Alabama vs. Ohio State - Sugar Bowl

[Gunslinger]

In 2009 National Championship & Mark Ingram was the Heisman Trophy Winner.
In 2010 10-3 losing to South Carolina, LSU and Auburn.
In 2011 National Championship.
In 2012 National Championship
In 2013 11-2
In 2014 SEC Champs, 12-2, Cooper Heisman finalist

Most coaches would give their left nut to have this record. Most teams and fans wish they had that record. The SEC west stunk it up this bowl season...still don't have a good explanation for that.

[Deltamud77]

I think it is possible that Bama has peaked under Saban and are currently headed down hill. They will be good next year but I don't see them winning the title next year either. In 2016, for the third year in a row, they will be starting the season with a new QB.

While I am not predicting the death of the dynasty, I think Saban's peak years are now behind him.

[RedEyed Duck]

Bama will most definitely be facing one of the same issues next season, which is starting out with a brand new QB again.

I'll also say that I think all things considered, Sims had one hell of a season. It's unfortunate that one of his worst performances was his last.

[webbmaster]

I think it is possible that Bama has peaked under Saban and are currently headed down hill. They will be good next year but I don't see them winning the title next year either. In 2016, for the third year in a row, they will be starting the season with a new QB.

While I am not predicting the death of the dynasty, I think Saban's peak years are now behind him.

Fair assessment. He is 63 now i believe.

He's definitely got one more push left in him. I thought he would be good for one more NC at Bama. Still do.

Don't see it next year, but 2016 is definitely possible. I'm not so sure about a first year QB in 2016. This Barnett kid may be starting next year at some point.

The first year QB issues weren't a problem for McElroy or McCarron.

[duckter]

SEC Champs, number one recruiting class again....we'll do it again.

[Deltamud77]

SEC Champs, number one recruiting class again....we'll do it again.

The talent is there, but I feel like Bama is reaching a point that Saban has always talked about and the one thing he fears - complacency. The last two Bama teams have lacked real leadership IMO. I don't know the roster like you guys, but I don't see any real leaders on the team right now and I think there is a sense of entitlement in the program that was not there when they were winning titles.

LSU did the same thing, perhaps to a greater extent, and they are now likely the worst team in the SEC west...and it happened fast.

[RedEyed Duck]

Post the defensive PPG allowed during those same years. May shed some light.

You are correct sir, ppg allowed was 18.4 the past two seasons as compared to an average of 11.1 the previous 4 years. I just don't see how you could determine which is the cause and which is the effect. One could argue it from both sides.

[NUTMEG]

When you win the NC 3 out of 4 years its hard to go anywhere but down. I sure hope one day us Ole Miss fans can say we went 11-2 and 12-2 but we had down years.

[duckter]

Defense wins Championships. Obviously, losing 3 defensive starters as underclassmen did not help matters. All three playing in the NFL now. One, C. J. Mosley, was missed terribly and has made his mark with the Ravens. Clinton-Dix starter at Safety for the Packers, and Sunseri with the Saints.

Plenty, plenty of quality depth at Alabama remains, and more on the way.

[duckter]

Congrats to the Buckeyes. Again, defense wins championships. Run the ball, stop the run. Block. Tackle. Not an offense based on deception, smoke, and mirrors.

Old.
School.
Rules.

[Deltamud77]

Congrats to the Buckeyes. Again, defense wins championships. Run the ball, stop the run. Block. Tackle. Not an offense based on deception, smoke, and mirrors.

Old.
School.
Rules.

Old School Defense. It is funny that Myer's offense is now considered traditional. When he came to the SEC, it was new age and the spread would never work. Since he came to the SEC, Auburn has won two SEC titles using the spread and UF has won two SEC titles using the spread.

Hopefully, we will get to see Urban and Nick lock heads a few more times before Nick retires. OSU will have a direct road to the playoff for probably another two years (until Harbaugh has Michigan ginning)...then it will get a little harder for them. Bama will still be the class of the SEC until Saban retires, but I think Malzahn is nipping at his heels in hiring Muschamp and with the way they recruit and develop. Bama's road to the playoff is not nearly as easy as OSU.

That said, we could see these two compete head to head for championships a few times in the next few years.