1973 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

1973 Alabama Crimson Tide football
Coaches' Poll national champion
SEC champion
Sugar Bowl, L 23–24 vs. Notre Dame
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 4
Record11–1 (8–0 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive schemeWishbone
Base defense5-2
CaptainWilbur Jackson
Chuck Strickland
Home stadiumDenny Stadium
Legion Field
Seasons
← 1972
1974 →
1973 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 4 Alabama $ 8 0 0 11 1 0
No. 13 LSU 5 1 0 9 3 0
Ole Miss 4 3 0 6 5 0
No. 19 Tennessee 3 3 0 8 4 0
Georgia 3 4 0 7 4 1
Florida 3 4 0 7 5 0
Kentucky 3 4 0 5 6 0
Auburn 2 5 0 6 6 0
Mississippi State 2 5 0 4 5 2
Vanderbilt 1 5 0 5 6 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1973 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 79th overall and 40th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 16th year at his alma mater and 29th overall as a head coach, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished season with eleven wins and one loss (11–1 overall, 8–0 in the SEC), as SEC champions and with a loss to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.

Although they lost in the Sugar Bowl, Alabama was recognized as national champions by the Coaches' Poll (UPI) as their selection was made prior to bowl season at the time (the UPI started to issue its final poll after the bowl games beginning in 1974). Notre Dame was awarded the national championship by the Associated Press (AP).

The Crimson Tide opened the season with a victory at Birmingham over California. The next week, they defeated Kentucky in what was Bryant's first game in Lexington since he resigned as head coach of the Wildcats after their 1953 season. After they defeated Vanderbilt for their second shutout of the season, Alabama defeated Georgia in the first Tuscaloosa game of the season and followed that with a victory at Florida before what was the largest crowd to date at Florida Field.

Against Tennessee, Alabama defeated their rivals behind three fourth quarter touchdowns and extended their record to 6–0. The following week, the Crimson Tide shattered numerous offensive records with their 77–6 blowout win over Virginia Tech. After victories over both Mississippi State at Jackson and Miami on homecoming, Alabama then captured their third consecutive SEC championship with their win over LSU. Alabama closed the regular season with a win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl, but lost to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.