Is Sports Betting Legal In Alabama (AL)?

The Crimson Tide are a way of life in Alabama. That begins and ends with their football team, which claims 18 national championships. They were a powerhouse in the 1960s and 1970s under legendary coach Bear Bryant before returning to glory in the 2010s under Nick Saban. Both coaches led the Crimson Tide to six national titles.

Alabama’s men’s basketball team has an impressive resume on the hardwood as well, trailing only Kentucky among SEC teams in wins, tournament titles and conference titles. The Crimson Tide are coming off their best season in program history, as they made it to their first Final Four in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

An HBCU located in Huntsville, the Bulldogs compete in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in the FCS in football. Their best season came in 2020 when they went 5-0 and were voted the consensus black college football national champion.

The men’s basketball team reached 10 Division II national championships before moving to Division I in 1998, where they compete in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. They’ve made one Division I tournament appearance (2005) since the move.

Another FCS team in the SWAC, the Hornets have won six conference championships, with their most recent coming in 2004. They’ve also produced over 20 NFL players.

The men’s basketball team has made it to four Division II NCAA Tournaments, with their last appearance coming in 2005. While they’ve produced only one NBA draft pick, their most famous alumni is rapper 2 Chainz, who played on the team in 1996 and 1997.

The state’s other Power Five program, the Tigers are one of the top football schools in the SEC. They’ve won nearly 800 games and 16 conference championships since their first season in 1892. They also claim two national championships, with the most recent coming in 2010 on a game-winning field goal.

Auburn has won five conference regular season championships on the hardwood along with winning three SEC tournaments. The Tigers’ best season came in 2019 when they made it to the Final Four. They’ve also produced one NBA Hall of Famer in Charles Barkley.

• Jacksonville State Gamecocks

The Gamecocks played in the FCS from 1995 to 2022 before moving to the FBS level in 2023 and joining Conference USA. They made it to FCS playoffs 10 times, with their best season coming in 2015 when they reached the national championship game.

Jacksonville State’s men’s basketball team also plays in Conference USA and won a Division II national championship in 1985. The Gamecocks made their first Division I NCAA Tournament in 2017 when they won the Ohio Valley Conference.

While the Lions play in the FCS now, most of their success came at the Division II level. They’re the only team to win three consecutive Division II titles (1993-1995) and are the last Division II team to beat an FBS team, as they defeated Southwestern Louisiana in 1997.

North Alabama has been in the ASUN since 2018 but has yet to make it to a Division I NCAA Tournament. The men’s basketball team won two Division II national championships in 1979 and 1991.

An FCS school in the Southern Conference, the Bulldogs fielded their first football team in 1902. They’ve won four conference championships on the gridiron, with their last win coming in 2022. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs in 2022, where they lost to North Dakota State.

Samford’s’ men’s basketball team also plays in the Southern Conference on the hardwood and has appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times, most recently in 2024.

The Jaguars established their football team in 2009 before joining the Sun Belt ahead of the 2012 season. They’ve played in four bowl games since, with their lone win coming in 2023.

South Alabama has played in the Sun Belt on the hardwood since the conference was established in 1978. The men’s basketball team has won the conference championship five times and reached the NCAA Tournament eight times, with its last appearance coming in 2008.

The state’s other Sun Belt team, the Trojans used to be known as the Red Wave before becoming the Trojans in 2005. They’ve fielded a football team since 1956 and have won national championships at the NAIA level (1968) and the Division II level (1984 and 1987). They won back-to-back Sun Belt championships in 2022 and 2023.

After making it to six Division II NCAA Tournaments (and losing the national championship game in 1993), Troy’s men’s basketball team has appeared in two Division I NCAA Tournaments (2003 and 2017). The Trojans also hold the distinction of playing in the highest-scoring game in NCAA history, a 258-141 win over DeVry University in 1992.

The Blazers established their football team relatively recently, forming it in 1991. They won their first Conference USA championship and bowl game in 2018. They won their second in 2020 and have won their last two bowl game appearances.

The 2024 season will be UAB’s first season in the American Athletic Conference after 27 seasons in Conference USA. The Blazers started their athletic program with the creation of their men’s basketball team in 1978 and have made 17 NCAA Tournament appearances since, reaching the Sweet Sixteen three times.