🏈 Number 1 going into the NCG

[bamaledge]

can any of you numbers gurus look up how many times we've been number 1 and number 2 going into the championship game and how we fared at either of those numbers. If I remember correctly,we have fared better at 2 than 1.

 

[rick4bama]

At one time 2 was better then 1 in face off! But, later it not so much.

 

[planomateo]

Not complete.

1978 - #2 Alabama vs #1 Penn State
1979 - #2 Alabama vs #6 Arkansas (#1 Ohio State lost to #3 USC)
1992 - #2 Alabama vs #1 Miami
2009 - #1 Alabama vs #2 Texas
2011 - #2 Alabama vs #1 LSU
2012 - #2 Alabama vs #1 Notre Dame
2015 - #2 Alabama vs #1 Clemson

 

[JoshB]

1961: #1 Alabama vs. #9 Arkansas (Sugar Bowl: W 10-3)
1964: #1 Alabama vs. #5 Texas (Orange Bowl: L 17-21)
1965: #4 Alabama vs. #3 Nebraska (Orange Bowl: W 39-28)
1973: #1 Alabama vs. #3 Notre Dame (Sugar Bowl: L 24-23)
1978: #2 Alabama vs. #1 Penn State (Sugar Bowl: W 14-7)

 

[Che Boludo]

1961: #1 Alabama vs. #9 Arkansas (Sugar Bowl: W 10-3)
1964: #1 Alabama vs. #5 Texas (Orange Bowl: L 17-21)
1965: #4 Alabama vs. #3 Nebraska (Orange Bowl: W 39-28)
1973: #1 Alabama vs. #3 Notre Dame (Sugar Bowl: L 24-23)
1978: #2 Alabama vs. #1 Penn State (Sugar Bowl: W 14-7)

Only caveat would be that the '61 and '64 bowl games were irrelevant to the national champ as polls determined winners at end of regular season. So, those 2 weren't really a winner take all championship game.

Ap poll switched to post-bowl tabulation in '65 for one year then for good in '69.