Mac Jones

After originally committing to the University of Kentucky, Jones accepted a scholarship offer from Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and signed with the University of Alabama. Jones arrived in Tuscaloosa as an early enrollee, but was redshirted his freshman season in 2017.[7][8] Jones, according to Saban, continued to gain confidence and improve his mechanics since his performance in the 2018 A-Day game.[9][10] After throwing for 289 yards and two touchdowns in the Crimson Tide's spring game, Jones was named A-Day MVP.[11]

In the 2018 season, Jones appeared in 14 of the Crimson Tide's 15 games, mostly as a holder on special teams. Jones added his name to the Alabama record book with a 94-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle, the second-longest in school history, in a win against Louisiana-Lafayette.[12][13][14][15][16]

Jones served as the starting QB in the second half of the 2019 season, after Tua Tagovailoa suffered a season-ending hip injury.[17][18] Jones made four starts for the Tide, beating Arkansas and Western Carolina before falling to Auburn in the Iron Bowl, despite throwing for four touchdowns and 335 yards. Jones then led Alabama to a 35–16 win over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. Jones finished 2019 with 14 TD passes for 1,503 yards in 11 games.

With Tagovailoa departing for the draft, Jones would take over as Alabama's next starting quarterback. During the Crimson Tide's 2020 opener against the Missouri Tigers, Jones served as starting QB, completing 18/24 attempts and throwing two touchdowns.[20] Alabama played Texas A&M the following week, where Jones was 20/27, throwing for 435 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. Alabama went on to win the game 52–24.[21] The following week at Ole Miss, Jones was 28/32, throwing for 417 yards and two touchdowns. Alabama outlasted Ole Miss in a shootout 63–48, led by six rushing touchdowns.[22] The next week, Jones and the Tide took on the #3 ranked Georgia Bulldogs in Tuscaloosa. Jones threw for 417 yards and threw 4 touchdowns with just 1 interception, against a solid Georgia defense. The Tide overcame a 24-20 halftime deficit to win 41-24.[23] The next week, Jones and the Tide headed to Tennessee to take on the Volunteers. Jones completed 80% of his passes and threw for 387 yards, as the Tide rolled Tennessee 48-17. However, for the first time all season, Jones did not throw any TD passes, but did record his first rushing TD of the season. The game was also the last game of the regular season for superstar wideout Jaylen Waddle, who suffered an ankle injury on the first play of the game.[24] On Halloween night, Jones and the Tide shut out Mississippi State 41-0. Jones threw for 291 yards and 4 TDs, all of which went to Devonta Smith.[25] After a bye week, Jones and the Tide were scheduled to take on the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge, but the game was postponed due to an increased number of positive tests for the coronavirus, inside the LSU program. After 2 weeks off, Jones and the Tide took on the Kentucky Wildcats in Tuscaloosa. Jones threw for 230 yards, 2 touchdowns, and an interception. In the end, the Tide blew out Kentucky 63-3.[26] The following week, in the Iron Bowl, Jones threw for 302 yards and 5 touchdowns, as Alabama dominated #22 Auburn, in Tuscaloosa, 42-13. [27] The next week, the Tide finally got their chance to revenge last season's loss to LSU, when they took on the Tigers in Baton Rouge. Jones threw for 385 yards and 4 touchdowns, as Alabama destroyed LSU, 55-17. With the win, the Tide clinched a berth in the SEC Championship Game against Florida.[28] In the regular season finale on the road at Arkansas, Jones threw for 208 yards and completed 82% of his passes, but was held without a TD pass. The Tide easily won 52-3.[29] In the SEC Championship Game against #7 Florida, Jones threw for 418 yards and 5 touchdowns, three of which went to RB Najee Harris. Jones did throw an interception, but the DB fumbled the ball after being hit on the return by WR John Metchie III. The Tide recovered the fumble and Jones threw a TD on the next play. As for the game, the Tide jumped out to an early 35-17 lead at halftime, but Florida cut the lead to 35-31, at the end of the 3rd quarter. The Tide responded with two unanswered scores, to increase the lead to 45-31. The teams traded scores late, with Florida cutting the lead to 6 in the final two minutes. After a failed onside kick, the Tide drained the clock to less than 16 seconds. Florida had a chance for a miracle, but QB Kyle Trask was sacked and the Tide hung on to win a 52-46 thriller.[30] On December 20th, the College Football Playoff Committee ranked Alabama the #1 team in the country. They were selected to take on #4 Notre Dame in the relocated Rose Bowl CFP semifinal game. The winner would advance to the National Championship against the winner of the Ohio State-Clemson semifinal game.[31] On December 24, Mac Jones was named a Heisman Trophy finalist, along with his teammate DeVonta Smith.[32] Mac was the recipient of the Davey O'Brien Award, presented to college football's most outstanding quarterback, becoming the first University of Alabama quarterback to win the award.

On January 1, Jones led the Crimson Tide to a 31–14 victory with four touchdown passes, against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Rose Bowl Game. He completed 83 percent of his passes and threw for 297 yards. DeVonta Smith, his favored receiver, caught three touchdowns and picked up 130 receiving yards. Smith also became a Heisman finalist, eventually winning the award.[33] On January 11, Jones and the Crimson Tide played Ohio State in the National Championship Game. Jones excelled in the game, completing 36 of 45 passes for 464 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions, in addition to 4 rushes for 11 yards. The Tide crushed the Buckeyes 52–24 to finish the season 13–0.[34] On January 14, 2021, Jones announced that he would forgo his senior year and enter the 2021 NFL Draft.