Tide beat UGA then state CFP case: We belong

• Chris Low, ESPN Senior WriterDec 2, 2023, 07:53 PM ET

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  • College football press reporter
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2007
  • Graduate of the University of Tennessee

ATLANTA– Nick Saban didn’t even wait on the question to be asked.His Alabama group, with the emphasis on “team, “had simply done what no other college football team had attained for parts of the past three seasons– beat No. 1 Georgia. But on Saban’s mind, and numerous others, was what will occur Sunday when the College Football Playoff committee chooses the 4 teams that will bet the nationwide championship.Saban stated it was quite simple.”If they actually desire the 4 best teams to complete,”he stated, then Alabama will be in the playoff.The comment came after his No. 8 Crimson Tide snapped the Bulldogs ’29-game winning streak with a 27-24 triumph at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It was Saban’s ninth SEC title at Alabama and extended the group’s winning streak to 11 games given that a Week 2 home loss to Texas.It’s that loss that has everyone in Crimson, and a few folks in the SEC

offices, a tad nervous.Saban didn’t overdo it during his postgame news conference, however he left little doubt that his group is among the best in college football.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated”We beat the No. 1 group in the country, and they won 29 straight games,”Saban said.”If we needed to do something to pass the eye test

, I would think

that probably contributed to it significantly. “Saban shrugged over the concept that the committee might disagree with him.”I disagreed with them previously. I disagreed in 2015,”he stated.”So I’ll appreciate them. I

know they have a hard task. I know there are a lot of good groups. However I’m just defending our guys on our group who have actually busted their butt all year long to accomplish what they have actually accomplished. I believe that requires to be acknowledged.” Alabama outside linebacker Dallas Turner hesitated on what his message would be to the playoff committee. “I indicate, honestly, I do not really like to talk too much,”he stated.”I like to perform on the field, and we plainly had a great game tonight, a very big win. We’ll let our play do the talking for us.

“When Miller finished addressing his question, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe leaned up to the microphone and stated,”I’ve got something to state.”It was fitting, too, since no player has had more to state– certainly with his play– than Milroe, who has mirrored the meteoric increase of this Alabama team this season.”Georgia’s No. 1, right? “Milroe stated as he scanned the space loaded with press reporters.”You beat the No. 1 group. What do you consider us?” At the end of the day, that’s out of our reach [the playoff selections] The most significant thing we

have actually got to do is rely on the procedure and keep improving. However we beat the best group in the country significantly, so what do you consider us?

“It looks like an eternity since Milroe was benched in Week 3 against South Florida. However since that game– and since he was given the whole set of secrets to Alabama’s offense– he’s accounted for 28 touchdowns versus simply five turnovers.He passed for 192 backyards and two goals against Georgia. And it was his play in the fourth quarter that showed to be the distinction. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound redshirt sophomore was skillful during a 75-yard touchdown drive that put Alabama ahead 27-17, and his 30-yard work on first down after Georgia pulled within 27-24 was the dagger for the Bulldogs.

“The greatest thing about this group is we understand there’s unfinished business,” Milroe said.Saban had a little fun with the media as he settled into his seat for his postgame press conference.”I understand you’re going to ask me, so I might as well just get to it,”he stated with a huge smile.”Having anticipation is something that is essential to being a great coach, not that I’m an excellent coach.

“And with that, he made his pitch as to why Alabama ought to be in the playoff despite its unstable start to the season.”We’re not the exact same team we were when we played Texas. We’re not the same team when we played South Florida. I do not think we ought to be thought about as that team right now. I believe people must look at the whole body of work in regards to what the team had the ability to accomplish and what they were able to do. I

think this team is among the 4 best teams, among the teams that’s deserving to be in the playoff.

“Alabama coach Nick Saban”We’re not the exact same group we were when we played Texas,” he said.”We’re not the same team when we played South Florida [in a 17-3 win] I do not think we must be considered as that group right now. I believe individuals ought to look at the whole body of work in regards to what the group had the ability to achieve and what they had the ability to do. I believe this group is one of the

four finest teams, one of the teams that’s deserving to be in the playoff. “Standing outside the Alabama locker space, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey doubled down on remarks he made earlier Saturday, when he said it wasn’t the” real life”for the SEC to be left out of the playoff. “Anybody that knows anything about football knows those were two of the very best teams in the country out there, “Sankey told ESPN. “It’s not even a concern. It doesn’t matter what I say now. The committee is going to make its choices. But I will duplicate what I stated: It’s not the real life if a minimum of among those groups isn’t in the playoff.”Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne admitted he probably would have a hard time sleeping Saturday night, however he said Alabama’s résumé should speak for itself. The Crimson Tide have actually beaten 4 teams in the most recent CFP rankings. No. 7 Texas, its only loss, routed Oklahoma State on Saturday to win the Big 12 championship. “We simply beat the No. 1 group in the country, the No. 1 group for multiple years, and we play in the most difficult conference in the nation,”Byrne stated.”If it’s truly supposed

to be the best 4 groups, this will be the ultimate test. How can you argue that we’re not one of the leading 4? And I likewise believe that great scheduling will be acknowledged.”Whatever happens Sunday with the committee, Saban said it is very important to recognize that this Alabama team won the SEC championship when a lot of had actually counted it out. Entering Saturday, Alabama(12-1)had overcome 5 second-half deficits in SEC games to win this season.”I could not be prouder of a lot of guys on a team that has come as far as these guys have from where we remained in the second, 3rd game of the season, “said Saban, who has led Alabama to 17 straight wins in Atlanta.Earlier this season, Saban stated this group had taken years off his life with its mistakes and growing discomforts. Asked

if he got some of those years back with this SEC champion, Saban stated jokingly,” You understand how worn out I am right now?” He stated his speech to the group in the locker room was one word:”Commemorate.”Saban stated he hardly had enough left in him to dance with the Tide in the locker space.

He hopes to get a few more opportunities to do so this season. “There are a lot of components that permit our group to keep pushing towards the last step,”Milroe said.”However we’re nowhere near the goal.”