1966 -- Alabama went 10-0 in the regular season, but played an all-southern schedule with an all-white team, and finished third behind ND and MSU (9-0-1, tying each other). After the final polls, Alabama beat its only northern opponent, Nebraska, 34-7 in the Sugar Bowl. Nebraska finished 9-2; their only other loss was at Oklahoma, who had been crushed by ND, 38-0.
1973 -- ND 24, Alabama 23 in the Sugar Bowl.
1974 -- ND 13, Alabama 11 in the Orange Bowl.
1977 -- Entering the bowls, Alabama was No. 3 and ND was No. 5. Alabama routed No. 9 Ohio State, 35-6, in the Sugar, but ND blew out No. 1 Texas, 38-10, in the Cotton. With No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 4 Michigan both losing, the final poll had ND 1st and Alabama 2nd, which infuriated Tide faithful so much they composed a song called "The Little Blue Nun."
1980 -- Then-No. 6 ND beat No. 5 Alabama 7-0 in Birmingham in the last game the Bear coached against ND. The win improved ND to 8-0-1, boosted them to No. 2, and set them up to play No. 1 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Had Alabama won, they'd have been 9-1 and might well have received the Sugar bid, as they did not play Georgia in the regular season. Beating Georgia could've given Alabama a third consecutive national championship, something no team ever has earned.