25 college football programs with the most tradition

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

Roll Damn Tide is more a religious invocation than anything else in the state of Alabama, and why not? The Crimson Tide has won 16 national titles. Since 1925, Alabama has won at least one title in every decade but the 1950s and 1980s. The program prides itself on having a punishing running game and stout defense. In this day and age, watching ‘Bama pound its tailback between the tackles feels like a throwback to a different era.

Most Alabamans are Christians, but that doesn’t stop them from worshiping at the altar of Paul “Bear” Bryant every weekend. Houndstooth hats are not in style in 99 percent of the contiguous United States, but they continue to move units in Tuscaloosa.

Without any professional sports teams calling Alabama home, the Tide is truly the No. 1 topic of conversation for 365 days every year, and under Nick Saban, that conversation has been mostly good since 2007, with four more titles.

Alabama is one of few schools left in the country that features the individual player’s number on the side of his helmet, another throwback to bygone days. It’s a simple touch, but it serves as a reminder that Alabama has been doing this whole college football thing for a long, long time.