Alabama Football is undefeated against 84 FBS teams
By Ronald Evans
Eight of what will be 14 Big 12 teams in the 2023 season have never beaten an Alabama Crimson Tide team. The combined record for the eight is 0-23 against Alabama. Admittedly, that stat is misleading.
Seventeen of the losses have come from teams joining the Big 12 for the 2023 season. Otherwise, Big 12 teams have had considerable success against the Crimson Tide. Alabama has a losing record against Texas and Oklahoma and catching up with the Longhorns in head-to-head competition will take at least five more games.
Alabama vs. Baylor (2-0)
Early in Alabama’s 1979 National Championship season, Baylor came to Legion Field and was thrashed 45-0. Three seasons later, a two-loss Alabama team took down No. 6 Baylor, 30-2 in the Cotton Bowl.
Alabama vs. Brigham Young (1-0)
Alabama opened the 1998 season in Tuscaloosa beating BYU 38-31.
Alabama vs. Cincinnati (6-0)
The average score in the six games, going back to October 1908, is Alabama 30.5 – Cincinnati 5.5. The Bearcats did slightly better in the most recent game, a 2021 CFB Playoff loss of 27-6.
Alabama vs. Houston (10-0)
The 10 Crimson Tide wins came from games in 1959 to 2007. They were generally low-scoring uneventful contests.
Alabama vs. Iowa State (1-0)
In the 2001 season, Alabama escaped with a 14-13 win in the Independence Bowl.
Alabama vs. Kansas State (1-0)
The one game was last season’s Sugar Bowl win for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama vs. Texas Tech (1-0)
In the 2006 Cotton Bowl, a knuckle-ball field goal saved the Crimson Tide in a 13-10 win. The last-second kick probably saved Mike Shula’s job for one more Crimson Tide season.
Alabama vs. West Virginia (1-0)
Alabama opened the 2014 season against the Mountaineers in Atlanta. After an uneven performance, the Crimson Tide came away with a 33-23 win.
Note: Data for this post was provided by mcubed.net and Sports Reference.
Next. 15 Best Crimson Tide NFL careers. dark
Why do so many teams with little or no chance of winning choose games against the Crimson Tide? The primary reason is that it’s good business.