Nick Saban had a different ballot for his top five from the actual top five in the final USA TODAY Sports AFCA coaches poll of the season.
While Georgia, TCU, Michigan and Ohio State rounded out the top four in the final poll, Saban had Alabama football at No. 2. Texas El-Paso’s Dana Dimel was the only other coach to rank Alabama No. 2. A couple of coaches put the Crimson Tide at No. 3, including Syracuse’s Dino Babers, Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi and Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, among others.
Saban had Ohio State at No. 5, where the Crimson Tide actually ended up in the final poll. He put Tennessee at No. 6 and LSU at No. 17.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart put Alabama at No. 6, behind Tennessee. TCU coach Sonny Dykes did the same.
Alabama finished the season 11-2 with a 45-20 win over Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl. The Crimson Tide missed the College Football Playoff for only the second time since it began in 2014.
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Nick Saban’s final top 25
1. Georgia
2. Alabama
3. TCU
4. Michigan
5. Ohio State
6. Tennessee
7. Penn State
8. Washington
9. Utah
10. Tulane
11. Florida State
12. Kansas State
13. Southern California
14. Clemson
15. Oregon State
16. Oregon
17. LSU
18. UCLA
19. Notre Dame
20. Mississippi State
21. Minnesota
22. Troy
23. Texas
24. South Carolina
25. Maryland
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Where Nick Saban ranked Alabama football in his final top 25 ballot