The team was led by head coach Nick Saban, in his seventh year, and played its home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

After they captured the 2012 national championship, the Crimson Tide signed a highly rated recruiting class in February 2013 and completed spring practice the following April.

In February 2013 Tuscaloosa Police arrested four football players from the 2012 season: Brent Calloway, Tyler Hayes, D. J. Pettway and Eddie Williams.

[12] After Nick Perry intercepted a Blake Sims pass on the first Crimson possession, the White team extended their lead to 10–0 on a 29-yard Adam Griffith field goal.

The White team had turnovers on a Kenny Bell fumble recovered by C. J. Mosley and on the last play of the first half when a McCarron pass was intercepted by Vinnie Sunseri and returned 86-yards for a touchdown that made the halftime score 10–7.

[13] On offense, Yeldon earned the Dixie Howell Memorial Most Valuable Player of the A-Day Game Award for his 129 all-purpose yards on the day that included 69 rushing and 60 receiving, and game-winning touchdown run.

[27] On the defensive side of the ball, reserve Nick Perry sustained a shoulder injury in practice prior to the Colorado State game that ended his season.

[32] The early enrollments from high school included quarterbacks Cooper Bateman and Parker McLeod, wide receiver Raheem Falkins, running back Derrick Henry, offensive lineman Brandon Hill and tight end O. J.

[36] In addition to those scholarship recruits that signed early, former professional baseball player Jai Miller and high school quarterback Luke Del Rio enrolled in order to compete for roster spots as invited walk-ons.

[46] On July 7, 2011, officials from both Alabama and Virginia Tech announced the Crimson Tide and the Hokies would meet to open the 2013 season in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Atlanta.

[59][60] After the A&M defense forced a punt on the opening possession of the third quarter, Vinnie Sunseri intercepted the first Manziel pass of the second half and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown and extended the Alabama lead to 35–14.

[67][68] Drake was able to score the first touchdown as he was the starting running back in the game due to T. J. Yeldon being suspended for the first quarter by Nick Saban for his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against A&M the week before.

[67][68] After Bernard Blake intercepted an A. J. McCarron pass on Alabama's first possession of the second half, Jared Roberts kicked a 45-yard field goal on the drive that ensured that made the score 17–3.

[71][72] After the Crimson Tide defense forced a punt on the Rebels' first possession, A. J. McCarron led the Alabama offense on an 11 play, 61-yard drive that ended with a 3–0 lead after a 28-yard Cade Foster field goal.

[73] In the fourth, Cody Mandell had a punt downed at the Rebels' one-yard line and on the next play, C. J. Mosley sacked Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace for a safety and an 18–0 lead.

[78] On the kickoff that ensued, Dee Hart forced a fumble that Crimson Tide linebacker Dillon Lee recovered and returned to the Panthers' 10-yard line.

[78] Georgia State opened the second half with a drive to the Alabama 36-yard line to set up a school record 53-yard field goal by Wil Lutz.

[82][83] Although the Crimson Tide defense opened the game strong and forced Kentucky to punt after they held the Wildcats to a series of three-and-outs on their initial possessions, the Alabama offense did not see the same on-field success.

[92][93] After the Crimson Tide defense forced a punt on the first Razorback possession of the second quarter, Drake extended the Alabama lead to 21–0 with his 46-yard touchdown run.

[90][91] On the opening kickoff of the second half, Derrick Henry forced a Keon Hatcher fumble that was recovered by Eddie Jackson for the Crimson Tide.

[98] However, the Crimson Tide were unable to capitalize on the drive that ensued after Kenyan Drake fumbled the ball at the goal line and was recovered by the Vols' Cameron Sutton.

[102][103] After the Tigers' tied the game 17–17 on a 41-yard Colby Delahoussaye field goal to open the second half, the Crimson Tide went on their first of three consecutive touchdown drives.

[104] The Crimson Tide then drove 78 yards in eight plays, capping the drive with a three-yard McCarron touchdown pass to Jalston Fowler that made the score 38–17.

[123] After Alabama failed to score on the first drive when Cade Foster missed a 44-yard field goal attempt, Auburn took a 7–0 lead on their second offensive possession on a 45-yard Nick Marshall touchdown run.

[123] Early in the fourth Foster missed a 33-yard field goal attempt, but on their next possession McCarron connected with Amari Cooper for a 99-yard touchdown reception and a 28–21 lead.

The play was reviewed from the replay booth, and one second was put back on the clock after the referees determined Yeldon had stepped out of bounds just before time expired.

[127][128] Alabama opened the game with a four play, 75-yard touchdown drive that saw A. J. McCarron complete a 53-yard pass to Amari Cooper and T. J. Yeldon score on a one-yard run for a 7–0 lead.

[128][129] After the Sooners tied the game with a 47-yard Michael Hunnicutt field goal, Geneo Grissom recovered a Yeldon fumble at their eight-yard line and returned it to the 34.

[171] The invited players were offensive linemen Cyrus Kouandjio and Anthony Steen, safeties Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Vinnie Sunseri, linebackers Adrian Hubbard and C. J. Mosley, defensive ends Jeoffrey Pagan and Ed Stinson, quarterback A. J. McCarron, wide receiver Kevin Norwood, cornerback Deion Belue and punter Cody Mandell.

[173] These players included Hubbard (Green Bay Packers), Steen (Arizona Cardinals), Mandell (Dallas Cowboys), John Fulton (Philadelphia Eagles), Tana Patrick (Chicago Bears) and Belue (Miami Dolphins).