Alabama Football: The 30 Greatest Games in Alabama Football History

Oct 10, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide mascot Big Al celebrates a score against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated Arkansas 27-14. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

1942 Cotton Bowl – A Year of Contention

Frank Thomas’ 1941 Crimson Tide did not end the season undefeated. Alabama Football had a 8-2-0 record after losses to the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

So when the Tide went into the 1942 Cotton Bowl against the Texas A&M Aggies, it didn’t have the same feeling of importance as past games with undefeated teams in the Rose Bowl.

Alabama wasn’t favored in the game and Texas A&M ended up looking like the better team on the stat sheet… in everything but the final score. The Aggies had 13 first downs to Alabama’s one, but Alabama carried the day.

Alabama defeated Southwest Conference champion Texas A&M Aggies 29-21.

Alabama Football claims a national championship for 1941 because some champion selectors picked Alabama as the champion after their Cotton Bowl win. This seems crazy by today’s standards considering Mississippi State won the SEC that year.

At the time though, the selectors could pick whomever they wanted as the National Champion. It’s not a clear championship by any means, but Alabama Football isn’t completely inventing it either.

Next: 1946 Rose Bowl