There’s a common theme revolving around the 10 worst losses in Nick Saban’s 17 years at Alabama.

All but 1 cost the Tide a national championship, or a chance to play for a national championship. There’s 1 outlier on the list, a game that may have been the most important of them all.

As we celebrate all things Nick Saban, there’s nothing wrong with looking at the rare lowlights, too.

Fortunately, there weren’t many. Saban only lost 29 games in 17 seasons as Alabama’s head coach.

10. 2007: Louisiana-Monroe 21, Alabama 14

The outlier, but the one game that may have changed everything. The one game that Saban would build off for every remaining season.

The investment, the work, the dedication. The Process. If you don’t follow the Process, Louisiana-Monroe happens. Saban famously compared the loss to Pearl Harbor, and as ridiculous as it sounds, the bar was set.

Alabama fans famously have high expectations, and they grew to unmanageable proportions under Saban — the one guy who not only raised the bar (and expectations), but demanded his players reached it.

9. 2014: Ohio State 42, Alabama 35

Urban’s revenge.

After an ugly loss to Alabama in the 2009 SEC Championship Game — the second straight No. 1 vs. No. 2 game between Florida and Alabama — Urban Meyer got a 3rd shot at Saban in his 3rd season at Ohio State in the Playoff semifinal.

Meyer did it with a 3rd-string quarterback and a defense that made enough big plays when it mattered most. The Buckeyes also did it by imposing their will on Alabama like few did to the Tide under Saban.

Ohio State ran for 281 yards — 230 and 2 TDs from Ezekiel Elliott — and the backup quarterback (Cardale Jones) wasn’t an issue after all. The bigger problem: 3 INTs from Alabama QB Blake Sims, the former wide receiver turned quarterback — who set school passing records (since broken) in his only season as the Alabama starter.

8. 2023: Michigan 27, Alabama 20 (OT)

This might have been Saban’s finest season as a coach at Alabama. He navigated a quarterback controversy and a team that didn’t always play its best — but played hard.

The same team that beat 2-time defending national champion Georgia in the SEC Championship Game (snapping a 29-game winning streak and preventing any chance of a national 3-peat), and reset — for a season, at least — the pecking order in the big, bad SEC.

But the problems of the last 3 seasons — specifically, the inability of the offensive line to control the line of scrimmage and receivers to win outside — resurfaced in the Playoff semifinal against Michigan.

It ended on the last play of the game. In overtime, needing a touchdown to extend the game, an operational mess of a run/pass option ended with Milroe tripping over right tackle JC Latham, who was blown back into the QB run play by Michigan edge Josaiah Stewart.

7. 2019: LSU 46, Alabama 41

“Roll Tide, what? Roll Tide, #%&@! You!”

That was fiery LSU coach Ed Orgeron, in the visitors’ locker room minutes after a wild shootout win over unbeaten Alabama in Tuscaloosa that catapulted the Tigers into the Playoff lead — and left Alabama searching for answers.

Yet another talented Alabama team good enough to win it all but never got a chance. The final blow was a season-ending injury to star QB Tua Tagovailoa a week later in a win over Mississippi State.

But it was the loss to LSU, and the way it happened — the more physical team won — that gnawed at Saban. LSU QB Joe Burrow was masterful (393 yards, 3 TDs), but the key to the win was the running of RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who had 103 of LSU’s 166 rush yards.

6. 2011: LSU 9, Alabama 6 (OT)

One NFL scout said it was the greatest collection of NFL talent ever assembled on a college field. A classic, old-school SEC game where defense ruled.

A game where every yard was contested, and every possession was as much stopping your opponent as it was inflicting as much pain as possible. It was 6-6 after regulation.

Alabama got the ball first in OT but missed a field goal.

LSU RB Michael Ford then found the edge and ran for 15 yards to set up a short, game-winning field goal.

Alabama got revenge later in the year, beating LSU 21-0 in the BCS National Championship Game rematch.

5. 2010: Auburn 28, Alabama 27

The Cam-back.

It was 7-0 after the first drive of the game. It was 14-0 after Greg McElroy hit Julio Jones with a 68-yard touchdown pass, then 21-0 after another McElroy TD pass. All in the first quarter.

This Alabama team — the defending national champions and to this day Saban’s most talented (and frustrating) team — led undefeated Auburn 24-0 before the rally began. Before Auburn QB Cam Newton took control and won the Iron Bowl, and the Heisman Trophy and a de facto trip to the BCS National Championship Game in a little more than 30 minutes of work.

From 24-0, to 28-27, the final points a TD pass from Newton to TE Philip Lutzenkirchen with 12 minutes to play in the 4th quarter — and the Auburn defense held on the remainder of the way.

The lasting memory: Newton flashing a million dollar smile and taunting Bryant-Denny Stadium fans who harassed him all game.

4. 2008: Florida 31, Alabama 20

High on the list for 2 definitive reasons:

1) Saban loved this team; it’s maybe his favorite of all-time, which is sort of like choosing your favorite child. This was the team that turned around the disastrous 2007 season and completely bought into The Process.

The team that was built for a championship and should’ve been playing in the national championship against Oklahoma if it weren’t for …

2) Three 3rd-down touchdown throws by Florida QB Tim Tebow. To this day, Saban still marvels at Tebow’s ability to fit the 3 critical throws into tight windows, pass plays Saban insists were covered. Tebow just made perfect throws and receivers made great plays.

3. 2021: Georgia 33, Alabama 18

The one that got away. Or as most Alabama fans recall, the what-if game.

What if Alabama had healthy WRs Jameson Williams and John Metchie III — like it did in an SEC Championship Game rout of Georgia — in the national title game? Metchie was hurt late in the SEC Championship Game, and Williams was hurt in the first half of the national title game.

That left QB Bryce Young and a lethal Alabama offense scrambling for answers, and was the beginning of struggles at the wide receiver position until Saban’s final game as coach on New Year’s Day, 2024.

2. 2016: Clemson 35, Alabama 31

The Pick Play — and 1 play away from another national championship.

The 2016 season was as dominant as any under Saban, despite playing a true freshman starter at quarterback (Jalen Hurts). It began with a 46-point rout of USC, and included 9 SEC wins where the defense gave up just 14.8 points per game.

The Tide disposed of Washington in the Playoff semifinal to set up a national championship game rematch with Clemson. The same Clemson team that a year earlier forced Saban do the unthinkable: an onside kick in a close national title game.

Saban said his defense couldn’t stop Clemson QB Deshaun Watson, and that he needed to try (successfully) an onside kick to gain the ball and steal a possession and momentum. In 2016, Watson got payback — driving the Tigers 68 yards in 2:06 and scoring with 1 second remaining on the clock.

The game-winning play — a pick play at the 2 that allowed Clemson WR Hunter Renfrow to gain separation from coverage — ended Alabama’s hopes for back-to-back national titles.

It also overshadowed a magnificent drive by Hurts and Tide OC/play caller Lane Kiffin, that ended with Hurts’ 30-yard touchdown run with 2:07 left that looked like the game-winning score. Until Watson took over.

1. 2013: Auburn 34, Alabama 28

Kick-6, and the end of Alabama’s quest for a 3rd straight national championship.

As good as the game was, as thrilling as the back and forth enhanced the best rivalry in college football, it was the final seconds of regulation that changed everything.

With Alabama driving and desperately trying to get a last-second field goal attempt, Tide tailback TJ Yeldon ran 24 yards to the Auburn 38 as time expired. But Saban worked the officials, demanding another second be put on the clock.

He got his wish — and then got the play of a lifetime.

Saban ran out Tide kicker Adam Griffith to attempt a 57-yard field goal, and Auburn coach Gus Malzahn ran out defensive back Chris Davis to play return man in the end zone — in case the kick was short and returnable.

It was short, and it was returnable.

Davis caught in the back of the end zone and weaved through Alabama defenders for an improbable touchdown — and the greatest ending in the modern era of college football. (Until 2nd-and-26, anyway.)

While not as loaded as the 2010 Alabama team that lost 3 games, the 2013 team would’ve been favored to beat Florida State in the BCS National Championship Game and win a 3rd straight title.