When you walk into a sports bar in Birmingham or a tailgate in Tuscaloosa, the conversation eventually hits the same wall. Someone brings up the 1941 season. Then someone else argues about 1966. Basically, the university of alabama football record by year isn't just a spreadsheet of wins and losses; it’s a century-long argument about who was actually the best team in the country.
Alabama fans live and breathe these numbers. But honestly, if you look at the raw data, there's a lot of nuance that gets lost. You've got vacated wins from the early 2000s, "claimed" titles that make other fanbases roll their eyes, and the recent transition from the Nick Saban era to Kalen DeBoer that has everyone checking the history books to see if the sky is actually falling.
The Modern Era: From Saban’s Dominance to the DeBoer Shift
Let's look at where we are right now. The 2024 season was a massive shock to the system for Tide fans. After Saban retired in January 2024, Kalen DeBoer stepped in and finished with a 9-4 record. For most schools, nine wins is a dream. For Alabama? It was the first time they didn't hit double-digit wins since Saban’s very first year in 2007.
The 2025 season actually showed some serious bounce-back. Alabama finished 11-4, making it to the Rose Bowl but ultimately falling short of the title. It’s a weird feeling in Tuscaloosa lately. People are checking the university of alabama football record by year to see if this is a "down period" or just the new normal in a 12-team playoff world.
The Saban Gold Standard (2007–2023)
It’s hard to overstate how much Nick Saban broke the curve. Look at the stretch from 2008 to 2023.
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- 2008: 12-2 (The year Bama returned to the national stage)
- 2009: 14-0 (The first Saban title)
- 2011: 12-1 (The "21-0" revenge game against LSU)
- 2012: 13-1 (The ND blowout)
- 2015: 14-1 (Derrick Henry’s Heisman year)
- 2017: 13-1 (2nd-and-26 against Georgia)
- 2020: 13-0 (The COVID season dominance)
Every single one of those years, Alabama was either the champion or a couple of plays away from it. That 2020 team, in particular, was arguably the most efficient offense in college football history. DeVonta Smith winning the Heisman as a receiver basically summed up how untouchable they were.
The Bear Bryant Years: The Foundation of the Record
Before Saban, there was Paul "Bear" Bryant. If you look at the university of alabama football record by year during his tenure from 1958 to 1982, it’s a wall of dominance. He won six national titles. But it wasn't always smooth. In 1969 and 1970, the team went 6-5 and 6-5-1. People thought the game had passed the Bear by.
Then he switched to the Wishbone offense.
By 1971, they were 11-1. By 1973, they were national champs again. The 1979 season is often cited as his masterpiece—12-0 and a defense that felt like it was playing against middle schoolers.
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Why the 1941 and 1966 Records Still Spark Debates
The 1941 season is the one everyone mocks. Alabama went 9-2. They finished 20th in the AP poll. Yet, they claim a national title for it because one specific math-based ranking (Houlgate) had them #1. It’s a quirk of history. On the flip side, the 1966 team went 11-0 and didn't win the title, which remains one of the biggest "snubs" in the history of the sport. Voters gave it to Notre Dame and Michigan State, who had famously played to a tie.
Alabama's record that year was perfect. Their trophy case was not.
The Dark Ages and the NCAA Erasures
If you’re digging through the university of alabama football record by year, you’ll see some asterisks. The Mike DuBose, Dennis Franchione, and Mike Shula years (roughly 1997–2006) were... rough. Not just because of the losses, but because of the NCAA.
In 2002, the Tide went 10-3 under Franchione but were banned from a bowl. Later, the NCAA forced Alabama to vacate 21 wins from the 2005-2007 seasons due to a textbook-related infraction. So, if you see a source saying Alabama won 10 games in 2005 and another saying they won zero, that’s why. The "official" NCAA record and the "on-field" record are two different animals.
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Quick Glance: Major Historical Milestones
- 1925: 10-0 (The Rose Bowl win that put Southern football on the map)
- 1930: 10-0 (Wallace Wade’s final year and another Rose Bowl win)
- 1992: 13-0 (Gene Stallings’ legendary defense destroys Miami)
- 2007: 7-6 (The "low point" of the Saban era)
The Winningest Program? It Depends Who You Ask
As of early 2026, Alabama is hovering right around 1,000 wins. Depending on whether you count the vacated ones or not, they are neck-and-neck with Michigan and Ohio State for the all-time lead. The university of alabama football record by year shows a winning percentage that usually sits above .700.
But what really matters is the post-season. Alabama has appeared in more bowl games (over 75) than any other school. They have 18 "recognized" national titles, though some historians argue it should be closer to 13, and some hardcore fans say it should be 22.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Researchers
If you're trying to track the university of alabama football record by year for a project or just to win a bar bet, keep these things in mind:
- Check for "Vacated" vs "Forfeited": Alabama has both. Forfeited games count as losses; vacated games just disappear from the win column but don't count as losses.
- The AP Poll vs The Rest: Before 1936, there was no AP poll. Titles from the 1920s are based on retrospective computer models or "selectors."
- Post-Saban Volatility: Expect more 3-loss or 4-loss seasons. The new SEC schedule and the expanded playoff mean the days of "13-0 or bust" are probably over for everyone, not just Bama.
To get the most accurate, game-by-game breakdown, the RollTide.com History Page or Sports-Reference are your best bets. They handle the "adjusted" records better than most wiki pages.
The record isn't just a list of scores. It's a timeline of how a small school in the Deep South became a global brand. Whether they are winning 14 games a year or "struggling" with 9, the Crimson Tide’s footprint on the record books is permanent.