Alabama

Alabama football makes CBS Sports’ ‘most hated teams of all-time’ list

Published

3 weeks ago

March 29, 2026

Alabama football makes CBS Sports’ ‘most hated teams of all-time’ list

Alabama football will never be without its share of critics and detractors, no matter who roams the sidelines at Bryant-Denny Stadium — or previously Birmingham’s Legion Field.

That was especially true during Nick Saban’s illustrious tenure as Crimson Tide head coach. Between 2009 and 2020, Saban produced six national championships in his 17 full seasons in Tuscaloosa.

In the grand scheme of things, though, there’s one team CBS Sports believes best embodies the spirit of hate Alabama received under Saban better than any other. That would be the Crimson Tide’s 2011 squad.

Alabama and LSU were indisputably the best two teams in college football that year. Oklahoma State was a distant third behind the two SEC behemoths, who met in their annual regular-season showdown in early November 2011: the “Game of the Century” at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. LSU won, 9-6, in overtime.

And that seemed to be that for Alabama’s national championship hopes.

But then a month of chaos ensued: Oklahoma State lost to Iowa State. Boise State lost to TCU. Oregon lost to USC. Alabama was suddenly propelled back into title contention, and an eventual rematch with LSU for the BCS National Championship Game was set for Jan. 9, 2012, at the Superdome in New Orleans.

From start to finish, Alabama throttled the Tigers behind one of the most suffocating defensive performances in college football history. ESPN broadcaster Brent Musburger famously quipped, “This is a mauling, folks, a mauling.”

LSU didn’t reach midfield until the fourth quarter, and while the game might have lacked for offense, Trent Richardson’s 34-yard touchdown run with 4:36 to play put Alabama up 21-0 and secured Saban’s second of six national championships in Tuscaloosa.

CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford said of why the 2011 Tide was so hated:

“Blame Nick Saban for much of the hate the SEC received for a decade-plus during his illustrious tenure in Tuscaloosa. Universally hated by just about everyone outside of Alabama during his reign, the Crimson Tide won more games from 2010 to 2020 than any program in the country and churned out more first-round picks as well. Saban collected six national titles and countless conference championships over his 17-year reign, but it was Alabama’s rematch opportunity with LSU in the 2011 national title game two months after losing to the Tigers, 9-6, that tossed lighter fluid on the fire aimed at taking computers out of the mix to determine college football’s championship matchup. Alabama’s 21-0 destruction of LSU equaled the third-lowest TV viewership in the 14-year history of the BCS final.”

Who is college football’s all-time most hated team? CBS Sports ranks ‘bad boys’ No. 1

When looking at any Mount Rushmore of most hated college football teams, no Alabama squad has anything on the late 80s Miami Hurricanes. Alabama’s 2011 team was only No. 10 overall on CBS Sports’ list. Jimmy Johnson’s 1986 Miami team was No. 1.

Crawford said of the Hurricanes:

“The birth of “The U” under Jimmy Johnson is when the Hurricanes truly became college football’s bad boys. On a team loaded with future NFL talent, Johnson essentially didn’t believe in suspensions and handled all disciplinary action “in-house” — whatever that meant during a time of little to no NCAA regulation. That included several slap-on-the-wrist penalties for alleged shoplifting and fraud infractions involving his top talent. Miami’s swag wasn’t enough in the national championship game against Penn State after the Hurricanes infamously stepped off the plane in military fatigues. Heisman-winning Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde threw five interceptions, and the Hurricanes fell, 14-10, for their only loss of the season. Over five seasons with the Hurricanes, Johnson went 52-9 with a national title in 1987 and three top-3 finishes, putting together one of the greatest runs of all-time. The 1986 team, though, was the nastiest group.”

Four SEC programs make CBS Sports’ list of all-time ‘most hated’ college football teams

For the most hated SEC team of all-time in CBS Sports’ rankings, Crawford put Cam Newton-led Auburn at the top of the list and writes:

“These Tigers stand as one of the SEC’s most hated teams ever. In a setting made for reality TV, Cam Newton captivated viewers with his Heisman-level athleticism on the field and his never-ending saga off of it. Kicked out at Florida before starring in the JUCO ranks, Newton landed at Auburn pre-NIL as a transfer and was Gene Chizik’s claim to fame. Much like Jameis Winston and Johnny Manziel, Newton was vilified by opposing fans, and many anxiously awaited his moment of failure. But it never came. Newton won the SEC and directed his team to an unblemished national championship season, recording one of the single-most impressive campaigns in the sport’s history. Newton earned 729 first-place Heisman votes, a then record-setting margin, with the next closest player being Andrew Luck (78).”

A breakdown of CBS Sports’ rankings for SEC teams on the list:

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Alabama

Alabama AHSAA softball key dates and top teams approaching the 2026 playoffs

Published

3 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

Alabama AHSAA softball key dates and top teams approaching the 2026 playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Alabama’s AHSAA softball playoffs are just around the corner with three of the state’s top teams ranked in the national Top 15.

The No. 5 Orange Beach [AL] Makos, No. 10 Thompson [Alabaster, AL] Warriors, and No. 15 Wetumpka [AL] Indians are all ranked in the most recent edition of the MaxPreps Top 50 with the start of Alabama’s postseason less than two weeks away.

Orange Beach was previously ranked No. 1 before losing to the South Warren [Bowling Green, KY] Spartans last week. Both teams were undefeated going into the contest, and the Barbers Hill [Mt. Belvieu, TX] Eagles took the Makos’ place at the top of the rankings following the loss.

WATCH: ALABAMA AHSAA SOFTBALL ON THE NFHS NETWORK

Key dates for the Alabama AHSAA softball playoffs

DATE	PLAYOFF DEADLINES
5/1-5/26 Advertisement	Area Tournaments
5/11-14/26	Regional Tournaments
5/18-22/26	State Tournaments Advertisement

National Top 50 contenders by classification

Alabama’s three nationally-ranked teams all compete in different classifications.

Class 7A

The Thompson Warriors are 34-1-2, and they compete in the AHSAA’s top-level Class 7A ranks. The team’s only loss is to the No. 15 Wetumpka Indians in a 3-2 setback on April 3.

Class 6A

Wetumpka is 34-5, and as noted above, they are the only team to beat Thompson so far.

Class 4A

Orange Beach is the state’s top-ranked team despite competing at the AHSAA’s Class 4A level. Their loss to South Warren of Kentucky in a 6-1 setback on April 9 ended a 45-game win streak at the time. The Makos had only allowed 25 runs all season prior to the relative outburst by the Spartans.

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Alabama edge to pattern his game after 2-time Super Bowl Champ

Published

15 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Alabama edge to pattern his game after 2-time Super Bowl Champ

Photo comes via Rodger Champion of Alabama athletics

How electric could Alabama football be on defense this season?

Alabama edge updates development of 4-star inside linebacker

The answer comes down to how many players Kane Wommack can produce to affect opposing quarterbacks in the pocket.

He returns Yhonzae Pierre, a fourth-year edge rusher, following a season where he collected eight sacks (team-high), 14.5 tackles for loss (team-high), nine quarterback hurries (team-high), and three forced fumbles. Pierre will draw much attention from offensive coaches; however, the Crimson Tide has a sophomore ready to help him on the outside.

Justin Hill, a former four-star from Cincinnati, Ohio, has made it his mission to become a complete pass rusher.

Alabama edge Justin Hill (#8) is modeling his game after a former two-time Suer Bowl Champion.

3/25/25 MFB Spring Practice
Alabama Linebacker Justin Hill (8)
Photo by Kent Gidley

He provided some excitement in 15 games last year, posting 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a pass breakup.

Former 4-star edge “will stand out” at Alabama in 2026 season, per Yhonzae Pierre

Who is Justin Hill modeling his game after?

The 6-foot-3, 244-pounder had a good spring, and the coaching staff looks at him as someone that brings speed, power, and edge-bending abilities to harass quarterbacks. Hill mentioned to reporters after A-Day that he wants to ‘go through’ quarterbacks in generating pressure.

He also wants to pattern his game after a former two-time Super Bowl Champion.

Hill detailed the former two-time Butkus Award winner he’s emulating.

“I am watching guys like Von Miller,” Hill said. “I’m watching a lot of speed to power guys.”

Hill stated Nik Bonitto of the Denver Broncos as another National Football League pass rusher he is studying. Bonitto has 37 sacks and 44 tackles for loss in four seasons with the Broncos – including a career-high 14 sacks in 2025.

Miller is one of the greatest pass rushers in the history of the league. He has 138.5 career sacks, including seven seasons with 10-plus sacks.

Miller has two Super Bowl rings, a Super Bowl Most Valuable Player honor, three first-team All-Pro honors, eight Pro Bowl nods, and is on the NFL’s 2010 All-Decade Team.

Hill learned to ‘cut it loose’ as an edge rusher from Pierre, so the combination of that and studying film on Miller should prepare him to be a force in the fall.

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Stephen M. Smith is a team writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.

Stephen Smith is a 2015 graduate of the University of Alabama.
He is a seasoned writer that has covered Alabama football for Touchdown Alabama Magazine since 2009. Smith has extensive knowledge within the program, which has made him among the most respected journalist in his field. Throughout his career, Smith has been featured on ESPN and several other marquee outlets as an analyst.

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YMCA of South Alabama holds Healthy Kids Day in Spanish Fort

Published

1 day ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

YMCA of South Alabama holds Healthy Kids Day in Spanish Fort

SPANISH FORT, Ala. (WALA) – The YMCA of South Alabama held a Healthy Kids Day at Spanish Fort Town Center Park.

Saturday’s event featured games and demonstrations, along with interactive activities featuring police and fire vehicles.

“I think just seeing so many organizations come together that serve kids, and just seeing kids have fun,” said Gwen Summer, CEO of the YMCA of South Alabama.

Marissa Rennaker, director of development for the YMCA of South Alabama, said the event exposed children to new activities.

“I think it’s been seeing all the kids laugh and try different things that they probably haven’t tried before,” Rennaker said. “There was a big group doing pickleball and yoga. We had ballet earlier, so just getting them out and exposed to things, I think it’s been great.”

The event was designed to kick off a healthy, active summer.

The YMCA of South Alabama is located at 27080 Pollard Road in Daphne.

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