After winning the BCS national title for the third time in four years, the Alabama Crimson Tide were awarded the No.1 ranking by The Associated Press for the ninth time in their programs history.

After routing the former No.1 Norte Dame 42-14 in the title game, the tide have knocked the fighting Irish down to No.4.

The Tide received all 59 of the first-place votes in the final media poll of the season, and will be a candidate to start next season No. 1. This season Alabama started second, was ranked No. 1 for 10 weeks before losing to Texas A&M in November and falling to fourth. The Tide quickly moved back to No. 2 and for the second straight season beat No. 1 in the BCS title game to finish on top.

Alabama is the seventh straight SEC team to finish No. 1. The Tide finished No. 1 five times under Paul "Bear" Bryant during his 25 years as coach, and Gene Stalling coached to the Crimson Tide to another championship in 1992.

Oregon finished second, matching its best final ranking from 2001. Ohio State, the only undefeated team in major college football but banned from the postseason because of NCAA sanctions, was third. Georgia and Texas A&M tied for fifth to cap another banner season for the Southeastern Conference.

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