Nick Saban‘s Alabama continues to rack up milestone after milestone. The Crimson Tide are already on a record streak of 11 consecutive seasons with at least one AP No. 1 ranking. They hit win No. 900 a week ago. They’re on record streaks as favorites and wins over unranked opponents.
But on Sunday, with yet another unanimous No. 1 ranking, Alabama hit a milestone that seemed unfathomable. According to SEC Network, Alabama has spent 79 weeks as the AP No. 1 since 2009, which is equal to the number by the rest of the sport combined.
Impressive. pic.twitter.com/0AANqYDly5
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 11, 2018
Alabama has been the AP’s No. 1 every week during the 2018 season, and collected 13 of a possible 16 No. 1 rankings. They were No. 1 all throughout the 2016 season until finishing at No. 2. In 2015, Alabama was not the AP No. 1 at all during the season -- until knocking off Clemson in the title game to ascend to No. 1.
Dating back to the final poll of the 2015 season, Alabama has been the AP No. 1 in 41 of the last 45 polls.
It’s a level of consistency unmatched in college football, and one that is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.