Schedule
The Sagarin computer ratings calculated Alabama's strength of schedule to be the most difficult out of the 245 Division I teams. The Congrove Computer Rankings also calculated it as the most difficult out of the 120 Division I FBS teams in its rankings. Alabama's 2009 schedule was officially released on December 19, 2008. In accordance with conference rules, Alabama faced all five Western Division opponents: Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss. They also faced three Eastern Division opponents: official SEC rival Tennessee, Kentucky, and South Carolina. Alabama did not play SEC opponents Georgia and Vanderbilt. Although not on the regular season schedule, Bama met Florida in the SEC Championship Game.
Alabama also played five non-conference games. For the season opener, the Tide played in the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff against Virginia Tech at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The non-conference schedule also included games against Florida International and North Texas of the Sun Belt Conference and UT-Chattanooga of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). For the 2010 BCS National Championship Game, Alabama played Texas for the first time since the 1982 Cotton Bowl Classic.
| Date | Time | Opponent# | Rank# | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 5 | 7:10 PM | vs. #7 Virginia Tech* | #5 | Georgia Dome • Atlanta, GA (Chick-fil-A College Kickoff) | ABC | W 34–24 | 74,954 | |
| September 12 | 6:07 PM | Florida International* | #4 | Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL | CTSN PPV | W 40–14 | 92,012 | |
| September 19 | 11:21 AM | North Texas* | #4 | Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL | SEC Network | W 53–7 | 92,012 | |
| September 26 | 2:30 PM | Arkansas | #3 | Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL | CBS | W 35–7 | 92,012 | |
| October 3 | 11:21 AM | at Kentucky | #3 | Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY | SEC Network | W 38–20 | 70,967 | |
| October 10 | 2:30 PM | at #20 Ole Miss | #3 | Vaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS (Rivalry) | CBS | W 22–3 | 62,657 | |
| October 17 | 6:45 PM | #22 South Carolina | #2 | Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL | ESPN | W 20–6 | 92,012 | |
| October 24 | 2:30 PM | Tennessee | #1 | Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL (Third Saturday in October) | CBS | W 12–10 | 92,012 | |
| November 7 | 2:30 PM | #9 LSU | #3 | Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL (Rivalry) | CBS | W 24–15 | 92,012 | |
| November 14 | 6:00 PM | at Mississippi State | #3 | Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS (Rivalry) | ESPN | W 31–3 | 58,103 | |
| November 21 | 11:21 AM | Tennessee-Chattanooga* | #2 | Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL | SEC Network | W 45–0 | 92,012 | |
| November 27 | 1:30 PM | at Auburn | #2 | Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL (Iron Bowl) | CBS | W 26–21 | 87,451 | |
| December 5 | 3:00 PM | vs. #1 Florida | #2 | Georgia Dome • Atlanta, GA (SEC Championship Game) | CBS | W 32–13 | 75,514 | |
| January 7, 2010 | 7:39 PM | vs. #2 Texas* | #1 | Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA (BCS National Championship Game) | ABC | W 37–21 | 94,906 | |
- Source: Rolltide.com All-time Football Results: 2009 Season
Read more about this topic: 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Team