Alabama head coach Nick Saban won his sixth national championship this year. The 26-23 victory over Georgia tied Saban with former Alabama coach Paul W. “Bear” Bryant for the most national championships of any major college football coach. TideSports is looking back at the careers and legacies of both coaches with special coverage. You can view Nick Saban’s six national championships here.
1961
Overall record: 11-0
Conference record: 7-0
Path to the championship: Alabama started ranked No. 3 and cruised through the season with little trouble. The Crimson Tide rose to No. 2 by November and took the No. 1 spot in the major polls after defeating Georgia Tech 10-0 in Birmingham in the next-to-last game of the regular season. Alabama closed out with another shutout, this time against Auburn, then topped ninth-ranked Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl to finish undefeated.
Bump in the road: Paul W. “Bear” Bryant’s squad faced little adversity in the regular season. The only relatively close victories were both shutouts: a 9-0 win over Tulane in Mobile in the second game and the 10-0 win over Georgia Tech in November. Only five opponents managed to score on this dominant defense.
Biggest win along the way: Alabama was ranked No. 2 when it hosted the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, who were on their way to a No. 13 final ranking, at Legion Field. UA held Georgia Tech to 93 yards and forced three turnovers.
Championship game: In the days when polls settled the national title debate, Alabama had already gained national championship recognition from several sources before it faced ninth-ranked Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. Arkansas did better than most against a stout Crimson Tide defense, gaining 168 yards, but Alabama intercepted three passes and recovered three fumbles. Pat Trammell’s 12-yard touchdown run in the opening period and a Tim Davis field goal in the second quarter gave UA more than enough points. Arkansas avoided a shutout with a field goal in the second half.
Key stat: Alabama posted six shutouts, holding opponents to an average of 2.2 points per game.
Results
at Georgia W 32-6
Tulane W 9-0+
at Vanderbilt W 35-6
North Carolina State W 26-7
Tennessee W 34-3*
at Houston W 17-0
Mississippi State W 24-0
Richmond W 66-0
Georgia Tech W 10-0*
Auburn W 34-0*
Arkansas W 10-3#
+Mobile
*Birmingham
#Sugar Bowl, New Orleans
Captains: Pat Trammell, Billy Neighbors
Assistant coaches: Phil Cutchin, Carney Leslie, Sam Bailey, Charlie Bradshaw, Pat James, Gene Stallings, Dude Hennessey, Howard Schnellenberger, Elwood Kettler, Clem Gryska, Don Cochran
Leading rusher: Mike Fracchia, 652 yards and five touchdowns on 130 carries
Leading passer: Pat Trammell, 75 of 133 for 1,035 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions
Leading receiver: Tommy Brooker, 183 yards and one touchdown on 12 receptions
Leading tackler: Not available
Top player awards: Pat Trammell, SEC Most Valuable Player; Billy Neighbors, Jacobs Blocking Trophy
Recognized by: Associated Press, United Press International, National Football Foundation, others; Ohio State (8-0-1), which declined an invitation to the Rose Bowl citing a move to stress academics over athletics, was recognized by the Football Writers Association.
1964
Overall record: 10-1
Conference record: 8-0
Path to the championship: Alabama started out ranked No. 6 and marched easily through the first part of its schedule, got by a couple of rough patches with close victories over Tennessee and Florida, then closed out with a strong finish that included wins over eighth-ranked LSU and 10th-ranked Georgia Tech late. UA moved up to No. 2 after defeating LSU and was vaulted to the top spot at the end of the regular season after Southern Cal knocked off top-ranked Notre Dame.
Bump in the road: Alabama, ranked No. 3, survived ninth-ranked Florida for a 17-14 homecoming victory. The Crimson Tide rallied past the Gators and their future Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Steve Spurrier, with 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. David Ray’s field goal with 3:06 to go held up when the Gators missed a short kick to tie it in the waning seconds.
Biggest win along the way: Eighth-ranked LSU came to Birmingham’s recently-expanded Legion Field in early November with a 5-0-1 record. Alabama again had to come from behind with 10 unanswered points in the final period in front of a crowd of 67,749, the largest crowd ever to see a game in the state. UA took the lead on a field goal and sealed it when Hudson Harris returned an interception for a score as Alabama won 17-9.
Championship game: Championships were awarded by the major wire services before the bowl games, and Alabama lost 21-17 to eighth-ranked Texas in the Orange Bowl. UA once again fell behind, trailing 14-0 early, but this time the rally by the Joe Namath-led Crimson Tide fell short.
Key stat: The Crimson Tide defense allowed more than 10 points just three times, holding opponents to 6.7 points per game.
Results
Georgia W 31-3
Tulane W 36-6+
Vanderbilt W 24-0*
North Carolina State W 21-0
at Tennessee W 19-8
Florida W 17-14
at Mississippi State W 23-6^
LSU W 17-9*
at Georgia Tech W 24-7
Auburn W 21-14*
Texas L 21-17#
+Mobile
*Birmingham
^Jackson, Miss.
#Orange Bowl, Miami
Captains: Joe Namath, Ray Ogden
Assistant coaches: Gene Stallings, Howard Schnellenberger, Ken Meyer, Dee Powell, Richard Williamson, Ken Donahue, Dude Hennessey, Clem Gryska, Jimmy Sharpe, Mal Moore
Leading rusher: Steve Bowman, 536 yards and eight touchdowns on 105 carries
Leading passer: Joe Namath, 64 of 100 for 756 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions
Leading receiver: Tommy Tolleson, 248 yards and two touchdowns on 22 receptions
Leading tackler: Not available
Top player awards: None
Recognized by: Associated Press, United Press International and others; Arkansas (11-0) was recognized by the Football Writers Association, National Championship Foundation and others; Michigan (9-1) was recognized by Dunkel; Notre Dame (9-1) was recognized by the National Football Foundation and others.
1965
Overall record: 9-1-1
Conference record: 6-1-1
Path to the championship: Alabama came into the season ranked No. 5 and stumbled out of the gate, losing to Georgia in its opener. Alabama won three in a row before tying Tennessee, then closed out undefeated the rest of the way with wins over the likes of Mississippi State, LSU and Auburn. Alabama topped Nebraska in the Orange Bowl to cap its season.
Bump in the road: Alabama seemed on its way to beating Tennessee with possession at the Volunteers’ 6-yard line in the final minute. UA quarterback Ken Stabler, thinking Alabama had gained a first down on the previous play, threw the ball out of bounds on fourth down to stop the clock. Instead of punching the ball in for a winning touchdown or kicking a field goal for victory, the Crimson Tide turned the ball over on downs and settled for a 7-7 tie.
Biggest win along the way: Alabama was ranked No. 5 when it visited LSU in November, and the Tigers were on their way to a No. 8 final ranking. UA struck with vigor behind Steve Sloan, who passed for 150 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. Steve Bowman added two rushing scores and the Crimson Tide cruised to a 31-7 victory.
Championship game: Alabama, ranked No. 4, was paired with third-ranked Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. Steve Sloan passed for 296 yards in leading UA’s offense to a 518-yard outburst, with Ray Perkins catching nine passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns as the Crimson Tide defeated the Cornhuskers, 39-28. Losses by Michigan State and Arkansas, which had come into their bowls ranked No. 1 and 2, vaulted Alabama to the top spot
Key stat: Alabama intercepted 20 passes and recovered 15 fumbles to average more than three takeaways per game.
Results
at Georgia L 18-17
Tulane W 27-0+
Ole Miss W 17-16*
at Vanderbilt W 22-7
Tennessee T 7-7*
Florida State W 21-0
at Mississippi State W 10-7^
at LSU W 31-7
South Carolina W 35-14
Auburn W 30-3*
Nebraska W 39-28#
+Mobile
*Birmingham
^Jackson, Miss.
#Orange Bowl, Miami
Captains: Steve Sloan, Paul Crane
Assistant coaches: Howard Schnellenberger, Ken Meyer, Richard Williamson, Ralph Genito, Mal Moore, Pat Dye, Ken Donahue, Dude Hennessey, Clem Gryska, Jimmy Sharpe
Leading rusher: Steve Bowman, 770 yards and six touchdowns on 153 carries
Leading passer: Steve Sloan, 97 of 160 for 1,453 yards and 10 touchdowns with three interceptions
Leading receiver: Tommy Tolleson, 374 yards and two touchdowns on 32 receptions
Leading tackler: Not available
Top player awards: Steve Sloan, SEC Player of the Year
Recognized by: Associated Press, Football Writers Association, National Championship Foundation; Michigan State was recognized by United Press International, National Football Foundation and others.
1973
Overall record: 11-1
Conference record: 8-0
Path to the championship: Alabama steamrolled through the opposition, starting with a 66-0 victory over Cal to open its campaign. The Crimson Tide beat ranked Tennessee and LSU teams along the way to completing a perfect march through the regular season. Alabama lost to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, but had already been awarded championship recognition by United Press International before the bowl season began
Bump in the road: There wasn’t one. Alabama didn’t win by less than two touchdowns in any regular-season game. The Crimson Tide started out at No. 6 in the polls and only Kentucky, Georgia and LSU were able to finish within 14 points of Alabama.
Biggest win along the way: Alabama was ranked No. 2 when it traveled to Baton Rouge, La., for a nationally-televised game at seventh-ranked LSU on Thanksgiving. As in every other game during the 1973 regular season, the Crimson Tide was far superior as Gary Rutledge passed for two touchdowns and ran for another in a 21-7 victory.
Championship game: Alabama and Notre Dame met as undefeateds in an epic Sugar Bowl matchup. UA took a two-point lead in the fourth quarter on Mike Stock’s trick-play touchdown pass to Richard Todd, but the Fighting Irish drove back to retake the lead with less than five minutes to go. Alabama pinned Notre Dame at its 1-yard line late, but Tom Clements completed a third-down pass out of the end zone to allow the Irish to run out the clock on a 24-23 victory.
Key stat: Alabama’s average point differential, even with one defeat, was better than 33 points per game. UA scored 41.3 points per game and allowed just 8.1.
Results
California W 66-0*
at Kentucky W 28-14
at Vanderbilt W 44-0
Georgia W 28-14
at Florida W 35-14
Tennessee W 42-12*
Virginia Tech W 77-6
at Mississippi State W 35-0^
Miami W 43-13
at LSU W 21-7
Auburn W 35-0*
Notre Dame L 24-23#
*Birmingham
^Jackson, Miss.
#Sugar Bowl, New Orleans
Captains: Wilbur Jackson, Chuck Strickland
Assistant coaches: Sam Bailey, Jimmy Sharpe, Jack Rutledge, Dude Hennessey, Bill Oliver, Bobby Marks, Bud Moore, Mal Moore, Pat Dye
Leading rusher: Wilbur Jackson, 752 yards and eight touchdowns on 95 yards
Leading passer: Richard Todd, 33 of 57 for 897 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions
Leading receiver: Wayne Wheeler, 530 yards and three touchdowns on 19 receptions
Leading tackler: Woodrow Lowe, 134
Top player awards: Buddy Brown, Jacobs Blocking Trophy
Recognized by: United Press International and Berryman; Notre Dame (11-0) was recognized by Associated Press, National Football Foundation, Football Writers Association and others; Michigan (10-0-1), Ohio State (10-0-1) and Oklahoma (10-0-1) also received recognition by various sources.
1978
Overall record: 11-1
Conference record: 6-0
Path to the championship: Alabama was ranked No. 1 in the preseason with a schedule that included three ranked teams to start things off. UA defeated No. 10 Nebraska and No. 11 Missouri before losing to seventh-ranked Southern Cal, then ran off nine wins in a row, closing out with a victory over Penn State in a national championship Sugar Bowl showdown.
Bump in the road: Alabama was favored by 10 1/2 points over Southern Cal at Birmingham’s Legion Field, but Charles White ran for 199 yards and a touchdown and Kevin Williams caught two touchdown passes to lead the Trojans to a 24-14 victory. UA turned the ball over six times.
Biggest win along the way: The Crimson Tide opened with a 20-3 victory over Nebraska in Birmingham, avenging its only defeat from the previous season. Alabama held the Cornhuskers to 174 yards and spread its own offense around, with Tony Nathan rushing for 78 yards and a score and Jeff Rutledge passing for one touchdown and running for another.
Championship game: In a rare No. 1 vs. No. 2 bowl matchup in the poll era, top-ranked Alabama had a legendary goal-line stand in the fourth quarter to preserve a 14-7 victory over Penn State in the Sugar Bowl. The Nittany Lions managed just 19 rushing yards and passed for 163, with the Crimson Tide intercepting four passes. Tony Nathan ran for 127 yards and Major Ogilvie had a rushing touchdown to go with Jeff Rutledge’s passing score.
Key stat: Over the course of a dozen games that included five against opponents ranked in the top 11, Alabama averaged more than 400 yards per game out of its wishbone offense, including 287 rushing yards per game.
Results
Nebraska W 20-3*
at Missouri W 38-20
Southern Cal L 24-14
Vanderbilt W 51-28
at Washington W 20-17
at Florida W 23-12
at Tennessee W 30-17
Virginia Tech W 35-0
Mississippi State W 35-14*
LSU W 31-10*
Auburn W 34-16*
*Birmingham
^Sugar Bowl, New Orleans
Captains: Marty Lyons, Jeff Rutledge, Tony Nathan
Assistant coaches: Sylvester Croom, Ken Donahue, Bobby Marks, Bill Oliver, Bryant Poole, Dee Powell, Jeff Rouzie, Jack Rutledge, George White, Perry Willis, Mike Marks
Leading rusher: Tony Nathan, 770 yards and six touchdowns on 111 carries
Leading passer: Jeff Rutledge, 73 of 140 for 1,078 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions
Leading receiver: George Pugh, 446 yards and one touchdown on 20 receptions
Leading tackler: Marty Lyons, 119
Top player awards: None
Recognized by: Associated Press, National Football Foundation, Football Writers Association and others; Southern Cal (11-1) was recognized by United Press International and others; Oklahoma (11-1) was recognized by Dunkel and others.
1979
Overall record: 12-0
Conference record: 6-0
Path to the championship: Alabama entered the season ranked No. 2 and allowed just one touchdown – against a ranked Tennessee team – over the course of the first five games. The Crimson Tide rolled along undefeated and unchallenged before closing out the regular season with a hard-fought victory over 14th-ranked Auburn. UA crowned its perfect season with a Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas to claim Paul W. “Bear” Bryant’s sixth national championship.
Bump in the road: Alabama had to work to win the Iron Bowl, with Auburn taking a one-point lead in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Steadman Shealy drove the Crimson Tide back for the win, scoring on a run and rushing for a two-point conversion with just over three minutes to go. Alabama’s defense did the rest in a 25-18 victory.
Biggest win along the way: In a November downpour in Baton Rouge, La., top-ranked Alabama battled LSU and the elements for a 3-0 victory. In a game that saw 15 punts, four turnovers and precious little offense, UA got a 27-yard field goal from Alan McElroy in the third quarter and made it hold up for the victory.
Championship game: Alabama bested sixth-ranked Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl, 24-9, for its 21st straight victory to close out a perfect season. The Razorbacks fell behind 17-3 by halftime as Alabama cranked up its running game with two Major Ogilvie touchdowns and put it out of reach early.
Key stat: Alabama held opponents to 2.8 yards per play on the season and intercepted 25 passes in 12 games.
Results
at Georgia Tech W 30-6
Baylor W 45-0*
at Vanderbilt W 66-3
Wichita State W 38-0
at Florida W 40-0
Tennessee W 27-17*
Virginia Tech W 31-7
Mississippi State W 24-7
at LSU W 3-0
Miami W 30-0
Auburn W 25-18*
Arkansas W 24-9^
*Birmingham
^Sugar Bowl, New Orleans
Captains: Don McNeal, Steve Whitman
Assistant coaches: Ken Donahue, Sylvester Croom, K.J. Lazenby, Bobby Marks, Mal Moore, Bill Oliver, Bryant Poole, Dee Powell, Jeff Rouzie, Jack Rutledge, George “Shorty” White, Perry Willis
Leading rusher: Steadman Shealy, 791 yards and 11 touchdowns on 152 carries
Leading passer: Steadman Shealy, 45 of 81 for 717 yards and four touchdowns with five interceptions
Leading receiver: George Pugh, 433 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries
Leading tackler: Thomas Boyd, 92
Top player awards: Dwight Stephenson, Jacobs Blocking Trophy
Recognized by: Associated Press, National Football Foundation, Football Writers Association and others (consensus).
