The team was led by head coach Nick Saban, in his fourth year, and played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

However, Alabama completed the regular season with only nine victories and losses to South Carolina, LSU and Auburn and finished fourth in the Western Division.

[2] In addition to the national title, sophomore running back Mark Ingram II became the first Alabama player to win the Heisman Trophy.

[13] The most notable departures from the previous year were linebackers Eryk Anders, Rolando McClain and Cory Reamer; cornerbacks Javier Arenas, Kareem Jackson and Marquis Johnson; defensive ends Brandon Deaderick and Lorenzo Washington; nose tackle Terrence Cody; safety Justin Woodall; offensive linemen Drew Davis and Mike Johnson; and tight end Colin Peek.

[18] In accordance with conference rules, Alabama faced all five Western Division opponents: Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss.

The game against Penn State was originally scheduled as part of the 2004 season, however the series was moved back at the request of Alabama due to fallout from NCAA sanctions being levied on the program.

These SEC teams who scheduled a bye week before facing the Crimson Tide included South Carolina, Ole Miss, Tennessee, LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn.

[30][31] The Crimson Tide began their defense of their 2010 BCS championship at home against the San Jose State Spartans, and before a record crowd in a newly expanded Bryant–Denny Stadium, Alabama was victorious 48–3.

[45][46] The defense also stood out with Mark Barron, Robert Lester and Will Lowery each making an interception and Alabama only allowing 283 yards of total offense.

[45] After compiling 207 all-purpose yards and scoring a touchdown, Richardson was named Co-SEC Offensive Player of the Week with South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore.

[46] In Alabama's first-ever trip to Duke, the Crimson Tide defeated the Blue Devils by a final score of 62–13 in front of the largest crowd at Wallace Wade Stadium since the 1994 season.

[50] Playing in his first game of the 2010 season following knee surgery, Mark Ingram II ran for a team high 152 yards on nine carries with two touchdowns.

[52] Through the air, Julio Jones led the team with 106 receiving yards on six catches with he, Darius Hanks and Preston Dial each making a touchdown reception.

[58] After a late Dre Kirkpatrick interception, McElroy gained a first down on a fourth and inches quarterback sneak to seal the victory for the Crimson Tide.

[68][69] Courtney Upshaw was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week after making seven total tackles, with four for losses, a fumble recovery and two pass deflections.

[73] Stephen Garcia threw three touchdown passes, with the first to Marcus Lattimore for nine-yards followed by strikes of 26 and 15-yards to Alshon Jeffery, to give South Carolina a 21–3 lead in the second quarter.

[73] Alabama reached the end zone late in the second on a nine-yard Greg McElroy pass to Julio Jones to make the halftime score 21–9 after the extra point failed.

[80] The Crimson Tide took a 10–0 lead in the first quarter on a seven-yard Greg McElroy touchdown pass to Preston Dial and a 49-yard Cade Foster field goal.

[88][89] After Palardy missed a 52-yard field goal, Trent Richardson ran the ball 65 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the ensuing drive for a 27–10 Alabama lead.

The Tigers scored first on a 75-yard Rueben Randle reception from Jordan Jefferson, and the Crimson Tide responded with a five-yard Mark Ingram touchdown run.

[101] LSU scored 14 fourth quarter points to secure the victory with a pair of Jasper field goals and a one-yard Stevan Ridley touchdown run and a successful two-point conversion.

[101] Alabama responded with a nine-yard Julio Jones touchdown reception, but was unable to get a defensive stop late in the game preserving the 24–21 LSU victory.

[102] A week after being upset by LSU, Alabama returned to Bryant–Denny and began a three-game homestand to end the season by defeating long-time rival Mississippi State 30–10.

[135] After a Robert Lester interception of a Kirk Cousins pass on the Spartans' opening drive, the Tide scored on an eight-yard Trent Richardson touchdown run.

[138] The contest also marked both Nick Saban's and Bobby Williams' first game against the Spartans since their respective terms as Michigan State's head coach between 1995–1999 and 2000–2002.

[145] As part of the A-Day celebrations on April 16, the 2010 team captains Greg McElroy, Dont'a Hightower and Mark Barron were honored at the Walk of Fame ceremony at the base of Denny Chimes.

At the team awards banquet on December 6, Mark Barron, Dont'a Hightower, and Greg McElroy were each named the permanent captains of the 2010 squad.

[152][153][154] Barrett Jones, William Vlachos, Mark Ingram, Dont'a Hightower, return specialist Trent Richardson and defensive backs Robert Lester and Dre Kirkpatrick were named to the Coaches' All-SEC Second Team.

[157] Quarterback Greg McElroy, tight end Preston Dial and offensive lineman James Carpenter were all selected to play in the Under Armour Senior Bowl.

[167] The invited players were offensive lineman James Carpenter, quarterback Greg McElroy, defensive end Marcell Dareus, running back Mark Ingram, and wide receiver Julio Jones.