There are 13 days until the college football season begins on Sept. 1, and the number 13 was a magic one for a trio of college football teams last season.
Three teams won 13 or more games, headlined by 14-1 Alabama's win over Clemson, which also finished 14-1, in the College Football Playoff national championship game. The other 13-win team was the American Athletic Conference's Houston Cougars, who finished 13-1 after their Chick Fil-A Peach Bowl victory over Florida State in the New Year's Six game.
The 13-win plateau is not as rare as it used to be with the addition of conference championship games and two rounds of college playoffs. But it remains a sign of excellence nonetheless. The Crimson Tide became the all-time leader in seasons of 13 wins or more by eclipsing that mark for the fourth time last season, the most since the college football classification system began in 1937.
Three of Alabama's seasons of 13 or more wins have come under coach Nick Saban: 2015, 2012 and 2009. The other time was 13-0 in 1992 under Gene Stallings.
Clemson broke the 13-win mark for the first time last season with its best showing since going 12-0 in 1981 and winning the national title. With Deshaun Watson returning at quarterback, the Tigers are favorites to hit that mark once again. Houston, on the other hand, exploded onto the scene last year in coach Tom Herman's first season, going 13-1 and defeating Florida State 38-24. It was the second time in school history that it has won 13 games, with the 2011 team the other.
All three teams will open their season on Sept. 3. Alabama will play USC in Arlington, Texas; Clemson will visit Auburn; and Houston will play Oklahoma in a neutral-site game at NRG Stadium in Houston.
In case you missed any part of our countdown:
14 days: 14 years of Boise State excellence
15 days: Kansas has lost 15 straight games, the longest active FBS streak.
16 days: Peyton Manning wore No. 16 for Tennessee.
17 days: TCU QBs completed 17 of 17 passes in a game in 2012, an FBS record.
18 days: Ohio State has won an FBS-best 18 consecutive road games.
19 days: There are 19 head coaches at their alma mater this season.
20 days: It has been 20 years since Florida won its first national championship.
21 days: Oklahoma led the nation in average scoring margin (21.5) last season.
22 days: Ohio State has been in the top 10 of the AP poll for 22 straight weeks.
23 days: Virginia Tech has played in an FBS-best 23 straight bowl games.
24 days: In the first game of the historic rivalry, Navy beat Army 24-0.
25 days: Desmond Howard won the Heisman 25 years ago.
26 days: Arkansas State led the nation with 26 interceptions in 2015.
27 days: Clemson's Greg Huegel led the nation with 27 field goals in 2015.
28 days: Adrian Peterson wore No. 28 for Oklahoma.
29 days: Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium opened in 1929.
30 days: Miami's Vinny Testaverde won the Heisman 30 years ago.