By the numbers: Alabama continues CFP dominance with Cotton Bowl win over Cincinnati

January 1, 2022 admin

Alabama continues to command the College Football Playoff.

In their latest appearance, the No. 1 Crimson Tide beat No. 4 Cincinnati 27-6 in the Cotton Bowl on Friday to advance to their second straight CFP National Championship Game. They will face No. 2 Michigan or No. 3 Georgia for the title on Jan. 10.

No team has found more success in the CFP than Alabama since the format’s inception in 2014. Sporting News dives into the numbers to show how dominant the Crimson Tide have been.

MORE: Alabama vs. Cincinnati results

College Football Playoff semifinal wins

If Alabama makes the CFP, it is seemingly guaranteed to reach the final.

Only once in its record seven appearances has it not reached the title game. No. 4 Ohio State defeated No. 1 Alabama 42-35 in the inaugural CFP in 2014.

Since then, the Crimson Tide have done this in the semifinals:

Year	Matchup	Bowl	Result
2015	No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 3 Michigan State	Cotton Bowl	38-0, Alabama
2016	No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Washington	Peach Bowl	24-7, Alabama
2017	No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Alabama	Sugar Bowl	24-6, Alabama
2018	No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Oklahoma	Orange Bowl	45-34, Alabama
2020	No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Notre Dame	Rose Bowl	31-14, Alabama
2021	No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Cincinnati	Cotton Bowl	27-6, Alabama

That’s a 189-67 advantage for the Crimson Tide through Friday’s game.

MORE: Georgia vs. Michigan live score, updates, highlights

Stifling defense

Nick Saban’s teams have been known for their defense. That hasn’t exactly been the calling card of the 2021 version, but it still joined the list of impressive Alabama defenses.

In the history of the College Football Playoff, six teams have been held to single-digit or zero points. Alabama has been responsible for four of those results. Clemson is responsible for the other two.

After Cincinnati’s six points Friday, Alabama is holding teams to 15.6 points per game in CFP semifinal games.

MORE: Nick Saban’s salary and net worth

Long time since a loss

Does it feel like it has been a while since Alabama lost a CFP game? That’s because it has been.

Alabama won both its CFP games last season, beating Notre Dame 31-14 in the semifinal and Ohio State 52-24 in the final. The Crimson Tide missed the Playoff in 2019 and lost to Clemson 44-16 in the national title game on Jan. 7, 2019.

That means it has been 1,089 days since Alabama has lost a CFP game.

Seeking additional history

Alabama has won the CFP national championship three times, the most of any team in the CFP era. It is now on the verge of a milestone it hasn’t yet reached.

The Tide can become the first team to win back-to-back titles. Defending national champions to this point are 0-3 after reaching the final the following season.