There are those out there who believe that Alabama is a shoo-in for the national championship game next week and that Thursday’s College Football Playoff game against Ohio State is a mere formality. After all, the Buckeyes have a history of faltering against SEC teams in bowl games and this season should be no exception. The Big Ten is considered one of the weakest Power Five conferences based on depth and competition so the Buckeyes aren’t being given much of a chance in the Sugar Bowl.
But don’t tell Alabama coach Nick Saban that. In fact, on Tuesday Saban said that Ohio State was the best SEC team he’s seen all year. Yep, you don’t need glasses. He referred to Ohio State as an SEC team.
“These guys are going to look like the best SEC team that you saw all season long, if you’re an Alabama fan,” said Saban on his radio show. “They’ve got really good skill players outside and great speed. … People view the Big Ten as not having great skill guys, not having great speed — this is not true with Ohio State. They have all those things.”
Some might call that coach speak but Saban is one-hundred percent correct. The Buckeyes got better as the year advanced concluding in a 59-0 victory over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game.
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has great respect for Saban and the Crimson Tide but he would be really proud if his Buckeyes achieved the unthinkable.
“I think it’s hard-pressed to say top to bottom they are not the best league in the country,” Meyer said about the SEC. “… I think (Alabama) is arguably the best program in America the last five, six, seven, eight years. And to go take a swing and knock them off would be a monumental achievement for a bunch of guys in Columbus, Ohio.”
It will be interesting to see what Nick Saban and Urban Meyer throw at each other in Thursday night’s Sugar Bowl. Vegas has the Crimson Tide favored by as many as 10 points but I have a feeling this game will be closer than the experts predict. And Saban and his team are ready for the challenge.
“I think as a coach, you’re always looking for the moments to come,” he said. “And you’re always looking for the next game, the next challenge, how do we prepare our team the best so that they have the best opportunity to have a chance to be successful in the game.”