Alabama Football: Tide wins SEC, to compete for title in ‘rebuild year’

It’s been a down year for Alabama football.

You’d be hard pressed to find someone who would disagree, whether they be a fan or a media member. That’s because most people have been saying it for months, with many believing that this has been the worst season for Alabama football since Nick Saban’s introductory season in Tuscaloosa.

The Tide have certainly had struggles; among their wins have been four very closely contested conference games, three of them coming against opponents that are currently unranked with 6-6 records. They also played poorly for the majority of a home win against Tennessee.

But a down year in Title Town isn’t the same as a down year elsewhere. Against all odds, Alabama won the SEC championship in emphatic fashion and will stroll into the college football playoff as the No.1 seed with a 12-1 record.

Let’s consider two of Alabama’s fiercest rivals in the Saban era.