Fansided

Ranking Alabama’s National Championships in football

By John Buhler

Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide players celebrate after defeating the Michigan State Spartans in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide players celebrate after defeating the Michigan State Spartans in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 16
Next
Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; General view of the field prior to the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers during the first quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; General view of the field prior to the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers during the first quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports /

1941

The 1941 Alabama Crimson Tide went 9-2 under head coach Frank Thomas, defeating the Texas A&M Aggies in the Cotton Bowl Classic, 29-21. Alabama finished No. 1 in the Houlgate Poll, despite having two losses on the year.

Both of Alabama’s losses that year came in the SEC against Mississippi State (14-0) and Vanderbilt (7-0), finishing the regular season at 8-2, finishing third in the SEC. However, Alabama was one of 10 teams to play in a bowl game that season, despite being the No. 20 team in the AP Poll at the end of the regular season.

Alabama shares this claimed national title with both the Texas Longhorns and the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Texas doesn’t officially claim this national title with their 8-1-1 record. Minnesota wasn’t eligible to play in a bowl game, per rules at the time in the Big 10. The Golden Gophers were 8-0 that season.

With two losses, two other teams the NCAA recognizes as National Champions that season, and only the Houlgate picking Alabama as the No. 1 team in the country, this is the Tide’s weakest college football national championship to date. The onset of World War II doesn’t really add to the legitimacy of this claimed national title.

Next: 14. 1965

Home/College Football