Alabama football: Ranking every team of the Nick Saban era
Almost every team that Nick Saban coached at Alabama was great, but which of his 17-year run in Tuscaloosa was his best?
By Josh Yourish
16. 2010 (10-3) Capital One Bowl win
2010 was a gap year for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. Saban was coming off his first national title at Bama, a dominant 14-0 season, and had lost Rolando McClain and Kareem Jackson off his defense.
The Tide began the year 5-0, but a 35-21 loss to South Carolina brought the win streak to a screeching halt. A few weeks later came a loss to LSU, and then the regular season ended with the Iron Bowl loss to Cam Newton, 28-27.
Mark Ingram had a down year coming off the Heisman and the defense regressed slightly. The team was still a championship contender, capable of nearly knocking off Cam Newton, but is the second worst of the Saban era because somehow, a 10-win season was his second-lowest win total.