The Alabama Crimson Tide football program represents the University of Alabama (variously Alabama, UA, or Bama) in American football. It is part of the wider Crimson Tide athletics program and competes in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), a conference of the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
The Crimson Tide are among the most storied and decorated football programs in NCAA history. It claims 18 national championships, including 13 wire-service (AP or Coaches') national titles in the poll-era and five titles from before the poll-era. From 1958 to 1982, Hall of Fame coach Paul "Bear" Bryant led the program to six national titles. Head coach Nick Saban oversaw another golden era between 2007 and 2023, winning six further national titles. It was not until 2009, however, that running back Mark Ingram II became the first Alabama player to receive a Heisman Trophy. In 2015, Derrick Henry became the university's second Heisman winner. The program achieved two further Heisman Trophies in 2020 and 2021; these were awarded to DeVonta Smith and Bryce Young, respectively.
Alabama has 985 official victories in NCAA Division I (an additional 21 victories were vacated, and eight victories and one tie were forfeited). Alabama has won 34 conference championships (4 Southern Conference and 30 SEC championships), and has made an NCAA-record 79 postseason bowl appearances. The program has 43 seasons with ten wins or more (plus one vacated) and has 46<sup id="inlineb" class="reference">[b]</sup> bowl victories, both NCAA records. Alabama holds the NCAA record for most consecutive ten win seasons at sixteen from 2008 to 2023. The Crimson Tide lead the SEC West Division with 18 division titles and 16 appearances in the SEC Championship Game. The Associated Press (AP) ranks Alabama fourth in all-time final AP Poll appearances, with 62 through the 2024 season.
Alabama plays home games on Saban Field at BryantâÂÂDenny Stadium, located on UA's campus in Tuscaloosa. Its capacity of 100,077 makes it the tenth largest non-racing stadium in the world and the eighth largest stadium in the United States. The team's rallying cry is "Roll Tide!". Its official fight song is "Yea Alabama", although "Dixieland Delight" is widely sung as an unofficial anthem. The Crimson Tide's fiercest rivalry is with the Alabama-based Auburn Tigers, against whom it contests the Iron Bowl.
Alabama has had 28 head coaches since organized football began in 1892. Adopting the nickname "Crimson Tide" after the 1907 season, 12 coaches have led the Crimson Tide in postseason bowl games: Wallace Wade, Frank Thomas, Harold D. "Red" Drew, Bear Bryant, Ray Perkins, Bill Curry, Gene Stallings, Mike DuBose, Dennis Franchione, Mike Shula, Joe Kines, and Nick Saban. Eight of those coaches also won conference championships: Wade, Thomas, Drew, Bryant, Curry, Stallings, DuBose, and Saban. During their tenures, Wade, Thomas, Bryant, Stallings, and Saban all won national championships with the Crimson Tide.
Of the 27 different head coaches who have led the Crimson Tide, Wade, Thomas, Bryant, and Stallings have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The current head coach is Kalen DeBoer, who took over the position in 2024 following the retirement of long-time head coach Nick Saban following the 2023 season.
National championships in NCAA FBS college football are debated as the NCAA does not officially award the championship. Despite not naming an official National Champion, the NCAA provides lists of championships awarded by "major selectors." According to the official NCAA 2009 Division I Football Records Book, "During the last 138 years, there have been more than 30 selectors of national champions using polls, historical research and mathematical rating systems. Beginning in 1936, the Associated Press began the best-known and most widely circulated poll of sportswriters and broadcasters. Before 1936, national champions were determined by historical research and retroactive ratings and polls. [...] The criteria for being included in this historical list of poll selectors is that the poll be national in scope, either through distribution in newspaper, television, radio and/or computer online."
Since World War II, Alabama claims only national championships awarded by the final AP Poll or the final Coaches' Poll. This policy is consistent with other FBS football programs with numerous national title claims, including Notre Dame, USC, and Oklahoma, except that in the pre-1936 era, unlike Alabama, there are major selectors' titles that these schools do not claim. All national championships claimed by the University of Alabama were published in nationally syndicated newspapers and magazines, and each of the national championship selectors, and are cited in the Official 2010 NCAA FBS Record Book. In addition to the championships claimed by the university, the NCAA has listed Alabama as receiving a championship for the 1945, 1966, 1975, and 1977 college football seasons.
In Alabama's 1982 media guide, the last for Coach Bryant, 1934 is listed as the only national championship before Coach Bryant in a footnote about the school's SEC history. In the 1980s, Alabama's Sports Information Director Wayne Atcheson started recognizing five pre-Bryant national championship teams (1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1941) by adding them to the university's Football Media Guide. According to Atcheson, he made the effort in the context of disputed titles being claimed by other schools, and "to make Alabama football look the best it could look" to compete with the other claimants. Atcheson maintains that the titles are the school's rightful claims. Four of the five championships claimed in the Media Guide come before the AP poll was introduced in 1936. Many schools claim national championships from pre-1936 because there was no contemporary or nationally recognized authoritative source before that year.
The University of Alabama 2009 Official Football Media Guide says Alabama had 12 national championships prior to winning the 2010 BCS National Championship Game. The 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020 titles bring the total number of national championships claimed by Alabama to 18. Thirteen of Alabama's national championships were awarded by the wire-services (AP, Coaches' Poll) or by winning the BCS National Championship Game.
In January 2013, CNN suggested that Alabama might be college football's new dynasty, and in May 2013, Athlon Sports ranked Alabama's ongoing dynasty as the fourth-best since 1934, behind Oklahoma (1948âÂÂ58), Miami (1986âÂÂ92), and Nebraska (1993âÂÂ97).
Alabama has won a total of 34 conference championships; this includes four Southern Conference and 30 SEC Championships. Alabama captured its four Southern Conference titles in 1924, 1925, 1926, and 1930. Alabama captured the first SEC title in 1933 and has won a total of 30 SEC Championships (1933, 1934, 1937, 1945, 1953, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1989â , 1992, 1999, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023). The school has won more SEC football titles than any other school, including 11 since the conference split into separate divisions and added the Championship Game in 1992. Alabama is the only school to win an SEC Championship in every decade since the conference was founded in 1933.
â Co-champions
The SEC was split into two divisions beginning in the 1992 season. Alabama competed in the SEC West. Alabama won 18 division titles and posted an 11âÂÂ4 record in the SEC Championship Game.
â Co-champions
Every year, several publications release lists of their ideal "team". The athletes on these lists are referred to as All-Americans. The NCAA recognizes five All-American lists. They are the Associated Press (AP), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Sporting News (TSN), and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF). Alabama has had 150 players honored 174 times as first team All-Americans (85 consensus) in its history, including 20 players honored twice and two players (Cornelius Bennett and Woodrow Lowe) who were honored three times as a First Team All-American.
The most recent All-American from Alabama came after the 2025 season, when Kadyn Proctor, was named Consensus first-team All-American by various selectors.
In 1951, the College Football Hall of Fame opened in South Bend, Indiana. Since then, Alabama has had 23 players and 5 former coaches inducted into the Hall of Fame. Alabama had two members inducted into the inaugural 1951 classâÂÂDon Hutson and Frank Thomas.
On December 12, 2009, Mark Ingram II became Alabama's first Heisman Trophy winner. In the closest race ever, he edged out Stanford running back Toby Gerhart by 28 points. Other notable finishes for an Alabama player occurred in 1993, when David Palmer finished third in the Heisman voting and when A. J. McCarron finished as runner-up for the 2013 season. Derrick Henry became Alabama's second Heisman trophy winner on December 12, 2015. Tua Tagovailoa finished runner-up for the 2018 season as well. For the 2020 season, Alabama became the second program in college football history to have three players finish in the top five. DeVonta Smith became Alabama's third Heisman winner with Mac Jones finishing third and Najee Harris fifth. In 2021, Bryce Young became the fourth winner with Will Anderson Jr. finishing fifth. With its fourth Heisman winner Alabama has produced the fifth most Heisman trophies of all time behind Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State and USC.
Top 5 finishes for Alabama players:
Starting in 1994, the Southeastern Conference has annually honored one former football player from each of the SEC member schools as an "SEC Legend". The following former Crimson Tide football players have been honored as SEC Legends.
The main rivalry of the Crimson Tide is against its in-state rival, Auburn University; considered one of the top sporting rivalries in the US. The AlabamaâÂÂAuburn game has come to be known as the Iron Bowl. The outcome of the game generally determines "bragging rights" in the state of Alabama until the following contest. The game may also have implications as to which team will represent the SEC Western Division in the SEC Championship Game.
On February 22, 1893, at Lakeview Park in Birmingham, Auburn was victorious in the first ever Iron Bowl, 32âÂÂ22. The series was suspended after the 1907 contest, due to violence and financial complications. In 1944, Auburn suggested to reopen the series, though the board of trustees at Alabama rejected. The series was resumed in 1948, with Alabama crushing the Tigers 55âÂÂ0, which is still the largest margin of victory in the series. In the following contest, Auburn shocked Alabama with a 14âÂÂ13 victory, which is credited with helping revive the series.
For many years, the contest was held at Legion Field in Birmingham, before the teams began alternating between BryantâÂÂDenny Stadium, in Tuscaloosa, and JordanâÂÂHare Stadium, in Auburn. Alabama won the most recent meeting 27âÂÂ20 in Auburn and leads the series at 52âÂÂ37âÂÂ1.
Despite the heated in-state rivalry with Auburn, Bear Bryant was more adamant about defeating his rivals to the north, the Tennessee Volunteers. The series is named the Third Saturday in October, the traditional calendar date on which the game was played. Despite the name, the game has been played on the third Saturday only five times between 1995 and 2007. The first game between the two sides was played in 1901 in Birmingham, ending in a 6âÂÂ6 tie. From 1902 to 1913, Alabama dominated the series, losing only once, and never allowing a touchdown by the Volunteers. Beginning in 1928, the rivalry was first played on its traditional date and began to be a challenge for the Crimson Tide as Robert Neyland began challenging Alabama for their perennial spot on top of the conference standings. In the 1950s, Jim Goostree, the head trainer for Alabama, began another tradition as he began handing out cigars following a victory over the Volunteers.
Between 1971 and 1981, Alabama held an 11-game winning streak over the Volunteers and, between 1986 and 1994, a nine-game unbeaten streak. However, following Alabama's streak, Tennessee responded with a seven-game winning streak from 1995 to 2001. Alabama holds the longest winning streak at 15 from 2007 to 2021. Alabama won the most recent meeting 37âÂÂ20 in Tuscaloosa and leads the series 60âÂÂ40âÂÂ7.
A rivalry within the SEC Western Division occurs yearly between Alabama and the LSU Tigers. Starting in 1895, the Tigers were victorious 12âÂÂ6 in the first meeting. The teams did not regularly meet until the mid-1960s during Alabama's dominance of the SEC. Between 1971 and 1981, the Crimson Tide won 11 consecutive times. In the 1969 game, LSU defeated Alabama 20âÂÂ15 in Baton Rouge. Alabama did not lose again in Baton Rouge until 2000.
In 2007, the meeting was more heated following Alabama's hiring of head coach Nick Saban, who previously coached at LSU. With the hiring, many media outlets dubbed the 2007 meeting as the "Saban Bowl". The Crimson Tide lost the first "Saban Bowl" in 2007, won the 2008 and 2009 meetings only to lose in Baton Rouge in 2010.
In 2011, the teams played as the consensus No.1 and No.2 ranked teams in the polls with LSU winning 9âÂÂ6 in overtime. They played each other again for the BCS National Championship with Alabama winning 21âÂÂ0 to secure its 14th National Championship. Alabama won the most recent meeting 20âÂÂ9 in Tuscaloosa and leads the series 58âÂÂ27âÂÂ5.
Alabama also maintains a rivalry with the Ole Miss Rebels. Alabama won the most recent meeting 24âÂÂ10 in Tuscaloosa, and leads the series 55âÂÂ10âÂÂ2.
Alabama's most-played rival is Mississippi State. The rivalry has been called the "Battle for Highway 82", with the schools being only 90 miles apart. Many cite the 2014 meeting as the biggest game in the series where Alabama faced a #1 ranked, 9âÂÂ0 Mississippi State team with Dak Prescott as its quarterback. Alabama won 25âÂÂ20, which helped catapult them into the first College Football Playoff. Alabama won the most recent meeting 40âÂÂ17 in Starkville and leads the series 86âÂÂ18âÂÂ3.
The series dates back to 1900 but the rivalry has intensified in recent years, with the last four meetings having national championship implications. Alabama leads the series 14âÂÂ5.
Alabama has a rivalry with the Florida Gators, which was largely developed with the start of the SEC Championship Game. Alabama and Florida have met in 10 SEC Title Games (Alabama leads 6âÂÂ4 in Title games), including the first 3 from 1992 to 1994. Alabama won the most recent meeting 31âÂÂ29 in Gainesville, and leads the entire series 27âÂÂ14.
Alabama has a rivalry with the Georgia Bulldogs. Georgia won the most recent meeting 28âÂÂ7 in the 2025 SEC Championship Game while Alabama leads the series 45âÂÂ27âÂÂ4.
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets were at one time considered Alabama's arch rival. During the suspension of the Iron Bowl between 1907 and 1948, Georgia Tech (then a member of the SEC) emerged as the most intense game on Alabama's schedule. The teams played many significant games, especially in the late 1950s and early 1960s. A heated feud developed between Bear Bryant and Georgia Tech head coach Bobby Dodd following a controversial hit in the 1961 game, a 10âÂÂ0 Alabama victory. Dodd cited this feud as the primary impetus for Georgia Tech leaving the SEC three years later. The two teams have met 52 times, making Georgia Tech Alabama's most played among current non-conference opponents. Alabama leads the series 28âÂÂ21âÂÂ3; Georgia Tech won the last meeting in 1984. Alabama's fight song, "Yea Alabama", mentions Georgia Tech with the line "Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave."
There have been many historic games between Alabama and Penn State. The two teams met five times during the tenure of Bear Bryant, including in the 1979 Sugar Bowl, which determined the national championship for the 1978 season. The games usually have national implicationsseven of the 15 meetings between the two schools have featured both teams ranked in the top tenand eight of the meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less. The most recent game was in 2011, with Alabama winning 27âÂÂ11. It was the final loss for long-time Penn State head coach Joe Paterno. Alabama leads the series 10âÂÂ5.
Official record (including any NCAA imposed vacates and forfeits) against all current SEC opponents as of the completion of the 2025 season.
This is a partial list of the ten most recent bowl seasons in which Alabama competed. Alabama has an overall bowl record of 46âÂÂ30-3 (79 games) through the 2025 season.
In 2024 the College Football Playoff expanded to include 12 teams in the field. The top four seeds receive a bye to the quarterfinals (New Years Six bowls) while the other eight play first round games with seeds 5 to 8 hosting the playoff games. First round games do not count as bowl games.
<nowiki>*</nowiki> The eventual national champion
Eight former Alabama football players have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the fourth most among all colleges.
Source:
During the football season, the Crimson Tide Sports Network (CTSN) broadcasts multiple shows on gameday for most sports. The network includes more than 60 radio stations across the country. Radio stations WFFN-FM, WTSK-AM as a backup, broadcast all home games in the Tuscaloosa area.
Football radio broadcasts begin three hours prior to the game's designated kickoff time with Chris Stewart and Tyler Watts in Around the SEC. The radio broadcast then moves to the Crimson Tide Tailgate Party hosted by Tom Roberts. Immediately following the end of the game, the Fifth Quarter Show begins as host Eli Gold talks to coaches and players and gives game statistics. For the 2008 season, former Alabama players and personalities were brought on to provide guest commentary for each broadcast.
Current radio staff:
Former radio staff:
From 1992 to 2023, Alabama played in the West Division of the SEC and played each opponent in the division each year along with several teams from the East Division. The SEC will expand the conference to 16 teams and will eliminate its two divisions in 2024, causing a new scheduling format for the Crimson Tide to play against the other members of the conference. Only the 2024 conference schedule was announced on June 14, 2023, while the conference still considers a new format for the future.
Announced schedules as of Febraury 23, 2026.
⢠Alabama is scheduled to face Georgia State on September 2, 2028. Ohio State, UT Martin, or Oklahoma State will have to be cancelled or move to another year.