Nick Saban's Tenure in Review: Season #9 - 2015 Alabama Crimson Tide

Of Nick Saban's six national championship seasons while the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, the 2015 one might have been the most satisfying. Navigating the most difficult schedule a national championship team has ever dealt with, the 2015 Alabama Crimson Tide faltered in the early going against a 10-win Ole Miss team before coming together and running the table against a murderer's row of teams that showed out that year.

With the arm of Jacob Coker, the legs of Derrick Henry, and the hands of Calvin Ridley, the offense got better and better with each passing week. Meanwhile, the suffocating defense of Kirby Smart - led by the likes of A'Shawn Robinson, Jonathan Allen, Reggie Ragland, and Eddie Jackson - killed the will of multiple offenses and offensive players, including the vaunted rushing attack of LSU's Leonard Fournette.

This was without question a season to remember.

2015 Alabama Crimson Tide

Overall Record: 14 wins, 1 loss
SEC Record: 7 wins, 1 loss (1st in SEC West)
AP Poll Finish: #1
Coaches Poll Finish: #1

Offensive Coordinator: Lane Kiffin
Defensive Coordinator: Kirby Smart
Permanent Captains: Jacob Coker, Derrick Henry, Ryan Kelly, and Reggie Ragland
Consensus 1st Team All-Americans: Derrick Henry (RB), Ryan Kelly (C), A'Shawn Robinson (DT), and Reggie Ragland (LB)
1st Team All-SEC: Derrick Henry (RB), Ryan Kelly (C), Cam Robinson (T), Jonathan Allen (DE), A'Shawn Robinson (DT), Jarran Reed (DT), Reggie Ragland (LB), and Eddie Jackson (S)
Heisman Trophy: Derrick Henry (WINNER)

Total Offense: 427.1 YPG (#45)
Total Defense: 276.3 YPG (#3)
Average Talent Ranking on Roster: #1 (Per Rivals)

Schedule

vs. #20 Wisconsin (W) 35-17 [Arlington, TX]
vs. Middle Tennessee State (W) 37-10
vs. Ole Miss (L) 37-43
vs. Louisiana-Monroe (W) 34-0
@ #8 Georgia (W) 38-10
vs. Arkansas (W) 27-14 [Homecoming]
@ #9 Texas A&M (W) 41-23
vs. Tennessee (W) 19-14
vs. #2 LSU (W) 30-16
@ #17 Mississippi State (W) 31-6
vs. Charleston Southern (W) 56-6 [Senior Day]
@ Auburn (W) 29-13
vs. #18 Florida (W) 29-15 [SEC Championship Game]
vs. #3 Michigan State (W) 38-0 [2015 Cotton Bowl]
vs. #1 Clemson (W) 45-40 [2016 CFP National Championship Game]

Leading Passer
Jacob Coker
263-393 66.9 Pct 3,110 Yds 21 TDs 8 INTs

Leading Rusher
Derrick Henry
395 Att 2,219 Yds 5.6 Avg 28 TDs

Leading Receiver
Calvin Ridley
89 Rec 1,045 Yds 11.7 Avg 7 TDs

Note: With 2,219 rushing yards on the year, Derrick Henry became the first (and so far only) RB in the history of the SEC to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards in a season.