How Many National Championships Does Alabama Have?

By Sarah Miller · May 9, 2037

Alabama claims 18 national championships in football, with 13 recognized by the NCAA and 5 additional titles claimed by the university based on other selectors.

How Many National Championships Does Alabama Have?

The University of Alabama officially claims 18 national championships in college football. This total includes titles from both major wire-service polls (like the AP Poll and Coaches Poll) and other recognized selectors such as the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and various mathematical ranking systems acknowledged by the NCAA. The Crimson Tide's dominance spans nearly a century, with early titles in the 1920s and sustained excellence under legendary coaches like Bear Bryant and Nick Saban.

Breakdown of Alabama's National Championships

Alabama’s 18 claimed titles are not all unanimously recognized across every historical poll or selector. While the NCAA recognizes 13 of these championships based on consensus or major poll victories, the university asserts five additional titles based on alternative selectors that named Alabama the top team at season's end.

Years Alabama Won National Championships

1925
1926
1930
1934
1941
1961
1964
1965
1973
1978
1979
1992
2009
2011
2012
2015
2017
2020

Detailed Analysis of Alabama's Title Seasons

Year	Coach	Final Record	Championship Selector(s)	Claimed by UA?
1925	Wallace Wade	10–0	National Championship Foundation	Yes
1926	Wallace Wade	9–0–1	Helms Athletic Foundation, National Championship Foundation	Yes
1930	Wallace Wade	10–0	Billingsley Report, Boand System, College Football Researchers Association	Yes
1934	Frank Thomas	10–0	Williamson System, National Championship Foundation	Yes
1941	Frank Thomas	9–2	Williamson System	Yes
1961	Bear Bryant	11–0	AP Poll, UPI Poll	Yes
1964	Bear Bryant	10–1	UPI Poll (coaches)	Yes
1965	Bear Bryant	9–1–1	FWAA, NFF	Yes
1973	Bear Bryant	11–1	Football Writers Association of America (FWAA)	Yes
1978	Bear Bryant	11–1	AP Poll	Yes
1979	Bear Bryant	12–0	UPI Poll	Yes
1992	Gene Stallings	13–0	AP Poll, UPI Poll	Yes
2009	Nick Saban	14–0	Bowl Championship Series (BCS)	Yes
2011	Nick Saban	12–1	BCS	Yes
2012	Nick Saban	13–1	BCS	Yes
2015	Nick Saban	14–1	College Football Playoff (CFP)	Yes
2017	Nick Saban	13–1	CFP	Yes
2020	Nick Saban	13–0	CFP	Yes

Table data source:1, 2, 3

The table illustrates the full scope of Alabama’s championship seasons, showing consistency across different eras and selection methods. Notably, six titles were won under Nick Saban between 2009 and 2020, highlighting modern-era dominance. The variety of selectors—especially pre-BCS and pre-AP—explains discrepancies in recognition.

While the NCAA officially lists 13 championships for Alabama, the university includes five others based on historical systems like the Williamson System and National Championship Foundation, which were retroactively applied. This is standard practice among power programs and aligns with how many schools claim titles.

Coaching Legacy Behind the Titles

Three head coaches account for all of Alabama’s national championships:

Wallace Wade: 3 titles (1925, 1926, 1930)
Frank Thomas: 2 titles (1934, 1941)
Bear Bryant: 6 titles (1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979)
Nick Saban: 7 titles (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020)

Nick Saban holds the record for most national titles by a single coach in college football history, surpassing Bear Bryant. His success revitalized Alabama into a 21st-century powerhouse.

Why Are Some Titles Disputed?

Before the BCS (1998) and CFP (2014), national champions were determined by polling agencies rather than a playoff system. Different organizations used varying criteria, leading to split titles or multiple claimants. For example:

In 1978, Alabama was crowned champion by the AP Poll, but the UPI Poll selected Arkansas.
In 1941, only the Williamson System named Alabama #1, while others favored Minnesota.

Because no official governing body oversaw title selections until recently, schools rely on documented selectors recognized by the NCAA to justify claims.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alabama's Football Championships

How many national championships does Alabama have according to the NCAA?

The NCAA records list Alabama with 13 national championships based on consensus or major poll victories. However, the university officially claims 18 titles using additional recognized selectors.

Which coach won the most national titles at Alabama?

Nick Saban won seven national championships as head coach of Alabama (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020), making him the most successful coach in program history and in college football overall.

Has Alabama ever gone undefeated during a championship season?

Yes, Alabama completed perfect seasons in 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1961, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020—12 undefeated campaigns, several resulting in national titles.

When did Alabama win its most recent national championship?

Alabama won its most recent national championship in the 2020 season, defeating Ohio State 52–24 in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 11, 2021.

Does Alabama have more national titles than any other school?

Alabama claims 18 national titles, tied with Notre Dame for the most claimed by any school. However, in terms of consensus or major poll wins, Alabama leads all programs with seven since 2009 alone.