Alabama Football: The Crimson Tide's 5 Worst Bowl Games of All Time

Alabama is one of the most storied programs in college football history. The Tide have an illustrious history and lay claim to 13 national championships over the course of it.

But some of the memories are not fond ones for the fans when it comes to the postseason.

Here are the five worst bowl games the team has played.

5. 1998 Music City Bowl

The Tide weren’t ranked coming into the game and the final score in this one made sure of it. The up and coming Virginia Tech capitalized on many Alabama mistakes on the way to a 38-7 victory.

Defensive end Corey Moore had a stellar game, registering a sack, a blocked punt and a forced fumble while the Hokies as a team blocked another punt and picked off the ball three times. Alabama eventually got revenge for the game in the 2009 Chick-Fil-A kickoff, but this loss stung for a while.

4. 1968 Gator Bowl

Alabama played a tight game with Missouri for three quarters but completely unraveled in the fourth, ending the 12th-ranked Tide’s season with a 35-10 loss. The 17th-ranked Tigers were the underdogs in this matchup facing legendary coach Bear Bryant, but their defense held the Tide to a measly 113 total yards.

Missouri didn’t even have to complete a pass because the run game got them 402 yards. The loss made the '68 season Bryant’s first three-loss season since his first year as head coach.

3. 1991 Fiesta Bowl

Louisville was the favorite coming into the game but Alabama didn’t look like it belonged on the same field losing 34-7. The Cardinals opened up the game with a whopping 25 points in the first quarter and the Tide had absolutely no answer.

The only points for them came on an interception return for a touchdown. It was the worst season in Gene Stallings' time as a coach at Alabama and was the only bowl loss he ever suffered.

2. 1972 Orange Bowl

The No. 1 team in the country who was undefeated and defending a national title, Nebraska, met with No. 2 and also undefeated Alabama. Unfortunately, the game did not even come close to living up to that billing.

The Huskers dominated the game from the get go, mounting a 28-0 lead by halftime and never looked back on route to a 38-6 win. With so much on the line, this was easily the most embarrassing postseason performance of Bear Bryant’s career.

1. 2009 Sugar Bowl

Alabama had all of the talent, but it had none of the momentum after a crushing loss to eventual national champion Florida. Utah gashed through the third best defense in the country for 21 first quarter points while holding the Tide to only 208 total yards to the shock of the nation.

Many people chalk this game up to a lack of interest from their side, but getting blown out that badly is just pathetic. Nick Saban’s squad hasn’t lost a bowl game since and you know he’ll do everything in his power to make sure it doesn’t happen again.