Nick Saban secured his sixth national championship in 14 seasons in Alabama on Monday night, thanks to the 52-24 victory over Ohio. Not all championships are created equal, however. The way to get there, the strength of the opposition and the composition of the squad were different in each case.
The following is a ranking of the six teams in the Saban Alabama National Championship, listed in reverse order from “worst” to best (final team record in parentheses):
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) delivers the title to wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) during the first overtime of the Alabama vs. Georgia CFP championship football game, Tuesday, January 9, 2018, at the Mercedes stadium -Benz in Atlanta. (Vasha Hunt/[email protected])AP
6. 2017 (13-1)
Championship game: Won Georgia 26-23 in overtime in 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 is No. 6: Alabama’s 2017 team would be ranked as the best of all programs, but the standard is a little higher in Tuscaloosa. Together among Saban’s title teams, the 2017 team 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, with Tagovailoa replacing fighter Hurts in the second half against Georgia and launching the victory touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith in overtime for a dismantled championship.
Alabama striker 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 game: Won 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 is No. 5: The only repeat champion on the list, the 2012 Crimson Tide overcame LSU (21-17 in Baton Rouge), overcame a late stumble against Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M (losing 29-21 in Tuscaloosa) and won a classic SEC title ( 32-28 over Georgia) to reach the BCS national championship game. Facing what turned out to be an overrated Irish fighting team, Alabama jumped to a 28-0 lead at halftime and won its third national championship in four years. This is the team that made rumors about “dynasty” a reality.
Alabama running back Derrick Henry (2) celebrates Tide’s 45-40 victory over Clemson at the College Football Playoff National Championship football game, Monday, January 11, 2016, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Vasha Hunt / vhunt @ al.com)AP
4. 2015 (14-1)
Championship game: Beat 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 is No. 4: Loaded by Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry in attack and an incredible ability to score non-offensive touchdowns (10 in total), this Alabama team has returned to peak after the failures of the previous two seasons. . Crimson Tide stumbled at the start of the season (losing 43-37 to Ole Miss), but closed it with 12 consecutive wins. The title game win over Clemson was an all-time classic, with a surprise kick and an early return to a Kenyan Drake touchdown now in the pantheon of the show’s best moments.
Alabama running back Trent Richardson (3) breaks free from LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne (17) during the BCS Championship on Monday, January 9, 2012 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo from Bill Starling’s press archive)MO
3. 2011 (12-1)
Championship game: Win the 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 is No. 3: This Alabama team featured one of the greatest defenses in the history of modern college football, allowing only 8.2 points per game and only five opponents scoring double digits. The attack was sometimes a struggle, including Crimson Tide’s solitary defeat, a 9-6 loss in overtime for LSU in Tuscaloosa – heralded as the “Game of the Century”. Alabama worked its way back into the national championship image (somewhat controversially) and had another chance against LSU, dominating this time in a 21-0 Superdome victory in New Orleans.
Alabama running back Mark Ingram (22) kisses the BCS National Championship trophy while he and other players (left) linebacker Rolando McClain (25), striker Mike Johnson (78) and defender Javier Arenas (28) ) celebrate their victory over Texas at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, Thursday, January 7, 2009. (photo from Bill Starling’s Press-Register file)BN
2. 2009 (14-0)
Championship game: Beat 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 is No. 2: Saban’s team that started it all was the only one this year to finish with a perfect record. Alabama fought at the start of the regular season and barely survived a 12-10 victory over Tennessee in late October. This Crimson Tide team may have finished stronger than any other during this race, defeating current and ranked No. 1 national champion, Florida 32-13 in the SEC championship game and then winning the undefeated and runner-up Texas 37 -21 in the BCS national championship at the Rose Bowl.
Heisman winner DeVonta Smith played a game for all ages at the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Monday, January 11, 2021, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images / TNS)TNS
1. 2020 (13-0)
Championship game: Ohio State won 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 is number 1: It’s hard to overstate how much Alabama achieved in 2020, not just staying undefeated and winning the national championship, but losing only once in the second half of the season (vs. Georgia) and beating 11 SEC teams (the top 11 as a matter of course) indeed) and doing all this during a global pandemic. Crimson Tide tied a record with five unanimous All-Americans and had the winner of the Heisman Trophy (plus two others who finished in the top 5 in the vote). At the risk of becoming involved in a recent bias, this is Saban’s best team and perhaps the best in Alabama’s history.