the polls for the first time since the 1954 season in the No. 17 position.[39] Down 7–0 at halftime to underdog Memphis State, the Crimson Tide rallied with a pair of second half touchdowns and defeated the Tigers 14–7 at Denny Stadium.[15][37][38] After a scoreless first quarter, Memphis took a 7–0 lead after Jimmy Wright scored on a one-yard touchdown run that capped an 84-yard drive.[37][38] Alabama then took an 8–7 lead in the third quarter when W. E. Richardson scored on a fourth-and-three touchdown run followed it with a successful two-point conversion.[37][38] Mal Moore then threw a four-yard touchdown pass to William Rice in the fourth quarter that made the final score 14–7.[37][38] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Memphis State to 2–0.[40]

As they entered their season finale against No. 11 Auburn, the Crimson Tide dropped two spots to the No. 19 position after their closer than expected game against Memphis State.[43] At Legion Field in the annual Iron Bowl game, Alabama shutout the Tigers 10–0 and won their first game against their rival since the 1953 season.[15][41][42] After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama took a 3–0 halftime lead on a 27-yard Tommy Brooker field goal.[41][42] They extended their lead further to 10–0 in the third quarter on a 39-yard Bobby Skelton touchdown pass to Marlin Dyess.[41][42] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Auburn to 10–13–1.[44]

After their victory over Auburn in their season finale, Bryant turned down an invitation to play in the Bluegrass Bowl.[47] However, two days later they accepted an invitation to compete in the inaugural Liberty Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the first all-time meeting between the schools.[48][49] As they entered their contest against Penn State, Alabama finished the season with the No. 10 ranking and the Nittany Lions with the No. 12 ranking.[50] At Municipal Stadium, Alabama was upset 7–0 by Penn State with the only touchdown scored in the second quarter on a 17-yard touchdown reception by Roger Kochman from Galen Hall on a fake field goal attempt.[45][46] This bowl game marked the beginning of a school record 25 consecutive bowl appearances.[51]