It’s unusual territory for a No. 1 team to be an underdog, which is the case when No. 1 Mississippi State (9-0) meets No. 4 Alabama (8-1) at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday.
But it’s also unusual territory for the Crimson Tide. This marks just the 11th time Alabama has played against the No. 1 team in the country.
Those other 10 games helped shape the legacy of the football program.
1957: No. 1 Auburn 40, Alabama 0
Bad news: The Tigers routed the Crimson Tide at Legion Field en route to a national championship. Good news: Alabama fired Jennings B. Whitworth after a 2-7-1 season and brought in Bear Bryant. That worked out just fine for Alabama.
1971: No. 1 Nebraska 38, No. 2 Alabama 6
In the 1972 Orange Bowl, Johnny Rodgers’ 77-yard touchdown on a punt return opened up a 14-point first quarter. The defending national champion Cornhuskers built a 28-0 lead in an all-around beat-down of the Crimson Tide en route to their second straight national championship.
1977: No. 7 Alabama 21, No. 1 USC 20
The Crimson Tide beat a John Robinson-coached team that featured Charles White and Clay Matthews at The Coliseum. Alabama went on to an 11-1 season and beat Ohio State 35-6 in the Sugar Bowl.
1978: No. 2 Alabama 14, No. 1 Penn State 7
Bear Bryant won his fifth national championship against the Nittany Lions and Joe Paterno in the 1979 Sugar Bowl. Barry Krauss and Murray Legg helped the Crimson Tide come up with a memorable goal-line stand in the fourth quarter.
1992: No. 2 Alabama 34, No. 1 Miami 13
Alabama routed Miami in the 1993 Sugar Bowl that gave the program its first championship since Bear Bryant retired. Gene Stallings led the team this time, and the game is immortalized by "The Strip," when safety George Teague chased down Miami receiver Lamar Thomas from behind to force a fumble.
2003: No. 1 Oklahoma 20, Alabama 13
The Sooners’ stout defense shut down the Tide, and Heisman Trophy winner Jason White helped seal the victory with two touchdown passes. Alabama finished 4-9 under first-year coach Mike Shula.
2009: No. 2 Alabama 32, No. 1 Florida 13
The Crimson Tide and Gators met with 12-0 records in a SEC championship rematch, and this time Alabama beat Tim Tebow behind three TDs from Mark Ingram. The Tide then beat Texas 37-21 in the BCS championship game.
2011: No. 1 LSU 9, No. 2 Alabama 6
The Tigers and Tide both came in at 8-0, and LSU escaped Tuscaloosa with a victory in overtime on Drew Alleman’s 25-yard field goal. That set up a rematch in the BCS championship game.
2011: No. 2 Alabama 21, No. 1 LSU 0
Alabama dominated the rematch at the Superdome and won the second national championship under Nick Saban. The Tide held the Tigers to 92 total yards, and Trent Richardson scored the game’s only touchdown with 4:36 remaining.
2012: No. 2 Alabama 42, No. 1 Notre Dame 14
The Tide routed the Irish from start to finish to give Nick Saban his third national championship in four years. Eddie Lacy rushed for 140 yards and a TD, and T.J. Yeldon added 108 rushing yards and a TD.
