2016 Alabama Football Best Program Of Modern Era
By David Wasson
According to the statistical analysis website fivethirtyeight.com, the 2016 Alabama Crimson Tide ranks as the most dominant unit of any team in the AP Poll Era (since 1936).
With two very important games left to play, Alabama football can claim at least one more statistically impressive feat: the best single-season program of the modern era.
According to the statistical analysis website fivethirtyeight.com, the 2016 Alabama Crimson Tide ranks as the most dominant unit of any team in the AP Poll Era (since 1936).
Fivethirtyeight.com uses the Elo Power Rating, a somewhat complex process of analyzing margin of victory and strength of schedule and whatnot. Applying the Elo Power Rating to Alabama’s season to date, fivethirtyeight.com has determined that the 2016 Crimson Tide edged above the 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers after its SEC Championship Game beatdown of Florida to become the strongest team in the modern era.
For now.
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Many of the teams on the list, their peak Elo moment also coincided with the end of their schedule (and, usually, a national championship celebration). Alabama, however, still has some hurdles left to clear before it can become the best end-of-season Elo team ever.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Specifically, the Tide need to beat both Washington and the Clemson-Ohio State winner to finish the year as national champions — and if they don’t, they’ll have peaked too soon. A loss to Washington, for instance, would instantly drop Alabama to No. 4 on the historical end-of-season Elo list if it comes by a field goal, and No. 10 if by a touchdown.
Two takeaways here: 1. Alabama is really, REALLY good. 2. It is really hard to stay at the pinnacle of the game.
Alabama faces the Huskies in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday, Dec. 31.
The Crimson Tide and Huskies have met four times previously, with the most recent contest coming in the 1986 Sun Bowl when the Crimson Tide defeated the Huskies, 28-6, to cap off a 9-3 season.
The winner of the matchup between the Crimson Tide and the Huskies will meet the winner of the game matching the No. 2 Clemson Tigers and the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes, who will play in the other CFP Semifinal Game at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz. The 2017 CFP National Championship Game is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
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Alabama, making its 65th appearance in a postseason game, has played in more bowl games and earned more postseason victories than any school in college football history. Alabama is making a postseason appearance for the 10th consecutive season under head coach Nick Saban and the 13th straight season overall for the school.