When Alabama pummeled Notre Dame 42-12 in the BCS national championship game on Monday, Alabama not only won back-to-back titles, it forever became a dynasty by winning three national championships in four years. In the modern era, only Nebraska in the 1990s and Notre Dame in the 1940s have won three titles in four years. This was Alabama’s 15th national title.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban forever ensured he will be in the pantheon of the greatest college coaches ever. This was his fourth championship, and he joins the legendary Bear Bryant, whose shadow always looms over Alabama, Jim McKay, the former USC coach, and Frank Leahy, the former Notre Dame coach, as the only coaches to have won four national titles. He will forever be mentioned along with those legends. Only Bryant (6) now has more titles than Saban.
“I’m really proud of this team,” Saban said. “Two days from now, we gotta start on next year.”
Alabama, which also won the SEC’s seventh straight national championship, dominated Notre Dame from the beginning in what was supposed to be a battle of stout defenses.
“We kinda have a little dynasty going,” said Alabama center Barrett Jones, who won three national titles at Alabama at three different positions.
Eddie Lacy, the bruising Alabama running back who was the game’s offensive MVP, ran for 140 yards and two touchdowns.
A.J. McCarron, who became the first quarterback to win back-to-back titles in the BCS era, threw for 264 yards and four touchdown passes. He will return to Alabama next year along with linebacker C.J. Mosely, who was the defensive MVP of the game.
Alabama’s true freshmen, running back T.J. Yeldon and wide receiver Amari Cooper, outclassed Notre Dame’s defenders. Yeldon ran for 108 yards and one touchdown. Cooper had 105 yards and two touchdowns. Both will be in Tuscaloosa for the next two seasons.
Alabama’s defense suffocated Notre Dame’s offense — Notre Dame did not cross the goal line until they trailed 35-0 midway through the third quarter.