The 10 Greatest College Football Teams Coached by Nick Saban

Dec 6, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Missouri Tigers safety Braylon Webb (9) forces Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) out of bounds in the first quarter of the 2014 SEC Championship at the Georgia Dome. Alabama beat Missouri 42-13. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nick Saban’s second team in Tuscaloosa looked like it could contend for the national title. With Glen Coffee and Mark Ingram running the ball well and John Parker Wilson ably guiding the offense at quarterback, Alabama was scoring over 30 points per game The defense held opponents to just over two touchdowns per game. And after opening the season with a decisive win over Clemson, the Crimson Tide rolled off 12 straight victories to win the SEC West with a perfect record.

But against Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators, Saban had no answers for Tim Tebow. The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner threw three touchdown passes as Florida won the SEC championship 31-20. The Tide were still selected to play in the Sugar Bowl, but the defense betrayed Saban as Alabama fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter against Utah and couldn’t fight its way back. This team began a run of eight straight 10-win seasons for the Tide, but it also failed to live up to its full expectations.

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