Saban, Alabama state CFP case after beating No. 1 UGA to win SEC،
ATLANTA — Nick Saban didn’t even wait for the question to be asked.
His Alabama team, with emphasis on “team,” had just done what no other college football team had accomplished in the past three seasons: beat No. 1 Georgia . But on the minds of Saban, and many others, is what will happen Sunday when the College Football Playoff committee chooses the four teams that will play for the national championship.
Saban said it was pretty simple.
“If they really want the top four teams to compete,” he said, then Alabama will make the playoffs.
The comment came after the No. 8 Crimson Tide ended the Bulldogs’ 29-game winning streak with a 27-24 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It was Saban’s ninth SEC title at Alabama and extended the team’s winning streak to 11 games since a Week 2 home loss to Texas.
It’s this loss that makes everyone at Crimson, and a few people in the SEC offices, a little nervous.
Saban didn’t go too far in his postgame press conference, but he left no doubt about his belief that his team is one of the best in college football.
“We beat the No. 1 team in the country and they won 29 games in a row,” Saban said. “If we had to do something to pass the eye exam, I would guess that this probably contributed significantly.”
Saban shrugged at the idea that the committee might disagree with him.
“I didn’t agree with them before. I didn’t agree with them last year,” he said. “So I’m going to respect them. I know they have a tough job. I know there’s a lot of good teams. But I’m just speaking for our guys on our team who have been busting their butts all the time. year to accomplish what they accomplished. I think that needs to be recognized.
Alabama outside linebacker Dallas Turner was hesitant to say what his message to the playoff committee would be.
“I mean, honestly, I don’t like to talk that much,” he said. “I like to perform well on the pitch, and we clearly had a very good match tonight, a very big victory. We will let our play speak for us.”
When Turner finished answering his question, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe leaned toward the microphone and said, “I have something to say.” It was fitting, because no player had more to say — certainly with his play — than Milroe, who reflected the meteoric rise of this Alabama team this season.
“Georgia is No. 1, right?” » Milroe said, scanning the room full of journalists. “You beat the No. 1 team. What do you think of us?
“Ultimately, it’s beyond our reach [the playoff selections]. The most important thing we need to do is trust the process and continue to improve. But we beat the best team in the country by a lot, so what do you think of us? »
It seems like an eternity since Milroe was benched in Week 3 against South Florida. But since that game – and since he was given the entire keys to Alabama’s offense – he has thrown 28 touchdowns against just five turnovers.
He passed for 192 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia. And it was his play in the fourth quarter that made the difference. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound redshirt sophomore was masterful on a 75-yard touchdown run that put Alabama ahead 27-17, and his 30-yard run to first try after Georgia pulled within 27-24 was the dagger for the Bulldogs.
“The most important thing about this team is we know there is work to be completed,” Milroe said.
Saban had a little fun with the media as he settled into his seat for his postgame press conference.
“I know you’re going to ask me, so you might as well go,” he said with a big smile. “Having anticipation is something that is important to being a good coach, not that I am a good coach.”
And with that, he explained why Alabama should make the playoffs despite its shaky start to the season.
“We’re not the same team we were when we played Texas. We’re not the same team when we played South Florida. I don’t think we should be considered that team right now . I think people should look at the whole body of work in terms of what the team was able to accomplish and what they were able to do. I think this team is one of the four best teams, one of the teams who deserve to make the playoffs.
Nick Saban, Alabama coach
“We’re not the same team we were when we played Texas,” Saban said. “We’re not the same team when we played South Florida. [a 17-3 win]. I don’t think we should be considered that team right now. I think people should look at the body of work in terms of what the team was able to accomplish and what they were able to do. I think this team is a top four team, one of the teams that deserves to make the playoffs. »
Standing outside the Alabama locker room, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey doubled down on comments he made earlier Saturday, when he said it’s not the ‘real world’ for the SEC to be excluded from the playoffs.
“Anyone who knows football knows they were two of the best teams in the country,” Sankey told ESPN. “It’s not even a question. It doesn’t matter what I say now. The committee will make its selections. But I will repeat what I said: It’s not the real world if at least one of these teams is not present. the playoffs.”
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne admitted he’ll likely have trouble sleeping Saturday night, but he said Alabama’s resume should speak for itself. The Crimson Tide beat four teams in the latest CFP rankings. No. 7 Texas, its only loss, beat Oklahoma State on Saturday to win the Big 12 championship.
“We just beat the No. 1 team in the country, the No. 1 team in several years, and we’re playing in the toughest conference in the country,” Byrne said. “If we are really supposed to have the best four teams, this will be the ultimate test. How can you say we are not among the best four? And I also think a good schedule will be recognized.”
Whatever happens with the committee on Sunday, Saban said it’s important to recognize that this Alabama team won the SEC championship when so many people had counted it out. Entering Saturday, Alabama (12-1) had overcome five second-half deficits in SEC games to win this season.
“I couldn’t be more proud of a group of guys on a team that has come as far as these guys have from where we were in the second, third game of the season,” said Saban, who led Alabama has 17 consecutive victories. in Atlanta.
Earlier this season, Saban said this team took years away from him with its mistakes and growing pains. When asked if he got some of those years back with this SEC championship, Saban jokingly replied, “You know how tired I am right now?”
He said his speech to the team in the locker room was one word: “Celebrate.”
Saban said he barely had enough in him to dance with the Tide in the locker room. He hopes to have a few more opportunities to do so this season.
“There are a lot of elements that keep our team moving toward the final stage,” Milroe said. “But we are far from the finish line.”
