Alabama Football: Ranking 5 national title teams of Nick Saban era

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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: Head coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate with the BCS Championship trophy after winning the Citi BCS National Championship game over the Texas Longhorns at the Rose Bowl on January 7, 2010 in Pasadena, California. The Crimson Tide defeated the Longhorns 37-21. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

5. 2009

Nick Saban’s “worst” championship team at Alabama was his first. It might be strange to call Alabama’s only undefeated season under Saban his worst title season, but this team had some growing pains. The offense was loaded with talent, but the teams later in the dynasty were simply better.

In a list like this, you’re going to have to split hairs. The biggest hair to split is at quarterback, and Greg McElroy is likely the worst starting quarterback at Alabama that won a ring. He was still good, and the team had to have him in order to win in 2009, but he doesn’t stack up well against other quarterbacks like Tua Tagovailoa and A.J. McCarron.

Of course, the offense still had a Heisman Trophy winner at running back. Ingram was a stud in every sense of the word, and he helped carry the team both on and off the field. And you can never forget Julio Jones, arguably the best player to ever go through Saban’s program.

Defensively, stars like Marcell Dareus and Rolando McClain led the way. With Mark Barron and Javier Arenas in the secondary, the Tide were a turnover machine. Add in Arenas’s skill in punt returns, and the team was incredibly well-rounded.

Again, there isn’t a bad national champion. All of these teams are elite. If I had to pick a worst team, it would be the 2009 squad.

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