page_title: Alabama Crimson Tide football under Nick Saban
section_title: Third national championship
hierarchical_section_title: Alabama Crimson Tide football under Nick Saban / Overview / Third national championship
caption_attribution_description: The Alabama Crimson Tide on defense in motion after an Auburn Tigers snap in the 2012 Iron Bowl at Bryant–Denny Stadium.
context_page_description: Alabama Crimson Tide football under Nick Saban covers the history of the Alabama Crimson Tide football program since Nick Saban was hired as head coach in 2007. Alabama plays as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the West Division of the Southeastern Conference. The Tide plays its home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Their overall official record under Saban is 152-23, 17 bowl game appearances with 12 victories, 7 SEC West titles, 6 SEC championships, and 5 national championships. Since 2008, Saban's teams have spent all or part of each season ranked No. 1 in national polls.
  On January 3, 2007, Nick Saban officially accepted the head coaching position with the Crimson Tide. In 2008, Saban led them to their first undefeated regular season since 1994, but they lost the SEC Championship Game and the Sugar Bowl. In 2009, Saban led Alabama to a perfect 14–0 and their first BCS National Championship, and to their first overall national championship since 1992.
context_section_description: After they captured their second national championship in three years, Alabama again signed one of the nation's top recruiting classes in February 2012. After they completed spring practice in April, the Crimson Tide entered the season with a No. 2 ranking and as a favorite to repeat as national champions. Alabama opened the season with a 41–14 victory over Michigan in the Cowboys Classic. After their win over the Wolverines, the Crimson Tide moved into the No. 1 ranking prior to their game against WKU that they won 35–0 in their home opener. The next week, Alabama posted their second consecutive shutout with their 52–0 win at Arkansas to open conference play. The Crimson Tide then returned to Tuscaloosa and defeated Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss prior to their first win over Missouri as conference foes at Faurot Field.
  Next Alabama defeated rival Tennessee 44–13 at Neyland Stadium and followed that with a 38–7 win over then undefeated and No. 13 ranked Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide then defeated LSU at Tiger Stadium 21–17 when AJ McCarron threw a screen pass to T. J. Yeldon that he took 28 yards for the game-winning touchdown within the final minute of play. However, the next week, Alabama suffered their only loss of the season when Texas A&M upset the Tide 29–24 in Tuscaloosa.
  After their loss to the Aggies, Alabama dropped into the No. 4 ranking for their 49–0 win over Western Carolina. In the evening after their win over the Catamounts, Alabama moved back into the No. 2 position as a result of upset losses for both Kansas State and Oregon. Alabama then closed the regular season with a 49–0 win over Auburn and captured the SEC West division title to play Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. In the championship game, Alabama escaped with a 32–28 win after the Bulldogs were stopped inside the Crimson Tide's five-yard line as time expired and captured the SEC Championship and a berth in the BCS National Championship Game against Notre Dame. In the BCS Championship Game, the Tide defeated the Irish 42–14 and captured their third national championship in four years and the schools 15th overall football championship.
caption: The Alabama defense in motion during their 49–0 victory over Auburn.
exif: {}