TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — When trying to rank Alabama’s best comebacks under Nick Saban, you quickly realize there aren’t many options. Since the start of the 2008 season, Alabama has lost a grand total of 14 games. While other top coaches have lost to lesser teams or gotten blown out at times, that doesn’t happen at Alabama.

Surprisingly, Alabama has had quite a few epic comebacks against Georgia and the latest one ranks up there with the best. Surely I’ll miss one and if I did, let me know in the comment section.

5. Alabama vs. LSU (2012)

Have you ever heard 100,000 screaming people go silent in an instant? That was the case in Death Valley in November 2012.

Alabama’s offense hadn’t been able to do anything for the entire game against LSU’s defense. The Tigers looked ready to take the game after Alabama was pinned deep in its own territory for the final drive. But it was something about that 2-minute offense that helped Alabama come alive. AJ McCarron found his favorite target, Kevin Norwood, to move the sticks three times. It was as if LSU decided they had covered Norwood enough and didn’t need to any more.

Then on the go-ahead score, LSU picked the absolute worst time to blitz while Alabama called the perfect blitz-beater.

McCarron dumped it off to T.J. Yeldon, who juked an LSU defender out of his cleats on his way to the end zone.

Just like that, Alabama 21, LSU 17 with 51 seconds left.

Outside of the small pocket of Alabama fans, the place was eerily quiet. McCarron was shown on the sideline crying. It was the continuation of Alabama’s current dominance over LSU.

LSU hasn’t been the same since, losers of eight consective to Alabama.

4. Iron Bowl vs. Auburn (2009)

Looking back, Alabama’s 2009 season was filled with close calls, and the Iron Bowl was no different. Down on the road late in the game, Alabama needed a drive, and quarterback McElroy delivered in the 26-21 victory.

Auburn jumped to a 14-0 first-quarter lead and had done a nice job of containing eventual Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. Trailing 21-20 with 8 minutes left, Saban put the game in McElroy’s hands.

He directed a 15-play, 79-yard drive, ending it with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Roy Upchurch with 1:24 left. It was the third time in that drive that he connected on third down.

Alabama had pounded Auburn the year before in Bryant-Denny Stadium, but there’s something about Jordan-Hare Stadium that makes games closer than they should be.

Auburn has arguably the best home-field advantage in the SEC, and it showed for the majority of that day.

3. SEC Championship Game vs. Georgia (2012)

You guessed it, a Alabama-Georgia game. These two have produced some memorable moments over the years. This was the de facto national championship because Georgia would have pounded Notre Dame, too.

This game was the beginning of the end for Mark Richt at Georgia, creating the narrative that he couldn’t win the big one.

To its credit, Georgia gave Alabama 60 minutes of hell. The Bulldogs had three leads, but each time Alabama answered.

McCarron hit Amari Cooper on a 45-yard touchdown with 3:15 left to account for the final score, but the drama wasn’t over.

Georgia drove inside Alabama’s 10, but there wasn’t enough time. Their championship hopes ended when Chris Conley caught a deflected pass and fell at the 5-yard line. Georgia couldn’t get off another play.

Alabama withstood a big game from Aaron Murray and Co. and got a punt blocked and returned for a touchdown, but still managed to pull this one out. There were some gutsy runs by T.J. Yeldon and Eddie Lacy. This game was incredible to witness live.

2. SEC Championship Game vs. Georgia (2018)

Only other game could top this one — and you know which one.

You can’t script situations better than how this game ended. Georgia had Alabama on the ropes once again, but couldn’t finish the job. Georgia’s offense built up a 28-14 lead. The Bulldogs’ defense was swarming and made Tua Tagovailoa look pedestrian (his injury and Alabama’s strange case of butterfingers contributed to that as well).

But for whatever reason Kirby Smart hasn’t been able to put his former boss away.

Smart and Georgia have led or been tied for 119 of the 120 minutes in the two games against Alabama and have lost both. Think about that for a second. Imagine completely dominating an opponent only to slip up in the end. Again.

There were some bone-head calls from Smart, including the worst fake punt since the forward pass was invented.

But the real story here is Jalen Hurts’ redemption. How crazy was it that Hurts was able to rewrite his story in the same building against the same team that contributed the most to him losing his job.

Alabama fans should be lucky Hurts decided to stick around. No matter what his future holds, Hurts should be remembered as a legend.

1. National championship vs. Georgia (January 2018)

It’s impossible to top a walk-off win in the national championship. That’s what Alabama earned in its national championship win over Georgia earlier this year.

Nick Saban went away from Hurts, his 2-year starter. Georgia blew a 13-point lead. Tua Tagovailoa found a streaking DeVonta Smith for a touchdown on 2nd-and-26 after taking a sack. That’s the gist of it.

But it’s crazy to think that nothing went right for Alabama for an entire half, and they still won the game and national titl. It’s also crazy to think that Alabama made it to the Playoff after losing the Iron Bowl. It’s even crazier to think that the team was able to make it back to the national championship after losing a heartbreaker to Clemson the year before.