1966 (Coaches No. 3, AP No. 3, 11-0)
The 1966 championship may be one of the biggest thefts in the history of college football.
Alabama was the only undefeated, untied team in the country and looking for the first “three-peat” in team history after winning the 1964 and 1965 championships. But it wasn’t Alabama’s on field activity that kept them from another title.
The University of Alabama’s continuing refusal to integrate black students and players caused a backlash among fans and sportswriters outside the South (read the fantastic book The Missing Ring by author Keith Dunnavant for more information on the 1966 season).
The only close game on Alabama’s 1966 schedule was the heated rivalry game with Tennessee, which Alabama won 11-10. Alabama closed the regular season out with four straight shutout wins over LSU, South Carolina, Southern Miss, and Auburn.
In late November No. 1 Notre Dame faced No. 2 Michigan State in what was dubbed “The Game of the Century” (sound familiar?). The game ended in a controversial 10-10 tie.
Notre Dame had the ball late in the game with an opportunity to at least attempt to win, but Notre Dame head coach Ara Parseghian decided to play for the tie and run the clock out, believing that his team would still be crowned national champions as long as it didn’t lose.
Neither Michigan State or Notre Dame accepted bowl games, while Alabama creamed No. 6 Nebraska in the Sugar Bowl. None of it mattered however, as the AP and Coaches Poll crowned Notre Dame national champions, while the Football Research Center, Helms Poll, and NFF Poll crowned Michigan State. Neither the AP or Coaches even had Alabama ranked No. 2.
The Berryman Rankings was the only poll to crown Alabama champions in what is a travesty of epic proportions. Alabama doesn’t lay claim to this title, but I think anyone that looks at the 1966 season – based on the games, not on politics – would say that Alabama should have been named champions.
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