▁over ▁both ▁Georgia ▁Southern ▁and ▁A ub urn ▁and ▁finished ▁in ▁second ▁place ▁in ▁the ▁West ▁division ▁behind ▁L SU . ▁ ▁After ▁the ▁Tig ers ▁won ▁the ▁SE C ▁Championship ▁Game , ▁a ▁rem atch ▁against ▁the ▁C rim son ▁T ide ▁became ▁the ▁likely ▁pair ing ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁B CS ▁National ▁Championship ▁Game . ▁Alabama ▁qualified ▁for ▁the ▁B CS ▁National ▁Championship ▁Game ▁after ▁they ▁received ▁a ▁final ▁B CS ▁score ▁of ▁. 9 4 2 , ▁just ▁slightly ▁ahead ▁of ▁Oklahoma ▁State ' s ▁B CS ▁score ▁of ▁. 9 3 3 . ▁In ▁their ▁rem atch ▁against ▁L SU ▁at ▁the ▁Mer cedes - B enz ▁Super d ome ▁in ▁New ▁Orleans , ▁the ▁C rim son ▁T ide ▁shut out ▁the ▁SE C ▁champion ▁Tig ers ▁ 2 1 – 0 ▁and ▁captured ▁Alabama ' s ▁second ▁B CS ▁championship ▁and ▁ 1 4 th ▁overall ▁national ▁championship . ▁ ▁Third ▁national ▁championship ▁ ▁After ▁they ▁captured ▁their ▁second ▁national ▁championship ▁in ▁three ▁years , ▁Alabama ▁again ▁signed ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁nation ' s ▁top ▁rec ruit ing ▁classes ▁in ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁After ▁they ▁completed ▁spring ▁practice ▁in ▁April , ▁the ▁C rim son ▁T ide ▁entered ▁the ▁season ▁with ▁a ▁No .   2 ▁ranking ▁and ▁as ▁a ▁favorite ▁to ▁repeat ▁as ▁national ▁champions . ▁Alabama ▁opened ▁the ▁season ▁with ▁a ▁ 4 1 – 1 4 ▁victory ▁over ▁Michigan ▁in ▁the ▁Cow bo ys ▁Classic .