Alabama football It will not be a part of the College Football Playoff for the second time in the history of the championship format.
The Crimson Tide is ranked No. 5 in the final rankings announced Sunday, making it the first team still in contention for a national championship.
Alabama coach Nick Saban spent Saturday night campaigning for Alabama (10-2), but those efforts were ultimately futile as No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 TCU and No. 4 Ohio State were selected as nationals. Semi-finalists.
“We’re obviously disappointed,” Saban told ESPN on Sunday. “We want to see our team have a chance to play and make the playoffs. We get a chance to play somebody in a good game. It gives our players a chance to value themselves and show what kind of team we have.”
Instead of Crimson storm He is expected to face Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31 (11 a.m., ESPN) in New Orleans. The top SEC team and top-ranked Big 12 team not in the playoffs will go to the Sugar Bowl this season.
“I think it comes down to trying to establish the kind of respect that we want to have for this team and what we did and what we didn’t do and what we did and didn’t do,” Saban said. Players. “What we’re doing going forward, what we’re pushing forward is to define that at a higher level.”
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Saban emphasized the opportunity to build for the future and the opportunity for players to create value for themselves.
It could include playing in a bowl game for those who don’t opt out before the 2023 NFL draft. Quarterback Bryce Young and linebacker Will Anderson Jr. are expected to be high first-round draft picks, so their situation is worth monitoring. Saban said he couldn’t guess who would be there.
“I hope the players look at it as an opportunity to create value for themselves, whether they’re seniors or juniors, who have the opportunity to come out this year,” Saban said. . “For the young guys on the team, how can they use this as an opportunity to grow and develop and improve to build their future.
Either way, this was the Crimson Tide’s final game of the season during a period of adversity, including tough road trips that resulted in two losses by a combined four points and the young man dealing with a medial shoulder injury. The year he didn’t practice.
What did Saban learn from 2022?
“Maybe we need to do a better job of making sure you have a good relationship with all of your players,” Saban said. “I think it’s very difficult to focus people in the college football landscape because there are so many external factors that can affect them. You want them to focus on the task at hand. That’s something they have control over. That’s what builds value for them and their future: a better future.” I think that’s the number 1 thing we want to do.
This article originally appeared in the Tuscaloosa News: Nick Saban misses Alabama’s college football game, Sugar Bowl pick-outs
