Alabama Crimson Tide football | |||
---|---|---|---|
| |||
First season | 1892 | ||
Athletic director | Greg Byrne | ||
Head coach | Nick Saban 16th season, 189–27 (.875) | ||
Stadium | Bryant–Denny Stadium (capacity: 101,821[1]) | ||
Year built | 1929 | ||
Field surface | Natural grass | ||
Location | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | ||
NCAA division | Division I FBS | ||
Conference | Southeastern Conference | ||
Division | Western | ||
Past conferences | Southern Conference (1921–1932) | ||
All-time record | 953–335–43 (.732) | ||
Bowl record | 46–27–3 (.625) | ||
Playoff appearances | 7 | ||
Playoff record | 9-4 | ||
Claimed national titles | 18 | ||
Unclaimed national titles | 5 (1945, 1966, 1975, 1977, 2016[2]) | ||
National finalist | 6 | ||
Conference titles | 33 (Southern: 4; SEC: 29) | ||
Division titles | 17 | ||
Rivalries | Auburn (rivalry) Clemson (rivalry) Florida (rivalry) Georgia (rivalry) LSU (rivalry) Mississippi State (rivalry) Ole Miss (rivalry) Penn State (rivalry) Tennessee (rivalry) | ||
Heisman winners | 4 | ||
Consensus All-Americans | 84 | ||
Current uniform | |||
Colors | Crimson and white[3] | ||
Fight song | Yea Alabama | ||
Mascot | Big Al | ||
Marching band | Million Dollar Band | ||
Outfitter | Nike | ||
Website | Rolltide.com |
The Alabama Crimson Tide football program represents the University of Alabama (variously Alabama, UA, or Bama) in the sport of American football. The team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).[4] The team's head coach is Nick Saban, who has led the Tide to six national championships over his tenure.[5] The Crimson Tide is among the most storied and decorated football programs in NCAA history. Since beginning play in 1892, the program claims 18 national championships,[6][7][8] including 13 wire-service (AP or Coaches') national titles in the poll-era, and five other titles before the poll-era.[8][9][10] From 1958 to 1982, the team was led by Hall of Fame coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, who won six national titles with the program.[7] Despite numerous national and conference championships, it was not until 2009 that an Alabama player received a Heisman Trophy, when running back Mark Ingram II became the university's first winner. In 2015, Derrick Henry became the university's second Heisman winner.[11] The Crimson Tide won back to back Heisman trophies in 2020 and 2021, with DeVonta Smith and Bryce Young.
Alabama has 953 official victories[a][b] in NCAA Division I (an additional 21 victories were vacated, and eight victories and one tie were forfeited). Alabama has won 33 conference championships (4 Southern Conference and 29 SEC championships), and has made an NCAA-record 76 postseason bowl appearances. The program has 36 seasons with ten wins or more (plus one vacated)[12][13] and has 46[b] bowl victories, both NCAA records.[14] The Crimson Tide leads the SEC West Division with 17 division titles and 14 appearances in the SEC Championship Game. Alabama holds a winning record against every current and former SEC school. The Associated Press (AP) ranks Alabama fourth in all-time final AP Poll appearances, with 59 through the 2021 season.[15][16]
Alabama plays its home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium, located on the campus in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. With a capacity of 101,821,[1] Bryant-Denny is the 10th largest non-racing stadium in the world and the eighth largest stadium in the United States.
Main article: History of Alabama Crimson Tide football |
Main article: List of Alabama Crimson Tide head football coaches |
Alabama has had 28 head coaches since organized football began in 1892. Adopting the nickname "Crimson Tide" after the 1907 season, 12 coaches have led the Crimson Tide in postseason bowl games: Wallace Wade, Frank Thomas, Harold D. "Red" Drew, Bear Bryant, Ray Perkins, Bill Curry, Gene Stallings, Mike DuBose, Dennis Franchione, Mike Shula, Joe Kines, and Nick Saban.[6] Eight of those coaches also won conference championships: Wade, Thomas, Drew, Bryant, Curry, Stallings, DuBose, and Saban. During their tenures, Wade, Thomas, Bryant, Stallings, and Saban all won national championships with the Crimson Tide.[6]
Of the 27 different head coaches who have led the Crimson Tide, Wade,[17] Thomas,[18] Bryant,[19] and Stallings have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The head coach is Nick Saban, who was hired in January 2007.[20]
National championships in NCAA FBS college football are debated as the NCAA does not officially award the championship. Despite not naming an official National Champion, the NCAA provides lists of championships awarded by "major selectors."[8][21] According to the official NCAA 2009 Division I Football Records Book, "During the last 138 years, there have been more than 30 selectors of national champions using polls, historical research and mathematical rating systems. Beginning in 1936, the Associated Press began the best-known and most widely circulated poll of sportswriters and broadcasters. Before 1936, national champions were determined by historical research and retroactive ratings and polls. [...] The criteria for being included in this historical list of poll selectors is that the poll be national in scope, either through distribution in newspaper, television, radio and/or computer online."[22]
Since World War II, Alabama claims only national championships awarded by the final AP Poll or the final Coaches' Poll. This policy is consistent with other FBS football programs with numerous national title claims, including Notre Dame, USC, and Oklahoma, except that in the pre-1936 era, unlike Alabama, there are major selectors' titles that these schools do not claim. All national championships claimed by the University of Alabama were published in nationally syndicated newspapers and magazines, and each of the national championship selectors, and are cited in the Official 2010 NCAA FBS Record Book.[23] In addition to the championships claimed by the university, the NCAA has listed Alabama as receiving a championship for the 1945, 1966, 1975, and 1977 college football seasons.[8][21]
In Alabama's 1982 media guide, the last for Coach Bryant, 1934 is listed as the only national championship before Coach Bryant in a footnote about the school's SEC history. In the 1980s, Alabama's Sports Information Director Wayne Atcheson started recognizing five pre-Bryant national championship teams (1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1941) by adding them to the university's Football Media Guide. According to Atcheson, he made the effort in the context of disputed titles being claimed by other schools, and "to make Alabama football look the best it could look" to compete with the other claimants. Atcheson maintains that the titles are the school's rightful claims.[24] Four of the five championships claimed in the Media Guide come before the AP poll was introduced in 1936. Many schools claim national championships from pre-1936 because there was no contemporary or nationally recognized authoritative source before that year.
The University of Alabama 2009 Official Football Media Guide says Alabama had 12 national championships prior to winning the 2010 BCS National Championship Game.[25] The 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020 titles bring the total number of national championships claimed by Alabama to 18. Thirteen of Alabama's national championships were awarded by the wire-services (AP, Coaches' Poll) or by winning the BCS National Championship Game.[8][21]
In January 2013, CNN suggested that Alabama might be college football's new dynasty,[26] and in May 2013, Athlon Sports ranked Alabama's ongoing dynasty as the fourth-best since 1934, behind Oklahoma (1948–58), Miami (1986–92), and Nebraska (1993–97).[27]
Season | Coach | Selectors | Record | Bowl |
---|---|---|---|---|
1925 | Wallace Wade | Various[28][29] | 10–0 | W Rose Bowl |
1926 | 9–0–1 | T Rose Bowl | ||
1930 | 10–0 | W Rose Bowl | ||
1934 | Frank Thomas | 10–0 | W Rose Bowl | |
1941 | Deke Houlgate | 9–2 | W Cotton Bowl Classic | |
1961 | Paul "Bear" Bryant | AP, Coaches' | 11–0 | W Sugar Bowl |
1964 | 10–1 | L Orange Bowl | ||
1965 | AP | 9–1–1 | W Orange Bowl | |
1973 | Coaches' | 11–1 | L Sugar Bowl | |
1978 | AP | 11–1 | W Sugar Bowl | |
1979 | AP, Coaches' | 12–0 | W Sugar Bowl | |
1992 | Gene Stallings | 13–0 | W Sugar Bowl (Bowl Coalition National Championship Game) | |
2009 | Nick Saban | AP, Coaches', BCS | 14–0 | W BCS National Championship Game |
2011 | 12–1 | W BCS National Championship Game | ||
2012 | 13–1 | W BCS National Championship Game | ||
2015 | AP, Coaches', CFP | 14–1 | W Cotton Bowl Classic W College Football Playoff National Championship | |
2017 | 13–1 | W Sugar Bowl W College Football Playoff National Championship | ||
2020 | 13–0 | W Rose Bowl W College Football Playoff National Championship |
Alabama has won a total of 33 conference championships; this includes four Southern Conference and 29 SEC Championships. Alabama captured its four Southern Conference titles in 1924, 1925, 1926, and 1930. Alabama captured the first SEC title in 1933 and has won a total of 29 SEC Championships (1933, 1934, 1937, 1945, 1953, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1989†, 1992, 1999, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021). The school has won more SEC football titles than any other school, including 10 since the conference split into separate divisions and added the Championship Game in 1992. Alabama is the only school to win an SEC Championship in every decade since the conference was founded in 1933.
Season | Conference | Coach | Overall record | Conference record |
---|---|---|---|---|
1924 | Southern | Wallace Wade | 8–1 | 5–0 |
1925† | 10–0 | 7–0 | ||
1926 | 9–0–1 | 8–0 | ||
1930† | 10–0 | 8–0 | ||
1933 | SEC | Frank Thomas | 7–1–1 | 5–0–1 |
1934† | 10–0 | 7–0 | ||
1937 | 9–1 | 6–0 | ||
1945 | 10–0 | 6–0 | ||
1953 | Harold Drew | 6–3–3 | 4–0–3 | |
1961† | Paul "Bear" Bryant | 11–0 | 7–0 | |
1964 | 10–1 | 8–0 | ||
1965 | 9–1–1 | 6–1–1 | ||
1966† | 11–0 | 6–0 | ||
1971 | 11–1 | 7–0 | ||
1972 | 10–2 | 7–1 | ||
1973 | 11–1 | 8–0 | ||
1974 | 11–1 | 6–0 | ||
1975 | 11–1 | 6–0 | ||
1977 | 11–1 | 7–0 | ||
1978 | 11–1 | 6–0 | ||
1979 | 12–0 | 6–0 | ||
1981† | 9–2–1 | 7–0 | ||
1989† | Bill Curry | 10–2 | 6–1 | |
1992 | Gene Stallings | 13–0 | 8–0 | |
1999 | Mike DuBose | 10–3 | 7–1 | |
2009 | Nick Saban | 14–0 | 8–0 | |
2012 | 13–1 | 7–1 | ||
2014 | 12–2 | 7–1 | ||
2015 | 14–1 | 7–1 | ||
2016 | 14–1 | 8–0 | ||
2018 | 14–1 | 8–0 | ||
2020 | 13–0 | 10–0 | ||
2021 | 13–2 | 7–1 |
† Co-champions
The SEC has been split into two divisions since the 1992 season. Alabama competes in the SEC West. Alabama has won or shared 17 division titles, and has posted an 10–4 record in the SEC Championship Game as of 2022[update].
Season | Division | Opponent | SEC CG result |
---|---|---|---|
1992 | SEC West | Florida | W 28–21 |
1993 | Florida | L 13–28 | |
1994 | Florida | L 23–24 | |
1996† | Florida | L 30–45 | |
1999 | Florida | W 34–7 | |
2008 | Florida | L 20–31 | |
2009 | Florida | W 32–13 | |
2012 | Georgia | W 32–28 | |
2013† | N/A lost tiebreaker to Auburn | ||
2014 | Missouri | W 42–13 | |
2015 | Florida | W 29–15 | |
2016 | Florida | W 54–16 | |
2017† | N/A lost tiebreaker to Auburn | ||
2018 | Georgia | W 35–28 | |
2020 | Florida | W 52–46 | |
2021 | Georgia | W 41–24 | |
2022† | N/A lost tiebreaker to LSU |
† Co-champions
Alabama Crimson Tide | |||
Name | Position | Consecutive season at Alabama in current position | Previous position |
---|---|---|---|
Bill O'Brien | Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks | 2nd | Houston Texans – Head coach (2014–2020) |
Pete Golding | Defensive coordinator / inside linebackers | 5th | UTSA – Defensive coordinator / cornerbacks (2016–2017) |
Coleman Hutzler | Special teams coordinator / outside linebackers | 1st | Ole Miss – Special teams coordinator (2021) |
Holmon Wiggins | Assistant head coach of offense / wide receivers | 2nd | Alabama – Wide receivers (2019–2020) |
Robert Gillespie | Running backs | 2nd | North Carolina – Running backs (2018–2020) |
Charles Kelly | Associate defensive coordinator / safeties | 4th | Tennessee – Special teams coordinator / safeties (2018) |
Freddie Roach | Defensive line | 3rd | Ole Miss – Defensive line (2017–2019) |
Travaris Robinson | Cornerbacks | 1st | Miami – Defensive backs (2021) |
Eric Wolford | Offensive line | 1st | Kentucky – Offensive line (2021) |
Joe Cox | Tight ends | 1st | Charlotte – Tight ends (2021) |
David Ballou | Director of strength & conditioning | 3rd | Indiana – Director of athletic performance (2018–2019) |
Reference:[50] |
Main article: Alabama Crimson Tide football statistical leaders |
Main article: List of Alabama Crimson Tide football All-Americans |
Every year, several publications release lists of their ideal "team". The athletes on these lists are referred to as All-Americans. The NCAA recognizes five All-American lists. They are the Associated Press (AP), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Sporting News (TSN), and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF). Alabama has had 149 players honored 173 times as first team All-Americans (84 consensus)[51][52] in its history, including 20 players honored twice and two players (Cornelius Bennett and Woodrow Lowe) who were honored three times as a First Team All-American.[53]
The most recent All-Americans from Alabama came after the 2022 season, when Will Anderson Jr. and Brian Branch were each named First Team All-America by various selectors.
Main article: List of Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Hall of Fame |
In 1951, the College Football Hall of Fame opened in South Bend, Indiana. Since then, Alabama has had 22 players and four former coaches inducted into the Hall of Fame.[54][55] Alabama had two members inducted into the inaugural 1951 class—Don Hutson[56] and Frank Thomas.[57]
Name | Time at Alabama | Position | Inducted |
---|---|---|---|
Cornelius Bennett | 1983–1986 | LB | 2005 |
Johnny Mack Brown | 1923–1925 | HB | 1957 |
Paul "Bear" Bryant | 1958–1982 | Head coach | 1986 |
Johnny Cain | 1930–1932 | FB | 1973 |
Sylvester Croom | 1972–1974 | C | 2022 |
Harry Gilmer | 1944–1947 | QB, DB | 1993 |
John Hannah | 1970–1972 | OG | 1999 |
Frank Howard | 1928–1930 | OG | 1989 |
Dixie Howell | 1932–1934 | HB | 1970 |
Pooley Hubert | 1922–1925 | QB | 1964 |
Don Hutson | 1932–1934 | E | 1951 |
Lee Roy Jordan | 1960–1962 | LB | 1983 |
E.J. Junior | 1977–1980 | DE | 2020 |
Woodrow Lowe | 1972–1975 | LB | 2009 |
Vaughn Mancha | 1944–1947 | C | 1990 |
Johnny Musso | 1969–1971 | HB | 2000 |
Billy Neighbors | 1959–1961 | T | 2003 |
Ozzie Newsome | 1974–1977 | SE | 1994 |
Fred Sington | 1928–1930 | T | 1955 |
Riley Smith | 1934–1935 | QB | 1985 |
Gene Stallings | 1990–1996 | Head coach | 2010 |
Derrick Thomas | 1985–1988 | LB | 2014 |
Frank Thomas | 1931–1946 | Head coach | 1951 |
Wallace Wade | 1923–1930 | Head coach | 1955 |
Don Whitmire | 1941–1942 | T | 1956 |
Marty Lyons | 1975–1978 | DT | 2012 |
On December 12, 2009, Mark Ingram II became Alabama's first Heisman Trophy winner.[11] In the closest race ever, he edged out Stanford running back Toby Gerhart by 28 points.[11] Other notable finishes for an Alabama player occurred in 1993, when David Palmer finished third in the Heisman voting[58][59] and when A. J. McCarron finished as runner-up for the 2013 season.[60] Derrick Henry became Alabama's second Heisman trophy winner on December 12, 2015.[61] Tua Tagovailoa finished runner-up for the 2018 season as well. For the 2020 season, Alabama became the second program in college football history to have three players finish in the top five. DeVonta Smith became Alabama's third Heisman winner with Mac Jones finishing third and Najee Harris fifth. In 2021, Bryce Young became the fourth winner with Will Anderson Jr. finishing fifth. With its fourth Heisman winner Alabama has produced the fifth most Heisman trophies of all time behind Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State and USC.[62]
Top 5 finishes for Alabama players:
Year | Name | Position | Finish |
---|---|---|---|
1937 | Joe Kilgrow | RB | 5th |
1945 | Harry Gilmer | RB | 5th |
1947 | Harry Gilmer | RB | 5th |
1961 | Pat Trammell | QB | 5th |
1962 | Lee Roy Jordan | LB | 4th |
1971 | Johnny Musso | RB | 5th |
1972 | Terry Davis | QB | 5th |
1993 | David Palmer | WR | 3rd |
1994 | Jay Barker | QB | 5th |
2009 | Mark Ingram II | RB | 1st |
2011 | Trent Richardson | RB | 3rd |
2013 | A. J. McCarron | QB | 2nd |
2014 | Amari Cooper | WR | 3rd |
2015 | Derrick Henry | RB | 1st |
2018 | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | 2nd |
2020 | DeVonta Smith | WR | 1st |
Mac Jones | QB | 3rd | |
Najee Harris | RB | 5th | |
2021 | Bryce Young | QB | 1st |
Will Anderson Jr. | LB | 5th |
Main article: SEC Football Legends |
Starting in 1994, the Southeastern Conference has annually honored one former football player from each of the SEC member schools as an "SEC Legend". The following former Crimson Tide football players have been honored as SEC Legends.
Main article: Iron Bowl |
The main rivalry of the Crimson Tide is against its in-state rival, Auburn University; considered one of the top sporting rivalries in the US. The Alabama-Auburn game has come to be known as the Iron Bowl.[63][64] The outcome of the game generally determines "bragging rights" in the state of Alabama until the following contest. The game may also have implications as to which team will represent the SEC Western Division in the SEC Championship Game.
On February 22, 1893, at Lakeview Park in Birmingham, Auburn was victorious in the first ever Iron Bowl, 32–22. The series was suspended after the 1907 contest, due to violence and financial complications.[65] In 1944, Auburn suggested to reopen the series, though the board of trustees at Alabama rejected. The series was resumed in 1948, with Alabama crushing the Tigers 55–0, which is still the largest margin of victory in the series.[66][67] In the following contest, Auburn shocked Alabama with a 14–13 victory, which is credited with helping revive the series.[68]
For many years, the contest was held at Legion Field in Birmingham, before the teams began alternating between Bryant-Denny Stadium, in Tuscaloosa, and Jordan–Hare Stadium, in Auburn. Alabama won the most recent meeting 49-27 in Tuscaloosa, and leads the series at 49–37–1.[69]
Main article: Third Saturday in October |
Despite the heated in-state rivalry with Auburn, Bear Bryant was more adamant about defeating his rivals to the north, the Tennessee Volunteers.[70] The series is named the Third Saturday in October, the traditional calendar date on which the game was played. Despite the name, the game has been played on the third Saturday only five times between 1995 and 2007. The first game between the two sides was played in 1901 in Birmingham, ending in a 6–6 tie. From 1902 to 1913, Alabama dominated the series, losing only once, and never allowing a touchdown by the Volunteers. Beginning in 1928, the rivalry was first played on its traditional date and began to be a challenge for the Crimson Tide as Robert Neyland began challenging Alabama for their perennial spot on top of the conference standings.[71] In the 1950s, Jim Goostree, the head trainer for Alabama, began another tradition as he began handing out cigars following a victory over the Volunteers.[72]
Between 1971 and 1981, Alabama held an 11-game winning streak over the Volunteers and, between 1986 and 1994, a nine-game unbeaten streak. However, following Alabama's streak, Tennessee responded with a seven-game winning streak from 1995 to 2001. Alabama holds the longest winning streak at 15 from 2007 to 2021. Tennessee won the most recent meeting 52–49 in Knoxville, while Alabama leads the series 58–38–8.[73]
Main article: Alabama–LSU football rivalry |
A rivalry within the SEC Western Division occurs yearly between Alabama and the LSU Tigers. Starting in 1895, the Tigers were victorious 12–6 in the first meeting.[74] The teams did not regularly meet until the mid-1960s during Alabama's dominance of the SEC. Between 1971 and 1981, the Crimson Tide won 11 consecutive times. In the 1969 game, LSU defeated Alabama 20–15 in Baton Rouge. Alabama did not lose again in Baton Rouge until 2000.
In 2007, the meeting was more heated following Alabama's hiring of head coach Nick Saban, who previously coached at LSU. With the hiring, many media outlets dubbed the 2007 meeting as the "Saban Bowl".[75][76][77] The Crimson Tide lost the first "Saban Bowl" in 2007, won the 2008 and 2009 meetings only to lose in Baton Rouge in 2010.
In 2011, the teams played as the consensus No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the polls with LSU winning 9–6 in overtime. They played each other again for the BCS National Championship with Alabama winning 21–0 to secure its 14th National Championship. LSU won the most recent meeting 32-31 in OT in Baton Rouge, while Alabama leads the series 55–27-5.[78]
Main article: Alabama–Ole Miss football rivalry |
Alabama also maintains a rivalry with the Ole Miss Rebels. Alabama won the most recent meeting 30-24 in Oxford, and leads the series 54–10–2.[79]
Main article: Alabama–Mississippi State football rivalry |
Alabama's most-played rival is Mississippi State. The rivalry has been called the "Battle for Highway 82", with the schools being only 90 miles apart. Many cite the 2014 meeting as the biggest game in the series where Alabama faced a #1 ranked, 10–0 Mississippi State team with Dak Prescott as its quarterback. Alabama won 25–20, which helped catapult them into the first College Football Playoff. Alabama won the most recent meeting 30–6 in Tuscaloosa and leads the series 85–18–3.[80]
Main article: Alabama–Clemson football rivalry |
The series dates back to 1900 but the rivalry has intensified in recent years, with the last four meetings having national championship implications.[81] Alabama leads the series 14–5.[82]
Main article: Alabama–Florida football rivalry |
Alabama has a rivalry with the Florida Gators, which was largely developed with the start of the SEC Championship Game.[83] Alabama and Florida have met in 10 SEC Title Games (Alabama leads 6–4 in Title games), including the first 3 from 1992 to 1994. Alabama won the most recent meeting 31–29 in Gainesville, and leads the entire series 28–14 on the field (27–14 with the Alabama 2005 win vacated).[84]
Main article: Alabama–Georgia football rivalry |
Alabama has a rivalry with the Georgia Bulldogs. Alabama has 42 wins in the series while the Bulldogs have 26 wins. Georgia won the most recent meeting 33–18 in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship while Alabama leads the series 42–26–4.[85]
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets were at one time considered Alabama's arch rival.[citation needed] During the suspension of the Iron Bowl between 1907 and 1948, Georgia Tech (then a member of the SEC) emerged as the most intense game on Alabama's schedule. The teams played many significant games, especially in the late 1950s and early 1960s. A heated feud developed between Bear Bryant and Georgia Tech head coach Bobby Dodd following a controversial hit in the 1961 game, a 10–0 Alabama victory.[86] Dodd cited this feud as the primary impetus for Georgia Tech leaving the SEC three years later.[87] The two teams have met 52 times, making Georgia Tech Alabama's most played among current non-conference opponents. Alabama leads the series 28–21–3; Georgia Tech won the last meeting in 1984. Alabama's fight song, "Yea Alabama", mentions Georgia Tech with the line "Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave."[88]
There have been many historic games between Alabama and Penn State. The two teams met five times during the tenure of Bear Bryant, including in the 1979 Sugar Bowl, which determined the national championship for the 1978 season. The games usually have national implications—seven of the 15 meetings between the two schools have featured both teams ranked in the top ten—and eight of the meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less. The most recent game was in 2011, with Alabama winning 27–11. It was the final loss for long-time Penn State head coach Joe Paterno. Alabama leads the series 10–5.
Official record (including any NCAA imposed vacates and forfeits) against all current SEC opponents as of the completion of the 2022 season.[89]
Opponent | Won | Lost | Tied | Pct. | Streak | First meeting |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arkansas | 26 | 7 | 0 | .788 | Won 16 | 1962 |
Auburn | 49 | 37 | 1 | .569 | Won 3 | 1893 |
Florida | 27 | 14 | 0 | .659 | Won 8 | 1916 |
Georgia | 42 | 26 | 4 | .611 | Lost 1 | 1895 |
Kentucky | 38 | 2 | 1 | .939 | Won 7 | 1917 |
LSU | 55 | 27 | 5 | .661 | Lost 1 | 1895 |
Mississippi State | 85 | 18 | 3 | .816 | Won 15 | 1896 |
Missouri | 5 | 2 | 0 | .714 | Won 5 | 1968 |
Ole Miss | 54 | 9 | 2 | .846 | Won 7 | 1894 |
South Carolina | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | Won 1 | 1937 |
Tennessee | 58 | 38 | 8 | .596 | Lost 1 | 1901 |
Texas A&M | 12 | 3 | 0 | .800 | Won 1 | 1942 |
Vanderbilt | 63 | 18 | 4 | .765 | Won 23 | 1903 |
Totals | 527 | 204 | 28 | .713 |
Main article: List of Alabama Crimson Tide bowl games |
This is a partial list of the ten most recent bowl seasons in which Alabama competed. Alabama has an overall bowl record of 46-27-3 (76 games) through the 2022 season.[90][91]
Season | Bowl game | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Sugar Bowl | Oklahoma | L 31–45 |
2014 | Sugar Bowl | Ohio State | L 35–42 |
2015 | Cotton Bowl | Michigan State | W 38–0 |
CFP National Championship | Clemson | W 45–40 | |
2016 | Peach Bowl | Washington | W 24–7 |
CFP National Championship | Clemson | L 31–35 | |
2017 | Sugar Bowl | Clemson | W 24–6 |
CFP National Championship | Georgia | W 26–23 | |
2018 | Orange Bowl | Oklahoma | W 45–34 |
CFP National Championship | Clemson | L 16–44 | |
2019 | Citrus Bowl | Michigan | W 35–16 |
2020 | Rose Bowl | Notre Dame | W 31–14 |
CFP National Championship | Ohio State | W 52–24 | |
2021 | Cotton Bowl | Cincinnati | W 27–6 |
CFP National Championship | Georgia | L 18–33 | |
2022 | Sugar Bowl | Kansas State | W 45-20 |
Eight former Alabama football players have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the fourth most among all colleges.[92]
Inducted | Player | Seasons | NFL Team(s) | Years with NFL Team(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1963 | Don Hutson | 1932–1934 | Green Bay Packers | 1935–1945 |
1977 | Bart Starr | 1952–1955 | Green Bay Packers | 1956–1971 |
1985 | Joe Namath | 1962–1964 | New York Jets | 1965–1976 |
Los Angeles Rams | 1977 | |||
1991 | John Hannah | 1970–1972 | New England Patriots | 1973–1985 |
1998 | Dwight Stephenson | 1977–1979 | Miami Dolphins | 1980–1987 |
1999 | Ozzie Newsome | 1974–1977 | Cleveland Browns | 1978–1990 |
2009 | Derrick Thomas | 1985–1988 | Kansas City Chiefs | 1989–1999 |
2016 | Ken Stabler | 1964–1967 | Oakland Raiders | 1970–1979 |
Houston Oilers | 1980–1981 | |||
New Orleans Saints | 1982–1984 |
During the football season, the Crimson Tide Sports Network (CTSN) broadcasts multiple shows on gameday for most sports. The network includes more than 60 radio stations across the country. Radio stations WFFN-FM, WTSK-AM as a backup, broadcast all home games in the Tuscaloosa area.[93]
Football radio broadcasts begin three hours prior to the game's designated kickoff time with Chris Stewart and Tyler Watts in Around the SEC.[94] The radio broadcast then moves to the Crimson Tide Tailgate Party hosted by Tom Roberts.[94] Immediately following the end of the game, the Fifth Quarter Show begins as host Eli Gold talks to coaches and players and gives game statistics.[94] For the 2008 season, former Alabama players and personalities were brought on to provide guest commentary for each broadcast.[95]
Former radio staff:
Alabama plays Tennessee as a permanent non-division opponent annually and rotates around the East division among the other six schools.[100]
2023 | 2024 | 2025[c] |
vs Tennessee | at Tennessee | vs Tennessee |
at Kentucky | vs South Carolina | at Missouri |
Announced schedules as of August 8, 2022.[102]
2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | 2032 | 2033 | 2034 | 2035 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Middle Tennessee | Western Kentucky | at Florida State | at West Virginia | West Virginia | Ohio State | at Notre Dame | at Georgia Tech | Georgia Tech | Arizona | at Arizona | at Virginia Tech | Virginia Tech |
Texas | South Florida | Louisiana−Monroe | South Florida | at Ohio State | UT Martin | Oklahoma State | Notre Dame | at Boston College | Boston College | |||
at South Florida | at Wisconsin | Wisconsin | Florida State | at Oklahoma State | ||||||||
Chattanooga | Mercer | Eastern Illinois |