▁closed ▁the ▁season ▁with ▁a ▁ 4 9 – 7 ▁victory ▁over ▁Michigan ▁State , ▁S aban ' s ▁former ▁two - time ▁employ er , ▁in ▁the ▁Capital ▁One ▁Bowl ▁and ▁finished ▁with ▁an ▁overall ▁record ▁of ▁ 1 0 – 3 . ▁ ▁Second ▁national ▁championship ▁ ▁After ▁a ▁disappoint ing ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁season ▁in ▁which ▁they ▁opened ▁the ▁year ▁as ▁a ▁national ▁title ▁favorite ▁and ▁ended ▁with ▁three ▁losses , ▁the ▁C rim son ▁T ide ▁looked ▁to ▁reg ain ▁their ▁championship ▁form ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁campaign . ▁After ▁again ▁signing ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁top ▁rec ruit ing ▁classes ▁in ▁the ▁country , ▁and ▁going ▁through ▁spring ▁practice , ▁tra ged y ▁struck ▁T us cal o osa ▁on ▁April ▁ 2 7 , ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁when ▁an ▁EF 4 ▁r ated ▁torn ado ▁dev ast ated ▁the ▁city . ▁The ▁torn ado ▁resulted ▁in ▁the ▁death s ▁of ▁ 4 3 ▁people ▁in ▁the ▁city , ▁including ▁the ▁girl friend ▁of ▁C rim son ▁T ide ▁long ▁sn apper ▁Car son ▁T ink er , ▁and ▁the ▁team ▁later ▁would ▁dedic ate ▁their ▁season ▁to ▁both ▁the ▁vict ims ▁and ▁surv iv ors ▁of ▁the ▁storm . ▁ ▁The ▁C rim son ▁T ide ▁opened ▁the ▁season ▁with ▁a ▁ 4 8 – 7 ▁victory ▁over ▁S aban ' s ▁al ma ▁mater , ▁Kent ▁State ▁and ▁then ▁tra ve led ▁to ▁Be aver ▁Stadium ▁and ▁defeated ▁P