Alabama Football: Why Alabama Is College Football's Modern Dynasty

Moments after Alabama’s 21-0 thrashing of LSU in the BCS National Championship Game had finished, the debate began about where its defense ranked among the all-time greats in the history of the sport.  

While the SEC lovefest has been ongoing for the last six seasons—each of which coincidentally ended with a league representative hoisting a crystal ball—the Crimson Tide may have taken a step towards leaving their conference brethren in the dust after claiming its second national title in three seasons.  

Unlike the Florida Gators, who recently pulled off the same feat (won it all in 2006 and 2008), Alabama’s run could only be just beginning.  

With Nick Saban firmly entrenched in Tuscaloosa and his successes seemingly becoming more pleasurable, Alabama is assured that the architect of its renaissance will not experience the burnout that doomed Urban Meyer’s tenure in Gainesville.  

Nebraska won three national titles in a four-year span from 1994-97, and Alabama will have a chance to match that if it can defend its title next season.  

The Crimson Tide enjoyed a banner recruiting class last season, and are poised to pull off another top finish this February when National Signing Day rolls around.  

Considering the success he’s had on the field and in recruiting, it is no surprise that Saban has turned Alabama into an NFL factory (Alabama has had seven first-round picks over the last three years).  

Getting elite talent and grooming it with the best coaching staff in the nation means that Alabama will continue to be a contender as long as Saban resides in Tuscaloosa.  

On a national landscape, there does not seem to be a team outside of the SEC capable of challenging the Crimson Tide on a yearly basis.

While the SEC is powerful on the whole, the level of elite teams who are capable of dethroning the Crimson Tide is dwindling.  

In-state rival Auburn’s title run last year proved that it is capable of making things difficult for the Tide, but given the fact that it's replacing both offensive and defensive coordinators in a calendar year will likely signal a grace period before they can rise again. 

Teams like Arkansas, South Carolina and Georgia are all missing a key piece before they can reach perennial powerhouse status. 

Florida is more than capable of rising up and challenging the Tide, but with the fallout from the Urban Meyer era still unfolding, the Gators are at least a year away before they can step up to the plate.  

This leaves the LSU Tigers, who until Monday night, had been Alabama’s nemesis.  

The two SEC West titans have split the last six meetings. 

With a stable coaching situation, as well as occupying a fertile state for stud recruits, the Tigers are capable of dueling with the Tide for the immediate future.  

However, with their demolition of the Tigers on Monday night, Alabama sent a loud and clear message to the entire nation—get used to it, because we are not going anywhere.