How Many Rings Does Nick Saban Have? 7 National Titles, 2 Schools
How many rings does Nick Saban have? Seven national championship rings, from a 7-3 record in national title games: one with LSU in the 2003 season and six with Alabama between the 2009 and 2020 seasons.
He retired after the 2023 season, so as of October 2026 the count is final at seven.
- Title games
- 10
- Titles won
- 7
- Schools
- LSU (1), Alabama (6)
- Title games lost
- 3
- First title
- 2003 season
- Last title
- 2020 season
Every national title game he coached
- 2003OklahomaWon 21-14
- 2009TexasWon 37-21
- 2011LSUWon 21-0
- 2012Notre DameWon 42-14
- 2015ClemsonWon 45-40
- 2016ClemsonLost 31-35
- 2017GeorgiaWon 26-23
- 2018ClemsonLost 16-44
- 2020Ohio StateWon 52-24
- 2021GeorgiaLost 18-33
Nick Saban’s rings by school
| School | Years as head coach | National titles | Title seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2007 to 2023 | 6 | 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020 |
| LSU | 2000 to 2004 | 1 | 2003 |
| Michigan State | 1995 to 1999 | 0 | None |
| Toledo | 1990 | 0 | None |
College head coaching only. Data as of October 2026.
So the answer to how many rings Nick Saban has with Alabama is six. He won the seventh at LSU, the school he left after the 2004 season.
All 10 national title games, won and lost
| Season | School | Result | Score | Opponent | Game date | Site | Final record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | LSU | Won | 21-14 | Oklahoma | Jan 4, 2004 | New Orleans | 13-1 |
| 2009 | Alabama | Won | 37-21 | Texas | Jan 7, 2010 | Pasadena | 14-0 |
| 2011 | Alabama | Won | 21-0 | LSU | Jan 9, 2012 | New Orleans | 12-1 |
| 2012 | Alabama | Won | 42-14 | Notre Dame | Jan 7, 2013 | Miami | 13-1 |
| 2015 | Alabama | Won | 45-40 | Clemson | Jan 11, 2016 | Glendale, Ariz. | 14-1 |
| 2016 | Alabama | Lost | 31-35 | Clemson | Jan 9, 2017 | Tampa | 14-1 |
| 2017 | Alabama | Won | 26-23 | Georgia | Jan 8, 2018 | Atlanta | 13-1 |
| 2018 | Alabama | Lost | 16-44 | Clemson | Jan 7, 2019 | Santa Clara, Calif. | 14-1 |
| 2020 | Alabama | Won | 52-24 | Ohio State | Jan 11, 2021 | Miami Gardens | 13-0 |
| 2021 | Alabama | Lost | 18-33 | Georgia | Jan 10, 2022 | Indianapolis | 13-2 |
2003 to 2012 were BCS title games, 2015 to 2021 College Football Playoff finals. Scores list Saban’s team first. Data as of October 2026.
The totals: in his seven title-game wins, Saban’s teams outscored opponents 244-136. In the three losses they were outscored 112-65. Two of the seven titles, 2009 and 2020, came in unbeaten seasons.
How each of the seven rings was won
The rings he could have had
Clemson beat Alabama in the finals after the 2016 and 2018 seasons, 35-31 in Tampa and 44-16 in Santa Clara. Georgia won the 2021 final 33-18 in Indianapolis. Win those three and Saban would have 10.
Saban vs. Bear Bryant
| Coach | National titles | At Alabama | Elsewhere |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Saban | 7 | 6 | 1 (LSU) |
| Paul “Bear” Bryant | 6 | 6 | 0 |
Counts as of October 2026.
Saban’s six Alabama titles match Bryant’s total, and the LSU ring puts him one ahead in total. Seven is the most by any coach in FBS history. More college ring counts will land on our WNBA and college hub, and every star we have counted so far is on the All Ring Counts page.
His other rings and records
| Honor | Count | Details |
|---|---|---|
| National championships | 7 | 2003 (LSU); 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020 (Alabama) |
| SEC championships | 11 | 2 at LSU, 9 at Alabama |
| National title game record | 7-3 | BCS and College Football Playoff |
| Career record | 297-71-1 | 28 seasons; 292-71-1 in NCAA records |
| Record at Alabama | 206-29 | 2007 to 2023 |
| First-round NFL draft picks coached | 52 | The most by any college coach |
| College Football Hall of Fame | Elected | 2025 class |
Data as of October 2026.
Why two career records? The NCAA vacated five Alabama wins from the 2007 season, so his official mark is 292-71-1 against 297-71-1 on the field. The seven national titles are not affected.
SEC title rings are separate from national title rings; counting both, Saban won 11 conference crowns and seven national ones.
Nick Saban rings FAQ
How many national championships did Nick Saban win at Alabama?
Six: the 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2020 seasons. Add his 2003 title at LSU and his total is seven national championships, the most by any coach in FBS history.
How many rings does Nick Saban have in total?
Seven national championship rings as a head coach. He also won 11 SEC championships, two at LSU and nine at Alabama, but those are conference titles, separate from his seven national titles.
How many national title games did Nick Saban lose?
Three, all at Alabama: to Clemson after the 2016 and 2018 seasons, and to Georgia after the 2021 season. Counting his seven wins, his record in national title games is 7-3.
Does Nick Saban have more titles than Bear Bryant?
Yes, seven to six. Both won six national titles at Alabama. Saban’s extra ring came at LSU in the 2003 season, a title the NCAA lists as shared with USC.
Did Nick Saban win a Super Bowl?
No. Saban coached the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and 2006 between his LSU and Alabama jobs and never reached a Super Bowl. All seven of his rings are college national championships.
Is Nick Saban still coaching?
No. He retired after the 2023 season, his 17th at Alabama. He now works as an analyst on ESPN’s College GameDay and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2025.
How long did Nick Saban coach at Alabama?
17 seasons, from 2007 through 2023. He won 6 of his 7 national titles there. He retired on January 10, 2024.
Sources
Season records, bowl results and title-game dates and sites: Sports-Reference, Nick Saban and its Alabama and LSU schedule pages.
Champions by season, including the shared 2003 title: NCAA.com FBS championship history. Playoff final scores: College Football Playoff. Career record, SEC titles, draft picks, and Hall of Fame election: National Football Foundation and Alabama Athletics. Bryant’s titles: Paul W. Bryant Museum.
Nick Saban photo: Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Last verified: October 14, 2026.
