I have an opinion on three teams that did not win a championship. The 1962 team should have been undefeated except for a strange lost to Georgia Tech in Atlanta, and was better than the 1961 team. The 1966 team, as good as it was following back to back championships, was lucky to win at Tennessee. Their kicker shanked a chip shot field goal in the closing seconds. Those were both interesting games that I attended. The 2013 team (following back to back championships) was probably the best team not to win a championship. Being in the red zone four times in the fourth quarter against Auburn and getting zero points cost them the game. Nick should have put that game in A. J.'s hands instead of running it up the middle four times twice. A. J. hit two bombs to Cooper from the one yard line in that game to set up a possible win. Missing two field goals was bad. One score of any kind would have iced the game. Auburn running back the field goal attempt on the last play to win was bad but the game should have been over.
Alabama's best non-national championship teams?
- Thread starter saturdaysarebet
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I was at the bowl game when they dominated a Michigan St. team that came in 11-1. Talent wise that team was up there with the best Saban teams.
2016 not winning a championship still hurts me to this day. 2010 we were really talented
But 2013 deserves a mention. That team often gets ignored because of the play that shall not be named.
But 2013 deserves a mention. That team often gets ignored because of the play that shall not be named.
Name basically any Saban team that didn’t win it, and they probably could have one it with a different bounce of the ball on one play.
But I will highlight the 2013 team. Absolute wild play ended their season. Was also my senior year and I was at the AU game. We just knew for a fact we were going to be the first class in history to experience a 3 peat. I had student tickets to the SECC game already lined up (the tickets were to be released immediately following the AU game if we won). No doubt in my mind we would have won the NC that year if not for that one play.
But I will highlight the 2013 team. Absolute wild play ended their season. Was also my senior year and I was at the AU game. We just knew for a fact we were going to be the first class in history to experience a 3 peat. I had student tickets to the SECC game already lined up (the tickets were to be released immediately following the AU game if we won). No doubt in my mind we would have won the NC that year if not for that one play.
To me, the 2013 and 2018 teams were the best teams to not win a national title. I understand what happened with the 2013 team, but I still don't understand how we got manhandled in the national title game against Clemson out in San Jose. Like it just doesn't make sense after watching that game several times.
The last play did not beat us in 2013. It was our red zone offense in the 4th quarter. The 2018 team was the best defense Saban had. They scored something like 18 touchdowns during the year. We lost to Clemson in 2018 for two reasons. Allen, Foster and Humphries did not have a good game and Clemson played great red zone defense. In the draft Allen and Foster went in the top 10 and Humphries 16. They were probably subconsciously waiting for the big pay day, which could happen to anybody.
This has to be 1966.
Most of our other undefeated teams were fortuitous circumstance or half seasons compared to later.
I want you to think of something that is absolutely mind-boggling:
From September 1, 2015 through January 1, 2019, Alabama went 55-3 with two one-play losses (2015 Ole Miss, 2016 Clemson). And the Auburn game we led in the third quarter.
And won two national championships.
That insane Nebraska run (1993-1997) saw the Huskers go 60-3 with a blowout loss (1996 ASU), a one-play loss (1993 FSU), and a "down to the end" loss by a big margin (1996 Texas). And win 3 national titles. But as I've pointed out on this board, Nebraska's schedule wasn't in the same galaxy as Alabama's - and two of their titles were split because they didn't have to face the "other" great team head-to-head. They didn't have to win a conference title game, a playoff semi-final AND a national title game.
So in all honesty, the greatest one-loss Alabama team HAS to be 2016 - because look what's around them on both sides.
The last play just ensured we were going to lose the game - but you're correct.
We outgained them by over 100 yards.
We had the ball longer.
We had 0 turnovers, they had 1.
We were in their red zone three times in the final 21 minutes - and got zero points.
That was 2016 btw.
Definitely the 2013 team. They were loaded and only really struggled once all season (the flukey barn game). I think they would have steamrolled FSU.
I think if we had either the Jr or Sr version of Jalen Hurts on the 2016 team we’d have obliterated Clemson.
That Jalen could have moved the chains and their game plan to run so many plays on our D would have fallen apart.
I think of all the losses in my years as an Alabama fan, the 2016 national title game - it's not that it "hurts" (pardon the unfortunate pun) the most, it's just the one where even with everything stacked against us, it looked like we were going to be talking about it for the ages. I've said more than once I don't have much tolerance for the "but Colt McCoy got hurt" level of argument. And we had a ton of off-the-field problems on the coaching staff that didn't help and that also failed to develop Hurts at that time.
1) Clemson never led in that game until the final second.
2) Clemson had 155 yards in the final 6:33 of the game.
3) The critical play of the game was Clemson preventing Ryan Anderson from scoring when he picked up the fumble early in the 3rd quarter. That right there is the 4 points that decided it.
4) Had Clemson then been down, 21-7, they would have not been so comfortable and at that point our defense was still fresh. It makes the rest of the game different.
5) If only.....
- Eddie Jackson isn't hurt in October
- Bo Scarborough isn't hurt in the game
- Jalen develops just a tiny bit more
- they don't get away with two pick plays
Of all the "we should have won games," that's probably the one the players especially will remember most in years to come. Because it could have been a bona fide three-peat.
You might want to go watch that Johnny Manziel game again.........just saying......
One small correction: Clemson DID, in fact, lead prior to the last play else the Ardarius Stewart pass to Hurts wouldn't have been necessary.
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