It seems weird to view it from this perspective, but Alabama football has been at its best when other schools are being discussed more. Louisiana State University was once the program that consistently challenged the Crimson Tide. With Les Miles at the helm, there was a five-year period (2007-11) where both schools were looked at as 1A and 1B of college football.
Since Miles’ departure, due to a lack of evolution on offense, no team in the SEC West has stood as a perineal thorn in Alabama’s side. In its hiring of Jimbo Fisher from Florida State, Texas A&M University could potentially become that institution.