TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The Alabama football team might have pitched a shutout in its latest game, but a long streak ended in a 35-0 victory over Western Kentucky.

For the first time in the Nick Saban era that began in 2007, the Crimson Tide's defense did not force a single three-and-out.

A three-and-out, of course, is when an opponent runs three plays, fails to gain a first down and then punts.

The streak actually lasted 77 games. The most recent game in which Alabama previously did not force a three-and-out was in a 24-23 overtime loss on Sept. 23, 2006 at Arkansas.

The top-ranked Crimson Tide will return to Fayetteville, Ark., for a 2:30 p.m. CDT game Saturday.

Alabama led the nation in three-and-outs in two of the past three seasons. Last season, it led with an average of 6.1 per game. In 2009, it led with an average of 5.6 per game. Both of those were national championship seasons.

In 2010, a season in which the Tide lost three games, it finished 10th in the nation with an average of 4.08 three-and-outs per game.

The streak came close to ending last season. Alabama forced only a single three-and-out in a 45-21 victory over Georgia Southern.

The Tide also only had one three-and-out in a 31-17 loss to Utah in the Sugar Bowl at the end of the 2008 season.

Alabama’s streak almost continued in the Western Kentucky game. The Hilltoppers failed to record a first down on their last possession, as a run on a third-and-7 play gained only 1 yard.

But time expired before the Hilltoppers had to punt. But would they have punted, even though they were on their own 12-yard line?

In defense of the Tide, the defense forced four turnovers, but the Hilltoppers picked up at least one first down before each of those turnovers (three lost fumbles and one interception).