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Nick Saban won his sixth national championship in 14 seasons in Alabama on Monday night with a 52-24 victory over Ohio State. However, not all championships are created equal. The route to get there, the strength of the opposition and the composition of the list were different in all cases.
The following is a ranking of Saban’s six Alabama National Championship teams, ranked in reverse order from “worst” to best (team final record in parentheses):
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) delivers the championship to Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) during the Alabama vs Georgia CFP Championship first overtime football game on Tuesday 9 January 2018, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Vasha Hunt/[email protected])AP
6. 2017 (13-1)
Championship match: Defeat Georgia 26-23 in overtime at Atlanta
Key players: QB Tua Tagovailoa, QB Jalen Hurts, WR Calvin Ridley, OL Jonah Williams, OL Bradley Bozeman, DL Da’Ron Payne, LB Rashaan Evans, DB Minkah Fitzpatrick
Why it’s n ° 6: The 2017 Alabama team would rank as pretty much the best of any program, but the standard is a bit higher in Tuscaloosa. Among Saban’s title teams, the 2017 squad lost a double-digit regular-season game (26-14 at Auburn) and needed extra time to win the championship game. In the end, it was Crimson Tide’s fabulous freshman class that saved the day, as Tagovailoa replaced the struggling Hurts in the second half against Georgia and threw the winning touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith in extension for a non-stop championship.
Alabama lineman Alphonse Taylor (50) celebrates Alabama’s second consecutive national championship after a 42-14 victory over Notre Dame on Monday January 7, 2013 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida (Vasha Hunt/[email protected])AP
5. 2012 (13-1)
Championship match: Defeat Notre Dame 42-14 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Key players: QB AJ McCarron, RB Eddie Lacy, WR Amari Cooper, OL Barrett Jones, OL Chance Warmack, DL Jesse Williams, LB CJ Mosley, DB Dee Milliner
Why it’s n ° 5: The lone repeat champion on the roster, the 2012 Crimson Tide rallied to LSU (21-17 at Baton Rouge), overcame a late stumble to Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M (losing 29-21 to Tuscaloosa), and won an SEC Classic Title game (32-28 vs. Georgia) to reach the BCS National Championship game. Facing what turned out to be a vastly overrated Irish fighting team, Alabama took a 28-0 halftime lead and advanced to their third domestic championship in four years. This is the team that made ‘dynasty’ whispers a reality.
Alabama running back Derrick Henry (2) celebrates Tide’s 45-40 victory over Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship football game, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (Vasha Hunt / vhunt @ al.com)AP
4. 2015 (14-1)
Championship match: Defeat Clemson 45-40 in Glendale, Arizona.
Key players: QB Jake Coker, RB Derrick Henry, OL Cam Robinson, OL Ryan Kelly, DL Jonathan Allen, LB Reggie Ragland, DB Eddie Jackson, DB Marlon Humphrey
Why it’s n ° 4: Carried by Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry in attack and an incredible ability to score non-offensive touchdowns (10 overall), this Alabama team returned to the top after the failures of the previous two seasons. asked if Saban had lost his touch. The Crimson Tide stumbled early in the season (losing 43-37 to Ole Miss), but closed it with 12 straight wins. The title match victory over Clemson was an all-time classic, featuring a surprise kick and kick-off return for a touchdown by Kenyan Drake now in the pantheon of the show’s greatest moments.
Alabama running back Trent Richardson (3) breaks free from LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne (17) during the BCS Championship Monday January 9, 2012 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana (press kit – photo record of Bill Starling)MO
3. 2011 (12-1)
Championship match: Defeat LSU 21-0 in New Orleans
Key players: QB AJ McCarron, RB Trent Richardson, OL Barrett Jones, LB Dont’a Hightower, LB Courtney Upshaw, DB Mark Barron, DB Dre Kirkpatrick, DB DeQuan Menzie
Why it’s n ° 3: This Alabama team featured one of the greatest defenses in modern college football history, allowing just 8.2 points per game and just five opponents to score in double digits. Offense was a struggle at times, including in Crimson Tide’s lone loss, a 9-6 overtime loss to LSU in Tuscaloosa – billed as the “game of the century”. Alabama found their way back into the national championship image (somewhat controversially) and got another chance at LSU, this time dominating in a 21-0 Superdome victory in New Orleans.
Alabama running back Mark Ingram (22) kisses the BCS National Championship trophy as he and other players (from left) linebacker Rolando McClain (25), offensive lineman Mike Johnson (78 ) and defensive back Javier Arenas (28) celebrate their victory over Texas at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, January 7, 2009. (Press-Register file photo of Bill Starling)BN
2. 2009 (14-0)
Championship match: Defeat Texas 37-21 in Pasadena, California.
Key players: QB Greg McElroy, RB Mark Ingram, WR Julio Jones, OL Mike Johnson, DL Terrence Cody, DL Marcell Dareus, LB Rolando McClain, DB / KR Javier Arenas
Why it’s n ° 2: The Saban team that started it all was the only one until this year to finish with a perfect record. Alabama beat some early in the regular season and barely survived a 12-10 win over Tennessee in late October. This Crimson Tide team might have finished stronger than any other in this race, beating the reigning No.1-ranked and reigning national champion Florida 32-13 in the SEC Championship game, then defeating unbeaten Texas and ranked second 37-21 in the BCS National Championship. championship at the Rose Bowl.
Heisman winner DeVonta Smith had a Game of the Ages in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Monday, January 11, 2021 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images / TNS)TNS
1. 2020 (13-0)
Championship match: Defeat Ohio State 52-24 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Key players: QB Mac Jones, RB Najee Harris, WR DeVonta Smith, OL Landon Dickerson, OL Alex Leatherwood, LB Christian Harris, LB Dylan Moses, DB Patrick Surtain
Why it’s n ° 1: It’s hard to overstate how much Alabama accomplished in 2020, not just going undefeated and winning the National Championship, but trailing once in the second half of the season (against Georgia) and beating 11 SEC teams (the 11 best actually) and do it all during a global pandemic. The Crimson Tide tied a record with five unanimous All-Americans and won the Heisman Trophy (plus two more who finished in the top 5 votes). At the risk of engaging in a recency bias, this is Saban’s best team and possibly the best in Alabama history.
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