Never is such a big word; it comes close to being a word 'never' to be used when discussing the future. Discarding that wisdom, I predict that for Alabama Football, two things will never happen again. Expanding such boldness, I predict the same two things will never be repeated by any college football program.
Not only Alabama Football's two greatest head coaches, but college football's two greatest head coaches made achievements that will never be replicated.
For Nick Saban, there are multiple levels of greatness. It is unlikely that Nick Saban's five National Championships in just nine seasons will ever be equaled. Though unlikely, perhaps another coach, fueled by massive player payrolls, might catch fire and equal Alabama's living legend.
The Saban record I predict will never be matched is 100 consecutive wins against unranked teams. Alabama lost to Louisiana-Monroe in Nov. 2007. Alabama did not lose to an unranked team again until the 2021 season, when the Texas A&M Aggies beat the Crimson Tide 41-38. In the college football record book, the programs closest to Alabama in consecutive wins over unranked teams are Florida, with 73 wins (1990-2000), and Miami with 72 wins (1985-1995).
Another Alabama Football Forever Record
Much-needed changes happened for Alabama Football in 1971. Coming off back-to-back 6-5 seasons, Bear Bryant switched to the wishbone. Finally, years late, Alabama was no longer an all-white team. The tightly held switch to the wishbone shocked USC in Los Angeles in the 1971 season-opener, just one year after the Trojans had embarrassed Alabama in Birmingham's Legion Field. Alabama ended a four-season drought without an SEC Championship after sharing one with Georgia in the 1966 season. Bryant and Alabama won the SEC Championship in 1971, and followed that with four more in 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1975.
After failing to earn an SEC Championship in 1976, the Crimson Tide won three straight in 1977, 1978, and 1979. No other team has won five consecutive SEC Championships, and no team has won eight in nine seasons. No SEC team, including Alabama, will ever match or exceed such success. Florida came close once, winning four straight under Steve Spurrier in 1993-1996.
Such domination by one SEC team will never happen again because rosters must now be substantially rebuilt every season. The other levelling factor is player payrolls can be increased to give more teams legitimate chances to win championships.
Note: Team records provided by mcubed.net and SEC Sports