There hasn’t been a team that has owned and dominated the College Football Playoff more than the Alabama Crimson Tide has since its inception in 2014. Alabama has been the model of consistency and continues to appear in the playoffs and win national championships.
Everyone knows how good the Crimson Tide have been, but how good are they compared to other teams in the playoffs?
Alabama Playoff Appearances and Results by Year
- 2014-2015
- Sugar Bowl: Lost 42-35 to Ohio State
- 2015-2016
- Cotton Bowl: Won 38-0 over Michigan State
- CFP National Championship: Won 45-40 over Clemson
- 2016-2017
- Peach Bowl: Won 24-7 over Washington
- CFP National Championship: Lost 35-31 to Clemson
- 2017-2018
- Sugar Bowl: Won 24-6 over Clemson
- CFP National Championship: Won 26-23 (OT) over Georgia
- 2018-2019
- Orange Bowl: Won 45-34 over Oklahoma
- CFP National Championship: Lost 44-16 to Clemson
- 2020-2021
- Rose Bowl: Won 31-14 over Notre Dame
- CFP National Championship: Won 52-24 over Ohio State
- 2021-2022
- Cotton Bowl: Won 27-6 over Cincinnati
- CFP National Championship: Lost 33-18 to Georgia
- 2023-2024
- Rose Bowl – Lost 27-20 (OT) to Michigan
Alabama’s run in the playoffs has been impressive, as no other team has reached their caliber of greatness yet. There was a run where the Crimson Tide went to the national title game for four straight seasons.
MORE: Alabama 2024 Football Schedule
Their largest margin of victory in the playoffs came against Michigan State in the 2015-2016 season, where they shut them out 38-0. If fans look at the largest margin of victory in the national title, that would be against Ohio State in 2021 when they picked up a 52-24 win.
Despite that success, the teams will unfortunately look back at the 2023 season with a bittersweet note. The Crimson Tide came up just short against the Michigan Wolverines in the 2023 Rose Bowl, losing their first semifinal game since the 2014-15 season.
Alabama Playoff History FAQ
What’s Alabama’s Playoff Win/Loss Record?
Alabama’s overall record is 9-5 in the playoffs, including winning three of their last five playoff games. Their dominance in the playoffs has shown against their opponents, as in the 14 games they have played in, eight of them have been wins that were by more than double digits. Alabama’s also only lost by more than one possession in two of those games.
How Many Times Has Alabama Been to the College Football Playoffs?
No team in college football has appeared in the playoffs more than Alabama has. They have made eight appearances since it started in 2014. The team has only missed the playoffs twice in that span.
How Many National Championship Appearances Do the Crimson Tide Have?
This is another category that Alabama has thrived on, as they have appeared in six national championships, which is the most of any team in college football. Only two times that the Tide earned a spot in the playoffs did they not reach the national championship, which was during the 2014-2015 and 2023-24 seasons.
How Many National Championships Have the Crimson Ride Won?
Alabama has won three of those six national championship games in which they have appeared. Their most memorable win was the overtime thriller against Georgia, where Tua Tagovailoa connected with DeVonta Smith for the game-winner in the 2017-2018 season.
When Was the Last Time the Crimson Tide Made the National Championship Game?
Alabama did not make the College Football Playoff last season, so the last time they played in the national title game was the 2021-2022 season against Georgia. The Crimson Tide came up on the wrong side of things as the Bulldogs pulled out a 33-18 win over Alabama.
Miss any action from the top college QB Rankings during the 2023 football season? Want to track all the movement with the college football’s transfer portal? College Football Network has you covered with that and more!