News Article: Ranking Nick Saban's six Alabama national championship teams

81usaf92

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1) 2020 - The Greatest Season Ever
2) 2017- the level of difficulty
3) 2009 - first one in nearly two decades
4) 2015- the dynasty strikes back
5) 2011- Order restored
6) 2012-one for the hat
 
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B1GTide

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The 2017 team had the talent on the roster to be #1 but Tua was not used properly until it was almost too late. Putting them at #6 is appropriate given that an undeveloped Jalen was the starting QB the entire season. That team, with Jalen starting, doesn't beat any of the other Alabama teams on the list, IMO. With Tua starting, they go undefeated if he can stay healthy, which is impossible to count on.
 

Padreruf

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Are we ranking talent or on the field success or impact upon the program? Quite honestly, 2018-2019 both had more talent but injuries and distractions got in the way. 2009 will always be special as it re-established the program. 2020 raised the bar quite high from an offensive perspective. Lots of fun to discuss this...
 
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TideEngineer08

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Beautiful Cullman, AL
1. 2020
2. 2012
3. 2017
4. 2011
5. 2009
6. 2015

I can see several different ways to rank them. I'm not sure if '17 should be behind '12 or not... both lost to similar opponents, but 2017 lost the division which kept them from winning the SEC. They were also somewhat non-competitive in their loss to Auburn whereas 2012 almost came back and beat A&M.

I wanted to rank 2015 ahead of 2009, but I couldn't because 2009 went undefeated. I kind of think 2011 shouldn't be ahead of 2015 either, but that defense was so good.
 

RammerJammer15

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1. 2020
2. 2012
3. 2015
4. 2009
5. 2011
6. 2017

2020 is obviously the GOAT team, unbeaten and dominant in every game.

I hold the 2015 in high regard because their playoff started in September.

The 2012 team was special too, and while they had a more traditional offense, the team featured a 3k yard passer, two 1k yard rushers, and a 1k yard receiver, amazing for that time and like the 2020 team capped off the season with a dominant win in Miami.

Off topic but the 2010 team had potential to be the GOAT team, the talent on that team was insane.
 
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selmaborntidefan

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Now I'm going to sound like an AP voter.

Do I say "this team is better because they'd beat this other team" or do I say "this one accomplished more than this one" or do I waffle and take both arguments?

1) 2020 - best team ever
2) 2011 - best defense ever in the wake of a horrific tornado
3) 2009 - more heart than talent (obvious exceptions) but laid the foundation
4) 2015 - heart and talent victimized by one horrible night
5) 2017 - if Tua takes over mid-season, this one is #1
6) 2012 - the coaching staff sans Saban is the reason for this one, esp the OC

Now......if you're asking, "Which team with it's best players on the field was the best all-around team," I think that because the 2017 defense was clearly superior to this year's - I'd actually say 2017 in terms of all-around talent is better even than this year.
 

CoachJeff

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Not with Tua.
Duh.

You don't rank a team based on one half of one game. That team could have been great, but had a lot of fairly close games. If Tua had taken over after the Vandy game they likely to 15-0 and go down as one of the best teams ever.

41-23 against Colorado State
27-19 against a 7-6 TAMU team
31-24 against MSU
Lost to AU

Not nearly as dominant as some of the other teams.
 

BamaNation

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1) 2020 - 11 SEC wins + ND + OSU + COVID + CIVIL UNREST ... Are you kidding? No doubter
2) 2009 - Going from wandering in the desert for 15 years to winning it all.
3) 2011 - Proved it could happen again.
4) 2017 - ... and again
5) 2012 - ... and again
6) 2015 - ... and again
 

selmaborntidefan

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Duh.

You don't rank a team based on one half of one game. That team could have been great, but had a lot of fairly close games. If Tua had taken over after the Vandy game they likely to 15-0 and go down as one of the best teams ever.

41-23 against Colorado State
27-19 against a 7-6 TAMU team
31-24 against MSU
Lost to AU

Not nearly as dominant as some of the other teams.
I don't disagree at all.
 

Elefantman

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R Can Saw
1) 2009 Saban wins first in third season, a lot faster than most predicted.
2) 2020 Best team in a most unusual season, most SEC wins ever
3) 2012 cements the fact this is a dynasty
4) 2015 First NC under CFP, starts the Bama Clemson rivalry
5) 2017 Saban shows he is all in with new style of offense
6) 2011 Great team but will always be known as the game that made college football go to a playoff system
 

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