Nick Saban had some incredible teams during his 17 seasons at Alabama, six of which managed to win the national championship.

All of those championship teams — and even a few that fell short — were outstanding in their own right. But which was the best?

Here’s a non-scientific ranking, in reverse order (record in parentheses):

6. 2017 (13-1)

This team won the national championship in the most dramatic and exciting fashion possible, Tua Tagovailoa’s 43-yard overtime touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith on second-and-26 in Atlanta vs. Georgia. Still, that Alabama team didn’t win the SEC West, losing at Auburn in the regular-season finale. It began the season with what looked like a big win over third-ranked Florida State, a victory that lost some luster as the year went along. After Auburn lost to Georgia in the SEC championship game, the Crimson Tide got into the playoff as the No. 4 seed. Alabama beat a top-ranked but not overpowering Clemson team 24-6 in the Sugar Bowl before topping the Bulldogs 26-23 in the national championship game.

5. 2012 (13-1)

Alabama won its second straight national championship and third in four years, bouncing back from a late-season home loss to win the SEC and then posted one of the more-dominant championship game performances in program history. The Crimson Tide won its first eight games, including a thrilling comeback win at No. 5 LSU before dropping a home contest to Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M. Alabama crushed Auburn 49-0 in the Iron Bowl, then edged No. 3 Georgia 32-28 in a classic SEC championship game to secure the second spot in the BCS national championship game against unbeaten Notre Dame. (Ohio State was also 12-0 that season, but ineligible for the postseason due to NCAA sanctions). Eddie Lacy, AJ McCarron and the Crimson Tide destroyed the Fighting Irish in the national title game, jumping on top 28-0 before winning 42-14.

4. 2015 (14-1)

This team bounced back from an early-season loss to Ole Miss and won its final 12 games, including victories over No. 3 Michigan State and No. 1 Clemson in the College Football Playoff. The Crimson Tide also won on the road at No. 8 Georgia, No. 9 Texas A&M and No. 17 Mississippi State during the regular season, a pretty strong resume in any year. Heisman winner Derrick Henry carried the offense, while an all-timer of a front line led the defense. The national championship game against Clemson was a classic, a 45-40 shootout during which a pair of huge special teams plays — Kenyan Drake’s kickoff return touchdown and Marlon Humphrey’s onside kick recovery — made the difference.

3. 2011 (12-1)

Arguably the greatest defensive team in Alabama history got into the BCS national championship game despite losing a November home game and not even winning the SEC West. The Crimson Tide rolled through its first eight games, beating three ranked teams and not allowing anyone to score more than 14 points. Then came the “Game of the Century” showdown with No. 1 LSU in Tuscaloosa, an overtime defensive slog that Alabama lost 9-6. The Crimson Tide won its last three regular-season games, but needed No. 2 Oklahoma State to slip up vs. Iowa State on a Friday night to get another shot at the championship. Alabama was matched up with still-unbeaten LSU in the BCS national championship game in New Orleans, and this time the game was no contest. The Crimson Tide won 21-0 for its second national title in three years.

2. 2009 (14-0)

Saban’s first national championship team was his only unbeaten squad for many years, and pulled off one of the great season-ending double-plays in program history. Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and Alabama survived a number of close calls, including a 12-10 victory over Tennessee in which it needed to block two field goals and a 26-21 win at Auburn in which it drove the length of the field at the end to take the lead for good. But the Crimson Tide ended the season by wrecking top-ranked defending national champion Florida 32-13 in the SEC championship game, avenging a loss to the Gators in Atlanta the previous year. That set up a BCS championship game showdown in Pasadena with Texas, a team Alabama had never beaten up to that point. The Crimson Tide jumped on top early and held on for a 37-21 victory and its first national title in 17 years. As Saban said at the championship parade in Tuscaloosa a short time later “this is not the end, this is the beginning.”

1. 2020 (13-0)

Many observers (including this one) believed Saban and Alabama couldn’t possibly top their 2009 performance, but we were proven wrong during the pandemic year. In a college football season turned on its head, the Crimson Tide was a picture of stability, both on and off the field. Alabama dominated against an All-SEC schedule, winning every regular-season game by at least 14 points behind a record-setting offense that featured Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith and quarterback Mac Jones. The Crimson Tide was challenged in the SEC championship game, turning back Florida 52-46 in a game that was not quite as close as the score indicated. Alabama handled No. 4 Notre Dame in the playoff semifinals before routing No. 3 Ohio State in the championship game, finishing 13-0 against arguably the toughest schedule in college football history. This was Saban’s best team, and arguably the greatest team in college football history (though 2019 LSU, among others, also has an argument).

So that’s the list. Agree or disagree?

Creg Stephenson has worked for AL.com since 2010 and has covered college football for a variety of publications since 1994. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter/X at @CregStephenson.