Nick Saban will leave behind a legendary career that may never be matched again when it comes to winning National Championships. In today’s era of the transfer portal and NIL, it may be difficult for any coach to put together a dominant team every single year.
Nick Saban’s entire coaching tenure lasted 28 years. However, his legacy as a dynasty coach lasted primarily from 2009-2023, or about half of his 28 years.
Nick Saban Has Set His Own Standard
Below is a list of the winningest coaches in college football history.
- Nick Saban: 7 (2003, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020)
- Bear Bryant: 6 (1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979)
- Bernie Bierman: 5 (1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941)
- Woody Hayes: 5 (1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970)
- Frank Leahy: 4 (1943, 1946, 1947, 1949)
Being the winningest coach of all time is an amazing feat, but to win six championships in an 11-year span is phenomenal. Even the late Bear Bryant took 18 years to win his six National Championships. What was once a comparison between Nick Saban and Bear Bryant has become a closed case with Saban being the clear best coach of all time.
It may sound nitpicky, but not all National Championships are created equal, and for Nick Saban, there were certainly years that felt just a little better than the rest. Below are the rankings, from worst (if that exists) to best.
The criteria will be based on a few factors, including season adversity, National Championship drama, and the overall significance of the win.
No. 7 – 2012 National Championship
The 2012 year will be remembered as perhaps the most dominant year for Alabama fans. The Crimson Tide opened the season with a 41-14 blowout win over Michigan (ironically). As the season went on, Alabama would beat Auburn 49-0, Tennessee 44-13, Arkansas 52-0, and 42-14 against Notre Dame in the National Championship. Their one loss came to Texas A&M in a 29-24 loss.
The reason this game is on the bottom of the list is that it was the second straight National Championship and the third in four years. At this point, Alabama fans weren’t excited to win, they were relieved not to lose. Don’t get me wrong, winning a championship is never not special, but this particular one had the least amount of joy and excitement.
No. 6. – 2003 National Championship
Nick Saban won a single championship in LSU. Saban was a good coach but was not yet considered to be elite prior to the 2003 season. The LSU Tigers started the season ranked No. 14. Through the year, they slowly climbed up the polls, only losing to Florida. The season included five Top 20 wins including winning the SEC Championship 34-13 against No. 5 Georgia, and later No. 3 Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.
One aspect that drops this sesaon a little is that there wasn’t actually a clear No. 1 team after the season ended. USC is the most recognized team for winning the championship, however, certain computer systems favored the Tigers. When all was said and done, both teams were awarded the title of National Title, and it led to a clearer championship system in the years that followed. Still, it was Nick Saban’s first championship and it definitely put him on the map to go on and coach Alabama later.
No. 5 – 2015 National Championship
Alabama started the 2015 season with a win against 20th-ranked Wisconsin setting an early tone and message to the rest of the country. The Crimson Tide would go in to win the next 12 of their next 13 games including the 2015 Cotton Bowl Playoff Semifinal 38–0 over Michigan State and winning the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship over undefeated Clemson 45–40 to claim Alabama’s 16th National Championship and Saban’s fourth national championship.
In terms of seasons, this one wasn’t as exciting as many of the other National Championships although it did feature Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. Getting a win over Clemson after losing the previous season was a nice accomplishment, and having a year away from winning was overall a good thing for Alabama in 2014 as far as putting more energy into the program.
No. 4 – 2020 National Championship
This particular year was really difficult to grade because it was the Covid year. The year was filled with cancellations, players being held out for testing positive, and almost no fans in the stands. What made this year stand out was the pure dominance of the Crimson Tide. Of their 13 games, only No. 7 Florida was able to keep it a one-score game. Every other game was a blowout including a 52-24 win over Ohio State in the National Championship Game.
The year will have an asterisk next to it because of the COVID mayhem, but when the rest of the world was shut down, more attention was given to live sports, making this team a special memory for many. It was also Nick Saban’s final championship and the championship that made him the all-time winningest coach.
No. 3 – 2017 National Championship
The 2016 season for Alabama was, at this point, a very typical Nick Saban-led team. The Crimson Tide went 11-1 in the regular season, only losing to Auburn in a lackluster 26-14 loss. The 11-1 finish was still good enough to make the Playoff where Nick Saban would get his revenge against Clemson, who had beaten them in the National Championship in 2015, beating the Tigers easily 24-6.
In terms of the actual Championship Game, this was by far the best game. After falling behind 13-0 at the half, Tua Tagavaloa came in for a struggling Jalen Hurts and got the Crimson Tide back to force overtime. In overtime, Tagavaloa found an open freshman, Devonte Smith, in the back of the endzone to win the National Championship. Little did anyone know how successful all three players would go on to be in the NFL.
No. 2 – 2011 National Championship
Winning one National Championship at a school is an accomplishment, but winning a second makes a coach a legend forever (let alone six). The 2011 season was what really separated Alabama as a new dynasty.
2011 started with an off-the-field event that brought the Alabama community together. Prior to the season, an E4 Tornado ripped across the city of Tuscaloosa, killing 43 and causing millions of dollars in damage. From that point on, the season was dedicated to the people who lost their lives and their families.
Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide didn’t disappoint.
Alabama went 11-1 during the regular season, losing only to LSU in what was deemed “the game of the century.” However, the two teams were considered so dominant that the BCS had no issue facing the two teams off against each other again in the National Championship, where Alabama went on to win 21-0.
No. 1 – 2009 National Championship
Nick Saban’s first National Championship with Alabama is the greatest of the seven for quite a few reasons. Just to get to the National Championship Game, the Crimson Tide had to go undefeated during the regular season and then face the reigning champions, Florida Gators, who were being led by 2008 Heisman Trophy winner and star Tim Tebow.
The Crimson Tide ended up beating the Gators 32-13 winning their first SEC Championship since 1999. The win secured Mark Ingram II his Heisman Trophy award, and Alabama went on to beat Texas in the BCS National Championship in a dominant 37-21 win.
The win put Alabama squarely back on the map and set up their future to be dominant for the next fourteen years under Nick Saban.
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What do you think? Which National Championship team was Nick Saban’s best? Leave a comment, and we’ll respond!
