Alabama Ties Dominant Florida St. Record With 14th 10-Win Season

Bobby Bowden and Nick Saban crossed paths early on in their careers, Bowden as a first-time head coach at West Virginia in 1978, Saban as a first-year staff assistant.

Bowden offered the job to Saban shortly after Nick's father passed away. The story was revisited in the days after Bowden's passing in early August, and brought to light the relationship the two legendary coaches shared.

"Bobby Bowden was a wonderful friend whose accomplishments as a coach are only surpassed by the character and class he displayed as a husband, father, mentor, and friend. His passing is a loss for everyone but should be seen as a chance to celebrate a life remarkably well lived. Sometimes it's not what you do, but who you are that is truly important, and no one embodies that more than Bobby Bowden."

-Nick Saban, Aug. 2021

After Alabama's 42-35 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks, the two iconic coaches crossed paths again, this time in the record books. With its 10th win of the 2021 season, the Crimson Tide has now posted at least 10 wins in 14 consecutive seasons, tying the record put forth by Bowden's Florida State Seminoles from 1987-2000. The two programs meet here with such a tremendous record with different paths.

Read More: Alabama Slow-Cooks Razorbacks to Clinch SEC West Championship

From 2008-2021, the Crimson Tide have won seven conference championships with an opportunity for an eighth against the Georgia Bulldogs on Dec. 4 in Atlanta. Florida State won nine consecutive conference championships, its first nine in the ACC in fact.

Florida State went 152-19-1 and finished in the top-5 of the AP Poll each season during the streak. Alabama has gone 173-18 and reached the No. 1 spot in each season.

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The Seminoles won two national championships (1993 & 1999) and crowned two Heisman Trophy winners (Charlie Ward & Chris Weinke.) The Crimson Tide won six national championships (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, & 2020) and crowned three Heisman Trophy winners (Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry & DeVonta Smith) and Bryce Young or Will Anderson could realistically win the award at the end of the season.

Each streak brings about legendary players and performances, stats and milestones as well. With no signs of slowing down, Alabama could likely break the record in 2022. But that feat would just serve as one more reminder of the legacy of both coaches and how they are intertwined.