The Alabama Crimson Tide represents the University of Alabama and plays in both the Southeastern Conference's (SEC) Western Division and the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Nick Saban, the head coach of the Crimson Tide, has guided them to six national titles. The Alabama Crimson Tide has won 18 national championships since its inception in 1892. Of those, 13 were wire-service (AP or coaches') national crowns during the poll era and five were won before the poll era. Paul "Bear" Bryant, a Hall of Fame coach who guided the team to six national titles, was in charge of the team from 1958 to 1982.
The first Alabama player to win the Heisman Trophy was running back Mark Ingram II in 2009. Prior to that, no player had ever won the award. Derrick Henry was the second Heisman winner from the university in 2015. The Crimson Tide, along with DeVonta Smith and Bryce Young, won back-to-back Heisman trophies in 2020 and 2021.
How many National Championships has Alabama won?
Alabama has won the national championship 18 times in 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1941, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020.
In NCAA Division I, Alabama has 965 recognized wins, plus an extra 21 vacated wins, eight forfeited wins, and one tie. Alabama has made an NCAA record 77 postseason bowl appearances and won 34 conference championships (Four Southern Conference and 30 SEC). The team holds NCAA records for 46 bowl victories and 36 seasons with 10 or more wins (plus one vacated). 18 division titles and 15 trips to the SEC Championship Game have put the Crimson Tide atop the SEC West Division. Alabama is undefeated against all SEC schools, both past and present. Alabama is ranked fourth in the all-time final AP Poll appearances by the Associated Press (AP).
When was the last time Alabama won the National Championships?
The recent National Championship won by Alabama was in 2020. Nick Saban's 2020 Alabama Crimson Tide football team concluded the regular season with a perfect 13–0 record. The COVID-19 outbreak forced the season to be shortened to an all-conference format.
To win the SEC Western Division title, the Tide defeated Florida 52–46 in the SEC Championship. For the sixth time in seven seasons, Alabama made it back to the playoffs. In the Rose Bowl, they triumphed 31–14 over Notre Dame. The Tide defeated Ohio State 52–24 in the championship game.
Alabama's Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver DeVonta Smith finished with 215 yards and three touchdowns, and with this win, Saban surpassed Bear Bryant for the most national championships ever with his seventh.
Alabama National Championships wins years
Season | Coach | Selectors | Record | Bowl |
1925 | Wallace Wade | Various | 10–0 | W Rose Bowl |
1926 | Wallace Wade | Various | 9–0–1 | T Rose Bowl |
1930 | Wallace Wade | Various | 10–0 | W Rose Bowl |
1934 | Frank Thomas | Various | 10–0 | W Rose Bowl |
1941 | Frank Thomas | Deke Houlgate | 9–2 | W Cotton Bowl Classic |
1961 | Paul "Bear" Bryant | AP, Coaches | 11–0 | W Sugar Bowl |
1964 | Paul "Bear" Bryant | AP, Coaches | 10–1 | L Orange Bowl |
1965 | Paul "Bear" Bryant | AP | 9–1–1 | W Orange Bowl |
1973 | Paul "Bear" Bryant | Coaches | 11–1 | L Sugar Bowl |
1978 | Paul "Bear" Bryant | AP | 11–1 | W Sugar Bowl |
1979 | Paul "Bear" Bryant | AP, Coaches | 12–0 | W Sugar Bowl |
1992 | Gene Stallings | AP, Coaches | 13–0 | W Sugar Bowl (Bowl Coalition National Championship Game) |
2009 | Nick Saban | AP, Coaches, BCS | 14–0 | W BCS National Championship Game |
2011 | Nick Saban | AP, Coaches, BCS | 12–1 | W BCS National Championship Game |
2012 | Nick Saban | AP, Coaches, BCS | 13–1 | W BCS National Championship Game |
2015 | Nick Saban | AP, Coaches, CFP | 14–1 | W Cotton Bowl Classic W College Football Playoff National Championship |
2017 | Nick Saban | AP, Coaches, CFP | 13–1 | W Sugar Bowl W College Football Playoff National Championship |
2020 | Nick Saban | AP, Coaches, CFP | 13–0 | W Rose Bowl W College Football Playoff National Championship |
Alabama Conference Titles Wins
Alabama has won 34 conference titles in total, including 30 SEC and four Southern Conference titles. The four Southern Conference championships that Alabama won were in 1924, 1925, 1926, and 1930. Alabama won the inaugural SEC championship in 1933 and has won 30 in total.
Season | Conference | Coach | Overall record | Conference record |
1924 | Southern | Wallace Wade | 8–1 | 5–0 |
1925 | Southern | Wallace Wade | 10–0 | 7–0 |
1926 | Southern | Wallace Wade | 9–0–1 | 8–0 |
1930 | Southern | Wallace Wade | 10–0 | 8–0 |
1933 | SEC | Frank Thomas | 7–1–1 | 5–0–1 |
1934 | SEC | Frank Thomas | 10–0 | 7–0 |
1937 | SEC | Frank Thomas | 9–1 | 6–0 |
1945 | SEC | Frank Thomas | 10–0 | 6–0 |
1953 | SEC | Harold Drew | 6–3–3 | 4–0–3 |
1961 | SEC | Paul "Bear" Bryant | 11–0 | 7–0 |
1964 | SEC | Paul "Bear" Bryant | 10–1 | 8–0 |
1965 | SEC | Paul "Bear" Bryant | 9–1–1 | 6–1–1 |
1966 | SEC | Paul "Bear" Bryant | 11–0 | 6–0 |
1971 | SEC | Paul "Bear" Bryant | 11–1 | 7–0 |
1972 | SEC | Paul "Bear" Bryant | 10–2 | 7–1 |
1973 | SEC | Paul "Bear" Bryant | 11–1 | 8–0 |
1974 | SEC | Paul "Bear" Bryant | 11–1 | 6–0 |
1975 | SEC | Paul "Bear" Bryant | 11–1 | 6–0 |
1977 | SEC | Paul "Bear" Bryant | 11–1 | 7–0 |
1978 | SEC | Paul "Bear" Bryant | 11–1 | 6–0 |
1979 | SEC | Paul "Bear" Bryant | 12–0 | 6–0 |
1981 | SEC | Paul "Bear" Bryant | 9–2–1 | 7–0 |
1989 | SEC | Bill Curry | 10–2 | 6–1 |
1992 | SEC | Gene Stallings | 13–0 | 8–0 |
1999 | SEC | Mike DuBose | 10–3 | 7–1 |
2009 | SEC | Nick Saban | 14–0 | 8–0 |
2012 | SEC | Nick Saban | 13–1 | 7–1 |
2014 | SEC | Nick Saban | 12–2 | 7–1 |
2015 | SEC | Nick Saban | 14–1 | 7–1 |
2016 | SEC | Nick Saban | 14–1 | 8–0 |
2018 | SEC | Nick Saban | 14–1 | 8–0 |
2020 | SEC | Nick Saban | 13–0 | 10–0 |
2021 | SEC | Nick Saban | 13–2 | 7–1 |
2023 | SEC | Nick Saban | 12–2 | 8–0 |
Alabama Division Titles Wins
The 1992 season saw the separation of the SEC into two divisions. Alabama was a member of the SEC West. As of 2024, Alabama had won eighteen division titles and had an 11–4 record in the SEC Championship Game.
Season | Division | Opponent | SEC CG result |
1992 | SEC West | Florida | W 28–21 |
1993 | SEC West | Florida | L 13–28 |
1994 | SEC West | Florida | L 23–24 |
1996 | SEC West | Florida | L 30–45 |
1999 | SEC West | Florida | W 34–7 |
2008 | SEC West | Florida | L 20–31 |
2009 | SEC West | Florida | W 32–13 |
2012 | SEC West | Georgia | W 32–28 |
2013 | SEC West | N/A lost tiebreaker to Auburn | |
2014 | SEC West | Missouri | W 42–13 |
2015 | SEC West | Florida | W 29–15 |
2016 | SEC West | Florida | W 54–16 |
2017 | SEC West | N/A lost tiebreaker to Auburn | |
2018 | SEC West | Georgia | W 35–28 |
2020 | SEC West | Florida | W 52–46 |
2021 | SEC West | Georgia | W 41–24 |
2022 | SEC West | N/A lost tiebreaker to LSU | |
2023 | SEC West | Georgia | W 27–24 |
FAQs on Alabama National Championship Wins
A. Alabama has won 18 national championships in football.
A. Mark Ingram II won Alabama's first Heisman Trophy in 2009.
A. Paul "Bear" Bryant coached Alabama to six national titles from 1958 to 1982.
A. Alabama's most recent national championship was in 2020.
A. Alabama has won a total of 30 SEC championships in football as of 2024.