James Franklin not alone in struggles vs. Top 10 opponents

Nick Saban – Alabama

2007
0-1 L LSU (3) 41-34

2008
1-1 W Clemson (9) 34-10
2-1 W @ Georgia (3) 41-30
2-2 L Florida (2) 31-20
2-3 L Utah (7) 31-17

2009
3-3 W Virginia Tech (7) 34-24
4-3 W LSU (9) 24-15
5-3 W Florida (1) 32-13 (SEC Championship)
6-3 W Texas (2) 37-21 (BCS Championship)

2010
7-3 W @ Arkansas (10) 24-20
8-3 W Florida (7) 31-6
8-4 L Auburn (2) 28-27
9-4 W Michigan State (7) 49-7

2011
9-5 L LSU (1) 9-6
10-5 W LSU (1) 21-0 (BCS Championship)

2012
11-5 W Michigan (8) 41-14
12-5 W @ LSU (5) 21-17
13-5 W Georgia (3) 32-28 (SEC Championship)
14-5 W Notre Dame (1) 42-14 (BCS Championship)

2013
15-5 W @ Texas A&M (6) 49-42
16-5 W LSU (10) 38-17
16-6 L @ Auburn (4) 34-28

2014
17-6 W Miss St (1) 25-20
17-7 L Ohio State (4) 42-35 (CFP)

2015
18-7 W @ Georgia (8) 38-10
19-7 W @ Texas A&M (9) 41-23
20-7 W LSU (4) 30-16
21-7 W Michigan State (3) 38-0 (CFP)
22-7 W Clemson (1) 45-40 (CFP)

2016
23-7 W @ Tennessee (9) 49-10
24-7 W Texas A&M (6) 33-14
25-7 W Washington (5) 24-7 (CFP
25-8 L Clemson (3) 35-31 (CFP)

2017
26-8 W Florida State (3) 24-7
26-9 L @ Auburn (6) 26-14
27-9 W Clemson (1) 24-6 (CFP)
28-9 W Georgia (3) 26-23 (CFP)

2018
29-9 W @ LSU (4) 29-0
30-9 W Georgia (4) 35-28 (SEC Championship)
31-9 W Oklahoma (4) 45-34 (CFP)
31-10 L Clemson (2) 44-16 (CFP)

2019
31-11 L LSU (1) 46-41

2020
32-11 W Georgia (3) 41-24
33-11 W Notre Dame (4) 31-14 (CFP)
34-11 W Ohio State (3) 52-24 (CFP)

2021
None

Conclusion

What Saban has built in Tuscaloosa is simply incredible.

Having a combined 34-11 record against top 10 opponents is something that can only be achieved by all-time great coaches.

It’s borderline absurd.

And keep in mind, what Swinney and Saban have done are NOT THE NORM. The only thing in collegiate sports which can be somewhat comparable to what Saban has done is the wrestling dynasty Cael Sanderson built at Penn State.

Nick Sabans do not grow on trees and the future of Alabama football will undoubtedly change course once he decides to hang it up. That level of success is not sustainable.

Speaking of sustained success, remember when I said there would be a special coach we would look at towards the end of the article?

We’re there.

And this coach is in the Pantheon of coaching in all of sports, not just college football. Before we look at his record, I’ll let you know he coached in 82 games against top 10 opponents.

Any guess as to his record?