The 7 Best Championship Games in Alabama Football History

Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Cyrus Jones (5) reacts with teammates after an interception during the second quarter against the Michigan State Spartans in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jan 7, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban is dunked with Gatorade during the fourth quarter of the 2013 BCS Championship game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Sun Life Stadium. Alabama won 42-14. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

1979 Sugar Bowl

It’s not often that you got to see #1 play #2 in a bowl until the BCS era, it just didn’t seem to work out that way, but Alabama vs Penn State in the 1979 Sugar Bowl was an exception to that rule.

Bear Bryant’s #2 Alabama Crimson Tide would face Joe Paterno’s #1 Penn State Nittany Lions in the Sugar Bowl and the winner would probably be named national champion. A lot was on the line in this game and it ended up having everything to do with the line.

Alabama was up 14-7 in the fourth quarter and Penn State had the ball on the 1 yard line on third down. Alabama would have to stop the Nittany Lions from getting into the endzone from the 1 twice if they wanted to win.

On third down, Penn State went up the middle and was denied, so it would all come down to fourth down.
On fourth down Penn State’s Mike Gunman found a hole, but Alabama’s Barry Krauss saw it too. When the dust cleared after the hit Krauss was dazed on the field, but Gunman was short.

Alabama won the 1979 Sugar Bowl on its outstanding defense and earned Bear Bryant his fifth national championship.

Next: 2011 Championship Season

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