The1997 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented theUniversity of Alabama as a member of the Western Division of theSoutheastern Conference (SEC) during the1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coachMike DuBose, the Crimson Tide compiled an overall record of 4–7 with a mark of 2–6 in conference play, tying for fifth place at the bottom of the SEC's Western Division standings. The team played home games atBryant–Denny Stadium inTuscaloosa, Alabama, andLegion Field inBirmingham, Alabama.

Alabama suffered its first losing record since the1984 season.

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
August 30	11:30 a.m.	Houston*	No. 16	Legion Field Birmingham, AL	JPS	W 42–17	81,591	[2]
September 11	7:30 p.m.	atVanderbilt	No. 15	Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN	ESPN	W 20–0	41,448	[3]
September 20	11:30 a.m.	Arkansas	No. 11	Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	JPS	L 16–17	70,123	[4]
September 27	2:00 p.m.	Southern Miss*	No. 21	Legion Field Birmingham, AL	PPV	W 27–14	83,091	[5]
October 4	6:00 p.m.	atKentucky	No. 20	Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	PPV	L 34–40OT	59,226	[6]
October 18	6:00 p.m.	No. 9Tennessee		Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Third Saturday in October)	ESPN	L 21–38	83,091	[7]
October 25	11:30 a.m.	at No. 25Ole Miss		Vaught–Hemingway Stadium Oxford, MS (rivalry)	JPS	W 29–20	41,548	[8]
November 1	1:00 p.m.	Louisiana Tech*		Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	PPV	L 20–26	70,123	[9]
November 8	2:30 p.m.	No. 14LSU		Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	CBS	L 0–27	70,123	[10]
November 15	11:30 a.m.	No. 17Mississippi State		Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	JPS	L 20–32	70,123	[11]
November 22	6:00 p.m.	at No. 13Auburn		Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL (Iron Bowl)	ESPN	L 17–18	85,214	[12]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings fromAP Poll released prior to the game All times are inCentral time

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A sell-out crowd filledLegion Field as the Mike Dubose era got off to a great start with the Crimson Tide rolling to a big win over Houston. Alabama's 42 points was the most any Alabama team had put up in a game since the season opener in 1994.

Alabama defense would hold Vanderbilt offense to 124 yards as the Crimson Tide won its first road and conference game of the year in shutout fashion.

For the second time in a row, Arkansas would come to Bryant-Denny Stadium and upset a ranked Alabama team by one point. Alabama held a 16-10 lead late in the game but, an Anthony Eubanks touchdown grab of 29 yards from Clint Stoerner gave Arkansas a one-point win.

After being tied at halftime, Alabama would outscore Southern Miss 17-3 in the second half, led by Alabama defense forcing three Southern Miss turnovers.

A back and forth shootout ended with a 26-yard game-winning touchdown pass from Kentucky QB Tim Couch to give Kentucky its first win over Alabama since 1922. Alabama had the ball first in overtime but, a Chad Goss fumble gave Kentucky an opportunity to score and win with their possession. This would mark the first overtime game ever for both teams.

For the third consecutive year, Tennessee defeated Alabama. Alabama opened with two early field goals, briefly holding a 6–0 lead, but Tennessee's response was emphatic—28 unanswered points that left no room for a comeback. This contest also carried historical weight, serving as the finalThird Saturday in October matchup played at Legion Field, closing a memorable chapter in the rivalry’s history.

Mike DuBose would get his first win against a ranked team as the Crimson Tide ended their two-game losing streak with a win against Ole Miss.

For the first time since the 1990 season, Alabama would lose a non-conference game. This was also the first homecoming loss for Alabama since 1990, and the first time Louisiana Tech had ever defeated Alabama. Coming into the game, the Bulldogs had the third-ranked passing offense in college football.

LSU returned the favor after Alabama shutout LSU in Tiger Stadium in 1996 by shutting out Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium. This was the first time Alabama had been shutout since 1991.

For the first time since 1957, Mississippi State would win in Bryant-Denny Stadium. The loss also meant Alabama would not win a game at Bryant-Denny Stadium for the first time since 1955. The loss also guaranteed Alabama its first losing season since 1984.

Despite being an underdog, Alabama would lead for most of the game and be in a position to put the game away but an Ed Scissum fumble recovered by Auburn put them in field goal range to take the lead and ultimately give them the win. Alabama would try a 57-yard field goal with A.J. Diaz as time expired but it fell short. Alabama seven losses was the most Alabama had had in a season since 1957.

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• 1997 Southeastern Conference football season
• Alabama Crimson Tide football seasons
• 1997 in sports in Alabama

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