It's no surprise then that some of the biggest moments involving Alabama teams from Saban's 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa made their way onto ESPN's ranking of the top 25 college football plays since 2000. That includes both the joys from Alabama's victories as well as the anguish in their defeats.

The Alabama Crimson Tide went 9-3 last season, a passable record for most programs but not the paragon in the SEC. Alabama's nine wins last year marked the first time since 2007 — their first season under the tutelage of five-time SEC Coach of the Year Nick Saban — that they did not eclipse double-digit victories.