▁was ▁S aban ' s ▁first ▁game ▁at ▁T iger ▁Stadium ▁since ▁he ▁res igned ▁as ▁L SU ' s ▁coach ▁after ▁their ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁season , ▁the ▁C rim son ▁T ide ▁defeated ▁the ▁Tig ers ▁ 2 7 – 2 1 ▁in ▁over time . ▁The ▁victory ▁over ▁L SU ▁also ▁allowed ▁the ▁C rim son ▁T ide ▁to ▁cl inch ▁the ▁SE C ▁West ▁Division ▁championship , ▁and ▁earned ▁a ▁spot ▁in ▁the ▁SE C ▁Championship ▁Game . ▁Alabama ▁then ▁closed ▁with ▁wins ▁over ▁Mississippi ▁State ▁and ▁A ub urn , ▁that ▁ended ▁their ▁six - game ▁losing ▁stre ak ▁in ▁the ▁Iron ▁Bowl , ▁and ▁finished ▁the ▁regular ▁season ▁und efe ated ▁ 1 2 – 0 . ▁Although ▁fav ored , ▁a ▁two ▁touch down ▁r ally ▁led ▁by ▁Florida ' s ▁Tim ▁T eb ow ▁in ▁the ▁fourth ▁quarter ▁resulted ▁in ▁the ▁C rim son ▁T ide ▁failing ▁to ▁capture ▁the ▁SE C ▁championship ▁and ▁instead ▁of ▁playing ▁for ▁a ▁national ▁championship , ▁they ▁accepted ▁an ▁inv itation ▁to ▁play ▁in ▁the ▁Sug ar ▁Bowl . ▁Again st ▁an ▁und efe ated ▁Ut ah ▁team , ▁Alabama ▁was ▁ups et ▁ 3 1 – 1 7 ▁and ▁finished ▁the ▁season ▁with ▁an ▁overall ▁record ▁of ▁ 1 2 – 2 . ▁ ▁First ▁national ▁championship ▁ ▁Although ▁they ▁reached ▁their ▁first ▁B CS ▁game ▁since ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁season , ▁Alabama ▁looked ▁improve ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁season