Following the turbulent first years of the new century, Alabama Athletic Director Mal Moore hired
Nick Saban on January 4, 2007, with the hopes of quickly reinstating Alabama as a national power. Saban, who had coached Louisiana State University (LSU) to the national crown in 2003, opted to return to college football after a two-year stint in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins. His first Crimson Tide team went 7-6, including a win over Colorado in the Independence Bowl. In December 2009, running back Mark Ingram became the first Crimson Tide player to win the Heisman Trophy. In January 2010, the University of Alabama won its 13th national title to cap a 14-0 season, defeating the University of Texas, 37-21, in the BCS National Championship. In January 2012, UA won its second BCS championship in three years, defeating then-number one LSU, 21-0. The following year, UA won their third BCS championship in a 42-14 win over Notre Dame. Alabama opened the 2013 season ranked number one and remained undefeated until its 34-28 loss to Auburn in the
Iron Bowl and suffered a 45-31 loss in the Sugar Bowl to the University of Oklahoma.
In 2016, Alabama again won the BCS championship game, defeating Clemson 45-40; running back Derrick Henry was awarded the 2015 Heisman Trophy. In 2018, Alabama won the National Championship, defeating the University of Georgia Bulldogs 26-23 in overtime. The Tide followed up that season by downing Georgia in the SEC Championship, 35-28, but saw its quest for a perfect season and another national championship upended by Clemson, 44-16, in January 2019. In the 2020 season, which was shortened because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the SEC elected to play only within the division. Alabama largely cruised through its 10-game schedule and defeated the Florida Gators for the SEC championship. It overpowered Notre Dame in one playoff game and bested Ohio State 52-24 for the National Championship. The offense had an outstanding season, featuring wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who won the Heisman Trophy, the third Tide player under Saban to do so.
In the 2021 season, Bryce Young became the first Crimson Tide quarterback to win the Heisman as he led Alabama to a 11-1 record through the regular season and overcame the undefeated and top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs 41-24 in the SEC Championship game. The Tide then overpowered the undefeated University of Cincinnati Bearcats 27-6 to advance to the 2022 National Championship title game, where they were bested 33-18 in a rematch against Georgia, finishing the season 13-2. The following season found the Tide again heavily favored to return to the national title game. Mid-season losses to Tennessee (52-49) and LSU (32-31 in overtime), however, bumped Alabama out of the running for a playoff spot. Alabama found some redemption by defeating number nine Kansas State 45-20 in the Sugar Bowl.
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