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Alabama Football: Don’t count on Crimson Tide repeating at national champions

By Shannon Sickmon

Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban in the 2016 CFP National Championship against the Clemson Tigers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban in the 2016 CFP National Championship against the Clemson Tigers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alabama is going to be good. Nick Saban is too brilliant for his team to stumble too far in the rankings. The question is, can the Crimson Tide repeat and get another title this season?

There are so many outstanding teams this year in every conference. Usually, we have a gaggle of SEC teams in the Top 25 and this year is no exception with six teams in the Top 25 with Alabama at No. 1. There is so much talent in SEC West that any team could easily shock the Tide with an unexpected loss. Of course, they lost a game last year and still ended up in the Playoff.

Unfortunately for the Tide, though, history has not been kind to ‘Bama when they started the season at number one. In both 2010 and 2013, Alabama began the season at No. 1 yet they did not finish those seasons at the top spot. They ended 2010 ranked tenth and 2013 ranked seventh.

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Granted, there are teams out there that would sell their mothers to finish the season ranked seventh or tenth. But for Crimson Tide fans finishing at No. 10 is like hearing the clanging chimes of doom. With Heisman winner, Derrick Henry in the NFL, defensive coordinator Kirby Smart at Georgia and questions at quarterback, an ill-timed loss could mean the difference between a championship season and just a good one.

Moreover, it is nearly impossible for a college team to start and finish the season at number one. The last team to do it was USC in 2004. In addition, the Tide has a brutal schedule. They play USC in Week 1 and Ole Miss in a road game in Week 3. They also have away games versus SEC East favorite Tennessee and LSU.

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If they cannot get their quarterback issues resolved we may see the Tide have issues early. Therefore, it is crucial the Crimson Tide offense brutalizes the Trojans right out of the gate. If not, the Tide may not have time to adjust and a non-conference loss may haunt them later in the season. A repeat is not inconceivable but history and statistics prove that it is highly improbable.

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