Alabama

For a team with such a rich football pedigree, Alabama has had relatively little success in the UCFC. They have a record of 24-12 in UCFC games, which places them well down the UCFC table. Mostly, this is due to bad luck; Alabama only participated in four UCFC games prior to 1970, and none of their great teams from the 1920s, 1930s, or 1960s ever got a chance at the title. Since 1970, however, Alabama has placed in 32 UCFC games, some of which are quite famous. Here are some of the better-known UCFC games involving the Crimson Tide:

09/12/70: So. California 42, Alabama 21. This was the famous "Sam Bam" Cunningham game that, according to legend, finally convinced the Alabama fans that their team needed to integrate in order to be nationally competitive.

11/27/71: Alabama 31, Auburn 7. Alabama crushed an Auburn team led by Heisman-trophy winner Pat Sullivan in the only Iron Bowl featuring two teams with perfect records.

01/01/72: Nebraska 38, Alabama 6. Alabama immediately lost the UCFC crown (and the 1971 national title) to one of the greatest college football teams of all time.

12/31/73: Notre Dame 24, Alabama 23. Of all the "games of the century" played during the 20th century, this may have been the best. It was the first meeting ever between Notre Dame and Alabama, it decided the national title, and it left at least one young Alabama fan with a lifelong hatred of the Fighting Irish.

12/05/09: Alabama 32, Florida 13. Alabama ended Tim Tebow's long run with the UCFC title (and captured the SEC championship as well) in what I consider to be one of Alabama's all-time greatest performances.

01/07/10: Alabama 37, Texas 21. Alabama captured the 2010 national title -- and kept the UCFC championship -- the first time Alabama has ever captured such a double.

San Jose State

On October 9, 1954 San Jose State beat Arizona State 19-12 to take over as UCF Champions.  They lost the Championship two weeks later, after a week off, by losing to Oregon 26-7.  Since then San Jose State has had two other shots at the UCFC title in 1990 and 1993, both losses to California.  This gives the Spartans a lifetime 1-3-0 record in UCFC games.

They will be going into Alabama to start the season with their first shot at the title in 17 years.  The Spartans were 2-10 last season, so don't hold your breath for an upset.

Welcome!

This blog will track the Unofficial College Football Championship. As you can see from this web page, the UCFC began with the very first college football game in 1869 between Princeton and Rutgers. By winning that game, Rutgers became the first unofficial college football champion. The champion holds the title until it is defeated (not merely tied) by another team. In over 140 years of college football, there have been a vast number of championship games.

The current unofficial champion is Alabama, which will be defending its title on September 4, 2010 in Tuscaloosa against San Jose State.