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55-770: The football rankings are compiled by the US LBM Board of Coaches which is made up of 62 head coaches at Division I FBS institutions. All coaches are members of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). The basketball rankings are compiled by the USA Today Sports Board of Coaches which is made up of 32 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). The baseball rankings are compiled by

110-553: A 10–0 lead. Auburn responded with a one-yard Secdrick McIntyre touchdown run late in the second that made the halftime score 10–7. The Crimson Tide extended their lead to 17–7 early in the third with their only second half points on a 13-yard Calvin Culliver touchdown run. The Tigers then brought the final margin to 17–13 with a two-yard Phil Gargis touchdown run in the fourth. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Auburn to 21–17–1. Playing for what would have been

165-477: A 14–0 lead in the first quarter behind touchdown runs of four and one-yard by Robert Fraley and Rick Watson before TCU scored their only points on a 30-yard Tony Biasatti field goal in the second. Alabama responded with a five-yard Robert Fraley touchdown pass to George Pugh just prior to the break that made the score 21–3 at halftime. The Crimson Tide continued their scoring with three second half touchdowns en route to their 41–3 victory. Ozzie Newsome scored on

220-569: A 15-yard Fraley pass in the third and Jack O'Rear threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Brown and scored on a 21-yard run in the fourth. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against TCU to 1–3. As they entered their game against Mississippi State , Alabama retained their No. 4 position in the AP Poll and the Bulldogs were in the No. 17 position. On homecoming and before what

275-511: A 20-game losing streak dating back to 1972 . In their next game, Alabama defeated rival Tennessee . After the Vols scored on a second quarter touchdown run, the Crimson Tide defense did not surrender another for 17 consecutive quarters against TCU , Mississippi State , LSU , and Miami . Alabama then closed the season with an Iron Bowl victory over Auburn , but then failed to capture

330-556: A 26-yard touchdown pass to Walter Overton for the Commodores that made the final score 23–10. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 31–17–4. After their victory over Vanderbilt, Alabama moved into the No. 3 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Ole Miss . Playing before a televised audience, the Crimson Tide defeated the Rebels 35–21 at Jackson. Alabama took an early 7–0 lead on

385-666: A 29-yard Ricky Davis fumble return and on a three-yard Richard Todd touchdown run. After a scoreless third, the Crimson Tide closed with a two-yard Jack O'Rear touchdown run in the fourth for the 30–0 win. For their performances, Willie Shelby was recognized as the SEC Back of the Week and Leroy Cook was recognized as the SEC Lineman of the Week. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against LSU to 24–10–4. As they entered their game against Miami , Alabama moved into

440-431: A 44-yard Berrey field goal. With just 1:27 left in the game, Seminoles head coach Darrell Mudra elected to take an intentional safety instead of attempting a punt out of the endzone. He made this decision as Alabama had been close on a couple of previous attempts to block punts during the game, and did not want a block to occur in the endzone. Down now 7–5, the Crimson Tide drove into field goal territory and Berrey hit

495-653: A 7–0 first quarter lead on an 11-yard Richard Todd touchdown run. They then extended it to 21–0 at halftime behind a 42-yard Todd touchdown pass to Russ Schamun and a five-yard Randy Billingsley touchdown run. A 30-yard Jack O'Rear touchdown run in the third made the score 28–0 as they entered the fourth quarter. In the final period, Danny Ridgeway connected on a 27-yard field goal and touchdowns were scored on runs of 25, 11 and 50-yards by Ralph Stokes, Rick Watson and John Boles respectively. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Southern Miss to 14–2–1. After their victory over Southern Miss, Alabama moved into

550-519: A college football game in the state of Maryland, the Crimson Tide entered the game as a two-touchdown favorite, but struggled to a 21–16 win over the Terrapins . Alabama took a 14–0 lead in the second quarter behind a pair of Calvin Culliver touchdown runs. He scored one in each of the first two quarter with the first from seven and the second from 73-yards. The Terrapins responded with a pair of Steve Mike-Mayer field goals from 32 and 35-yards in

605-426: A pair of third quarter touchdowns of their own on runs of 58-yards by Shelby and eight-yards by Rick Watson. A one-yard Richard Todd touchdown run in the fourth quarter made the final score 35–21. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Ole Miss to 23–5–2. After their victory over Ole Miss, Alabama retained their No. 3 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Florida State . Against

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660-538: A second consecutive national championship against Notre Dame , Alabama was upset by the Fighting Irish 13–11 in the Orange Bowl . Notre Dame took a 13–0 lead behind touchdown runs of four-yards by Wayne Bullock in the first and nine-yards by Mark McLane in the second quarter. A 21-yard Danny Ridgeway field goal for Alabama made the halftime score 13–3. After a scoreless third, the Crimson Tide scored

715-476: A three-yard James Taylor run in the first quarter. After the Rebels tied the game 7–7 on a nine-yard Kenneth Lyons touchdown run in the second, the Crimson Tide responded with a three-yard Willie Shelby touchdown run for a 14–7 halftime lead. In the third, Ole Miss briefly took a 21–14 lead after touchdowns were scored on a one-yard Lyons run and a 42-yard Gary Turner interception return. Alabama responded with

770-524: Is an association of over 11,000 American football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of coaching football," and to "provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football and coaching." The AFCA, along with USA Today ,

825-476: Is considered the primary professional association for football coaches at all levels of competition. Another primary goal of the American Football Coaches Association is the promotion of safety. The association has established a code of ethics and has made many safety recommendations. An annual injury survey begun by the AFCA in the 1930s has provided valuable data and has led to a remarkable reduction of injuries in

880-816: Is responsible for the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Coaches Poll . The AFCA is also responsible for the Top 25 poll for Division II and Division III football. The AFCA was founded in a meeting for 43 coaches at the Hotel Astor in New York City on Dec. 27, 1921. It is headquartered in Waco, Texas (the headquarters building is located across from Baylor University , formerly coached by AFCA executive director Grant Teaff ). The association has over 10,000 members and represents coaches at all levels including

935-973: The National Collegiate Athletic Association , the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics , the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics , the National Junior College Athletic Association , the National Federation of State High School Associations , the National Football League , the Canadian Football League , USA Football , the National Football Foundation , College Football Hall of Fame , and Pop Warner Football . The AFCA

990-484: The Seminoles , the Crimson Tide trailed until the final minute of regulation when Bucky Berrey converted the game-winning field goal for the 8–7 victory. The Seminoles took the opening kickoff and drove 78-yards on nine plays for a 7–0 lead behind a six-yard Larry Key touchdown run. Florida State continued to hold their touchdown lead through the third quarter when the Crimson Tide scored their first points on

1045-675: The University of Alabama in the 1974 NCAA Division I football season . It was the Crimson Tide's 80th overall and 41st season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant , in his 17th year, 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, 6–0 in

1100-480: The Volunteers . After a scoreless first, Alabama took a 7–0 on a 13-yard touchdown run by Willie Shelby in the second quarter. Tennessee responded with their only points on a 64-yard Stanley Morgan touchdown run and made the halftime score 7–6. The Crimson Tide extended their lead to 21–6 at the end of the third behind touchdown runs of 19-yards by Shelby and 30-yards by Calvin Culliver. Culliver then scored

1155-475: The "Top 20" teams on a weekly basis during the 1950-1951 college football and basketball seasons. For the 1990-1991 football and basketball seasons, the poll expanded to a "Top 25," and it has retained this format since. It was initially published by United Press – known from 1958 as United Press International (UPI) – from 1950 thru 1990, followed by USA Today / CNN from 1991 thru 1996, USA Today / ESPN from 1997 to 2004, and USA Today from 2005 to

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1210-442: The "individual, group or institution whose services have been outstanding in the advancement of the best interests of football." The Tuss McLaughry Award, established in 1964, is given to a distinguished American (or Americans) for the highest distinction in service to others. It is named in honor of DeOrmond "Tuss" McLaughry , the first full-time secretary-treasurer of the AFCA and one of the most dedicated and influential members in

1265-584: The 2026 season. Through the 1973 season, the final Coaches Poll was released in early December, after the regular season, but before the bowl games . Beginning with the 1974 season, the Coaches Poll has conducted its final poll in January, after the bowl games. Although the coaches' football poll has generally been in accord with the Associated Press (AP) Poll there have been years where

1320-429: The AP Poll prior to their nationally televised game against LSU . With their 30–0 victory over the rival Tigers , the Crimson Tide secured both a share of the 1974 conference championship and a place in the Orange Bowl . Alabama took a 7–0 first quarter lead behind a one-yard Calvin Culliver touchdown run. They extended it further to 23–0 at halftime after points were scored on a 20-yard Danny Ridgeway field goal ,

1375-555: The AP permits their inclusion. That year, Oklahoma was serving a second year of probation, went undefeated, and were AP champions; they were unlisted in the UPI coaches' poll, whose champion was USC . The UPI Trophy, known as the "UPI Cup", was awarded to the Coaches Poll winner prior to the introduction of the Coaches' Trophy in 1986. Starting in 1991, USA Today / CNN took over operation of

1430-687: The BCS by the College Football Playoff in 2014, the trophy will still be awarded, but in a separate ceremony some time following the College Football Playoff National Championship (which chose to award its own trophy), and the Coaches' Poll is no longer obligated to name the winner of the game as its post-season #1. The Coaches Poll has come under criticism for being inaccurate, with some of

1485-584: The Coaches Poll from UPI and awarded the Coaches' Trophy. The team that finishes first in the coaches' poll is currently awarded with the AFCA National Championship Trophy —from its inception through 2014, the winner of the BCS National Championship Game and its precursors was contractually named the #1 team on the Coaches Poll, and awarded the trophy in a post-game presentation. With the replacement of

1540-408: The January final poll was well-timed as the top-ranked team in the UPI coaches poll lost its bowl game five more times in the 1970s: in 1974 ( Alabama ), 1975 ( Ohio State ), 1977 ( Texas ), 1978 ( Penn State ), and 1979 ( Ohio State ). The sole exception was undefeated Pittsburgh in 1976 . Since the 1974 season, teams on probation are not recognized in the poll of coaches while

1595-480: The No. 2 position in the AP Poll. Before a relatively small crowd, Alabama defeated the Hurricanes 28–7 and secured Bryant's 150th victory as head coach of the Crimson Tide. The Crimson Tide opened the game with a pair of eight-yard Richard Todd touchdown passes to George Pugh and Jerry Brown for a 14–0 lead. They then extended their lead to 21–0 at halftime behind a 12-yard Gary Rutledge touchdown run in

1650-462: The No. 4 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Vanderbilt . Against the Commodores , Vanderbilt kept it close, but ultimately fell to the Crimson Tide 23–10 in the first Tuscaloosa game of the season. After Calvin Culliver gave Alabama a 7–0 lead with his 85-yard touchdown run, Mark Adams connected on a 20-yard field goal for Vanderbilt that made the score 7–3 at the end of

1705-703: The Physical Education Department at Dartmouth until 1960, when he accepted the appointment with the AFCA. He retired from that position in 1965. Maj. Charles Daly of the U.S. Military Academy was the first president of the American Football Coaches Association. He was followed by John Heisman . Other presidents have included Bear Bryant , Darrell Royal , Eddie Robinson , Charles McClendon , Bo Schembechler , Vince Dooley , and Bill Cronin 1974 Alabama Crimson Tide football team The 1974 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented

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1760-639: The SEC), as SEC champions and with a loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl . As they entered the 1974 season, the Crimson Tide were one of the favorites to compete for the national championship. In their first game of the season, Alabama narrowly escaped with a win at Maryland in what was Bryant's first visit to College Park since he resigned as the Terrapins' head coach after their 1945 season . They followed with victories over Southern Miss , Vanderbilt and Ole Miss before they played in their closest game of

1815-584: The USA Today Sports Board of Coaches which is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). The football Coaches Poll was an element of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) rankings, a voting system used from 1998 to 2013 to determine the teams to play in the BCS National Championship Game . The Coaches Poll began selecting

1870-453: The annual Iron Bowl , Alabama retained the No. 2 position and Auburn the No. 7 in the AP Poll prior to their match-up at Legion Field. Against the Tigers , the Crimson Tide were victorious as they edged out a 17–13 win at Birmingham. Alabama scored on a 45-yard Richard Todd touchdown pass to Willie Shelby in the first and on a 36-yard Bucky Berrey field goal in the second for

1925-534: The charges being that coaches are biased towards their own teams and conferences, that coaches don't actually complete their own ballots, and that coaches are unfamiliar with even the basics, such as whether a team is undefeated or not, about teams they are voting on. In 2012, USC Trojans coach Lane Kiffin resigned as a voter after just one vote amidst controversy over his preseason selection of his school as No. 1. Kiffin told reporters, "I would not vote USC No. 1, I can tell you that much." However, USA Today , citing

1980-523: The coaches' basketball poll for UPI. Beginning in the 1993–94 basketball season, the Coaches Poll began publishing its final poll after the NCAA basketball tournament . From the 1993 to 1997 seasons, the poll was co-sponsored by USA Today , Cable News Network , and the NABC. Finally, in 1997–98, ESPN joined as a co-sponsor of the Coaches Poll along with USA Today and the NABC where selected NABC members serve as

2035-954: The end of conference tournaments. A final poll is released after the conclusion of the College World Series . American Football Coaches Association Frank Solich , First Vice President Gary Patterson , Second Vice President Pete Fredenburg , Third Vice President Turner Gill Pat Fitzgerald Craig Bohl Bronco Mendenhall Todd Knight David Cutcliffe Jeff McMartin Ken Niumatalolo Dan Mullen Blake Anderson Danny Rocco Paul Winters David Shaw Seth Littrell Chris Klieman Mark McElroy, ex officio Danny Pearman , ex officio Van Malone , ex officio The American Football Coaches Association ( AFCA )

2090-631: The final points of the game with his six-yard touchdown run that made the final score 28–6. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 27–23–7. After their victory over Tennessee, Alabama retained their No. 4 position prior to their out of conference match-up against Texas Christian University (TCU) at Legion Field. Against the Horned Frogs of the Southwest Conference , Alabama won 41–3 for their first all-time victory over TCU. The Crimson Tide took

2145-406: The first quarter. A 36-yard Bucky Berrey field goal in the second quarter gave the Crimson Tide a 10–3 halftime lead. In the third, Richard Todd threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Russ Schamun and Berrey connected on a 42-yard field goal that made the score 20–3 as the teams entered the final quarter. In the fourth, Danny Ridgeway connected on a 27-yard field goal for Alabama and Fred Fisher threw

2200-411: The game winner from 36-yards out with only 0:33 left in the game. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Florida State to 2–0–1. After their closer than expected victory over Florida State, Alabama dropped into the No. 4 position prior to their game at Tennessee . Both Willie Shelby and Calvin Culliver each scored a pair of touchdowns for the Crimson Tide in this 28–6 victory over

2255-425: The game with 16 fourth quarter points for the 35–0 win. Touchdowns were scored in the final period on runs of seven-yards by Randy Billingsley and five-yards by Ray Sewell with a 42-yard Bucky Berrey field goal providing for the final margin. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State to 46–10–3. After their victory over Mississippi State, Alabama moved into the No. 3 position in

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2310-541: The history of the association. Tuss McLaughry, the award's namesake, began his coaching career at his alma mater, Westminster (Pa.) College in 1916. During his early days in coaching, McLaughry spent his spare time playing pro football with the Massillon (Ohio) Tigers. Knute Rockne was a teammate. He went on to become head coach at Amherst (1922–25), Brown (1926–40), and Dartmouth (1941–55). McLaughry retired from coaching in 1954, but continued in his capacity as chairman of

2365-510: The national championship after they lost to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl . The loss extended their winless streak in bowl games to eight (0–7–1) , which ended the following year . As they entered their first game of the 1974 season, Alabama was ranked as the USA's No. 3 team and Maryland as the No. 14 team in the AP Poll . Before what was then the largest crowd to ever attend

2420-487: The need to "protect the poll's integrity", revealed that Kiffin had voted his team for the top spot. Kiffin apologized and explained that his comments were from the perspective of an opposing coach voting for USC. The American Football Coaches Association began publishing a Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll in 2000 and a Division III Top 25 Coaches' Poll in 1999. Before this poll, regional rankings were used instead. Beginning in 1992–93, USA Today and CNN took over publishing

2475-439: The polls disagree. Eleven times – in 1954, 1957, 1965, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1991, 1997, and 2003 – the Coaches Poll has crowned a different national champion than the AP Poll, causing consternation among some college football fans. Until 1974, the final Coaches Poll was taken before the bowl games, while the final AP poll was taken after the bowls starting with the 1968 season (also in 1965, but not in 1966 or 1967). This

2530-488: The present. In February 2014, Amway was announced as the title sponsor of the college football Coaches Poll, which became known officially as the Amway Coaches Poll . The basketball and baseball polls were not sponsored by Amway and did not adopt this name. In August 2023, US LBM, a distributor of specialty building materials, became the football poll's new title sponsor in a deal that will run through at least

2585-407: The season against Florida State . Although the Crimson Tide entered their contest against the 0-4 Seminoles as a heavy favorite, they trailed for nearly the entire game until Bucky Berrey connected on the game-winning field goal from 36-yards out with only 0:33 left in the game. It was the closest Florida State would come to victory until scoring their only win at Miami in their ninth game to break

2640-480: The second and one from 40-yards in the third that cut the lead to 14–9. After Richard Todd extended the Crimson Tide lead to 21–9 with his one-yard touchdown run in the third, Louis Carter made the final score 21–16 with his one-yard touchdown run for Maryland in the fourth. This game also marked the first for coach Bryant at College Park since he resigned as the Terrapins' head coach after their 1945 season . For his two touchdown, 169 yard performance, Culliver

2695-429: The second quarter. After a scoreless third, Miami scored their only points on a one-yard Johnny Williams touchdown run in the fourth that marked the first touchdown scored against the Crimson Tide defense in 17 quarters. Alabama responded with a 62-yard Willie Shelby punt return late in the fourth that made the final score 28–7. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Miami to 11–2. As they entered

2750-454: The sport down through the years. The NCAA Rules Committee often follows recommendations made by the AFCA. Since 1945, the American Football Coaches Association has selected an All-American team. It is the only one selected exclusively by the coaches themselves. The AFCA National Championship Trophy is the trophy awarded by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) to the winner of college football 's Coaches Poll . From 1992 to 2013

2805-478: The trophy was contractually obligated to be awarded to the winner of the Bowl Coalition (1992-1994), Bowl Alliance (1995-1997), and Bowl Championship Series (1998-2013) national championship game winner. The trophy has been awarded since 1986 but teams that won the Coaches Poll from earlier seasons can purchase replicas for those years. Since 1940, the AFCA has awarded the annual Amos Alonzo Stagg Award to

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2860-468: The voting block for the poll. ESPN retains its involvement in the basketball poll despite no longer being involved in the football poll. USA Today and ESPN also publish a top 25 college baseball poll for NCAA Division I baseball , known as the USA Today /ESPN Top 25 coaches' baseball poll. The poll began in 1992. The poll appears in the preseason, then begins weekly after week 2 of the season through

2915-708: Was changed after the 1973 season, when Alabama was crowned as the Coaches Poll national champion in December, yet lost the Sugar Bowl to Notre Dame on New Year's Eve . The same situation occurred in 1970 , when No. 5 Notre Dame beat No. 1 Texas 24–11 in the Cotton Bowl and Nebraska won the Associated Press national title. In the preceding decade, the UPI coaches poll national champion lost its bowl game three times: 1960 ( Minnesota ), 1964 ( Alabama ), and 1965 ( Michigan State ). The change to

2970-572: Was recognized as the AP Southeastern Back of the Week. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Maryland to 2–1. After their closer than expected victory over Maryland, Alabama dropped into the No. 5 position of the AP Poll prior to their game against Southern Miss . Against the Golden Eagles the Crimson Tide amassed 643 yards of total offense en route to this 52–0 victory at Legion Field. Alabama took

3025-411: Was then the largest crowd in the history of Denny Stadium, the Crimson Tide shutout Mississippi State 35–0 for the second consecutive season. Alabama took a 6–0 first quarter lead behind a one-yard Robert Fraley touchdown run. They then extended it to 19–0 at halftime behind touchdown runs of one-yard by Calvin Culliver and two-yards by Richard Todd . After a scoreless third, the Crimson Tide closed

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