1975 (Coaches No. 3, AP No. 3, 11-1)
Alabama came into the 1975 season ranked No. 2 in the country, but lost the season opener to unranked Missouri, earning just 118 yards of total offense.
Alabama fell all the way to No. 14 after that loss, but went on to win every game on the schedule by double digits.
Once again, Alabama met No. 8 Penn State in New Orleans, and Alabama came out on top 13-6. By the end of the year Alabama was considered one of, if not the best team in the country, but that early loss to Missouri had put them in a massive hole.
The Oklahoma Sooners also had a loss to an unranked opponent, a 23-3 loss to Kansas. That loss happened in November, while Alabama’s loss came in the beginning of the season. After No. 7 Oklahoma beat No. 2 Nebraska in their final regular season game, the Sooners jumped third-ranked Alabama. Oklahoma then beat No. 5 Michigan in the Orange Bowl, while No. 1 Ohio State fell to an overmatched UCLA team in the Rose Bowl.
While the AP and Coaches polls crowned Oklahoma national champions, Ohio State – who was dominated by UCLA in the bowl game – was crowned champion by five polls, and even Arizona State, who was ranked No. 6 going into the bowl season, was given the national championship nod by Sporting News and the National Championship Foundation.
Alabama was named champion by the Matthews Poll, despite never ranking higher than third in either the AP or Coaches poll.