PASADENA, Calif. (AP) - Alabama is on top of college football again, thanks to its big-play defense and punishing ground game.

The No. 1 Crimson Tide held off a rally by second-ranked Texas and beat the Longhorns 37-21 on Thursday night in the BCS title game with help from a late fumble recovery by Courtney Upshaw at the Texas 3-yard line.

Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram then scored a clinching touchdown from 1 yard out with just more than two minutes left in
the game.

Alabama's Marcell Dareus knocked out Texas quarterback Colt McCoy on the Longhorns' first possession and later scored on a 28-yard interception return just before halftime.

The victory makes Tide coach Nick Saban the first coach to win BCS titles at two schools - Alabama and LSU.

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