2016 Alabama (14-1)

Average Scoring Margin: 25.6

Top 25 Record: 9-1

Yep. This Alabama group had NINE Top 25 wins in 14 games. The Tide were not without their weakness. True freshman Jalen Hurts was effective, but he wasn’t yet a game-changing threat for the Tide. But that Alabama defense was elite. Alabama led the country in yards allowed per play and produced 15 non-offensive touchdowns when combined with special teams. Alabama crushed No. 15 Florida (54-16) in the SEC title game and smothered Washington (2.89 ypp) in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Only thing is, Alabama ran into a scorching hot Deshaun Watson in the national title game. What are you going to do? The Tigers still needed a last-second touchdown to win the title. And more than a few people in the Southeast would mention that Clemson created a pick to get Hunter Renfrow open in the right corner of the end zone.

You could strongly argue Alabama’s flashier 2018 title-runner-up team is better than this 2016 version. But give me the 2016 team with an elite defense and resume over a Tide team that got bullied by Clemson in the national title game.

"It's a tough call between the 2016 and 2018 teams," BamaOnLine senior analyst Travis Reier said. "Both were similar in a lot of ways and different in others. Common denominator: each was looking to cap back-to-back titles with perfect seasons. Both teams attempted to overcome significant injuries on the defensive side of the ball as well. The teams were certainly different in offensive approach and explosiveness. Ultimately, coming up a play short of the crown in 2016 had to sting more than the loss to Clemson a few years later."