How Many National Championships Does Alabama Have in Football?

By Emma Wilson · July 22, 2028

Alabama has won 18 national championships in football, according to the NCAA and major wire services, making it one of the most successful programs in college football history.

Understanding Alabama's National Championships

The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team is widely recognized as the most dominant program in college football. With a total of 18 claimed national titles, Alabama holds the record for the most national championships, surpassing other powerhouse schools like Notre Dame and Oklahoma.

Breakdown of Championship Claims

Alabama's national titles are based on selections from recognized polling organizations such as the Associated Press (AP) Poll and the Coaches Poll, as well as historical selectors acknowledged by the NCAA.

First national title: 1925
Most recent title: 2020 season (awarded in January 2021)
Championships under Nick Saban: 6 (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020)
Championships before the poll era: 3 (1925, 1926, 1930)
Titles won in the BCS/CFP era: 7

Year-by-Year National Championship Wins

Year	Coach	Final Record	Championship Game Result	Selecting Organization(s)
1925	Wallace Wade	10-0	N/A (pre-poll era)	Billingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation
1926	Wallace Wade	9-0-1	N/A	Helms, National Championship Foundation
1930	Wallace Wade	10-0	N/A	Poland, National Championship Foundation
1934	Frank Thomas	10-0	N/A	AP (retroactive), Dunkel, Houlgate, Litkenhous
1941	Frank Thomas	9-2	N/A	AP Poll
1961	Bear Bryant	11-0	N/A	AP, Football Writers (FWAA), Helms, Sporting News
1964	Bear Bryant	10-1	N/A	UPI Coaches (poll released before bowl), Football Writers (FWAA)
1965	Bear Bryant	9-1-1	N/A	AP, UPI, FWAA, Sporting News
1973	Bear Bryant	11-1	N/A	Football Writers (FWAA), Sporting News
1978	Bear Bryant	11-1	Won Sugar Bowl 22-15 vs. Penn State	AP, UPI, Sporting News
1979	Bear Bryant	12-0	Won Sugar Bowl 24-9 vs. Arkansas	UPI, Sporting News
1992	Gene Stallings	13-0	Won SEC Championship 28-21 vs. Florida; Won Sugar Bowl 34-13 vs. Miami	AP, UPI, USA Today/CNN, Football Writers (FWAA)
2009	Nick Saban	14-0	Won BCS National Championship 37-21 vs. Texas	BCS, AP, Coaches, FWAA
2011	Nick Saban	12-1	Won BCS National Championship 21-0 vs. LSU	BCS, AP, Coaches, FWAA
2012	Nick Saban	13-1	Won BCS National Championship 42-14 vs. Notre Dame	BCS, AP, Coaches, FWAA
2015	Nick Saban	14-1	Won CFP National Championship 42-35 vs. Clemson	College Football Playoff (CFP), AP, Coaches, FWAA
2017	Nick Saban	13-1	Won CFP National Championship 26-23 (OT) vs. Georgia	CFP, AP, Coaches, FWAA
2020	Nick Saban	13-0	Won CFP National Championship 52-24 vs. Ohio State	CFP, AP, Coaches, FWAA

Table data source:1, 2, 3

The table highlights Alabama's sustained excellence across nearly a century. The program experienced dominant eras under Bear Bryant (6 titles) and Nick Saban (6 titles), with consistent championship contention even between those periods. Notably, 7 of Alabama's titles were earned during the BCS and College Football Playoff eras, underscoring its modern-era dominance.

Why Are Some Championships Contested?

Some of Alabama’s national titles are not universally recognized because they stem from polls or selectors that released final rankings before bowl games in certain years (e.g., 1964, 1965). However, the NCAA officially recognizes multiple selectors, and Alabama claims 18 based on consensus among major systems.

Comparison with Other Top Programs

While Alabama leads with 18 recognized national championships, other elite programs include:

Notre Dame: 13
Michigan: 10 (claimed)
USC: 11 (NCAA-recognized)
Ohio State: 8
Oklahoma: 7

This positions Alabama at the forefront of college football history in terms of national success.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alabama's Football Championships

How many national championships has Alabama won in football?

Alabama has won 18 national championships in football, as recognized by the NCAA and major polling organizations.

How many national titles did Nick Saban win at Alabama?

Nick Saban won 6 national championships as head coach at Alabama in the 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020 seasons.

When was Alabama's most recent national championship?

Alabama's most recent national championship was for the 2020 season, which they won by defeating Ohio State 52-24 in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 11, 2021.

Did Bear Bryant win any national championships at Alabama?

Yes, Bear Bryant won six national championships at Alabama in 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, and 1979.

Why does Alabama claim 18 national titles?

Alabama claims 18 national titles based on consensus from recognized selectors including the AP Poll, Coaches Poll, BCS, CFP, and various historical rating systems acknowledged by the NCAA.