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
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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Throughout their first 11 games, the 2013 Alabama team seemed destined to win a third straight national title. The Crimson Tide defense was dominant, averaging just 13.9 points allowed over the course of the season. Led by C.J. Mosley and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, the Tide had three shutouts and held seven of their first 11 opponents to single digits on the scoreboard. And only three times did they allow more than 30 points to an opponent.

The first time, they escaped Kyle Field with a 49-42 victory over defending Heisman winner Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M. The second time they weren’t so lucky, as they fell to the Kick-Six against Auburn in an Iron Bowl that sent the Tigers and not the Tide to the final BCS championship game. After missing out on a shot at a third straight title, Saban’s team torpedoed further down the rankings after falling 45-31 in the Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma. It was a rare two-game losing streak to end the season yet still one of eight straight 10-win seasons for Saban in Tuscaloosa.