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
5 of 16
Next
Oct 10, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; A general view of Bryant-Denny Stadium during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Arkansas Razorbacks. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; A general view of Bryant-Denny Stadium during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Arkansas Razorbacks. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

1973

Like 1964, the Alabama Crimson Tide orchestrated a perfect regular season before losing their bowl game. The Tide went 11-0 in 1973, but lost to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 24-23, in the 1973 Sugar Bowl.

An 11-0 regular season is still an incredible mark over 40 years later and Alabama certainly handled the SEC in 1973. However, it appears that the Coaches’ Poll did not learn their lesson in 1964, as that poll continued to name its National Champion before the bowl games.

While the one-point loss to the Irish dropped the Tide from first to fourth in the AP Poll, the university still claimed the National Championship bestowed upon them by the Coaches’ Poll. It’s a little fishy, but it’s hard to not claim a championship when a poll awards a team, even if it is before the bowl season.

The 11 wins, the dominance over the SEC, and the one-point loss in the Sugar Bowl to Notre Dame makes this slightly better than the 1964 National Championship. However, on television it was clear that Ara Parseghian’s Fighting Irish bested Paul “Bear” Bryant’s Crimson Tide on New Year’s Eve on 1973.

Since it wasn’t a consensus national championship, it allowed Alabama to claim its ninth National Championship in school history and fourth under Bryant as its head coach.

Next: 11. 1978

Home/College Football