Three and out from Atlanta: Scott Rabalais’ thoughts after Alabama’s win over

“As tight as this group is and how hard we play together and how we have each other’s backs, I’m real confident in this team”, quarterback Jake Coker said.

After the match Tide defensive lineman Jonathan Allen said “I really feel it was our preparation…We did a good job preparing. It’s going to be an exciting playoff”. While the lighthearted, somewhat bubbly McElwain couldn’t be more different than the stern, businesslike Saban in the public eye, McElwain is looking to build his program at Florida just like Saban built his at Alabama. Their defense had been exposed last season by the new true superpower in college football, Ohio State, in a 42-35 loss in a CFP semifinal at the Sugar Bowl.

“I think this team has competed with tremendous character since the Ole Miss game”, Saban said. “And probably more than any other time I’ve ever coached, I wanted to see these guys succeed”. Florida did a good job of controlling Henry in the first half, but each run adds to the punishment that the nation’s leading rusher (1,797 yards entering Saturday’s game) can have on a defense.

Western Kentucky 45, Southern Miss 28: Brandon Doughty threw for 410 yards with three touchdown passes, and the Hilltoppers (11-2) came from behind to defeat the Golden Eagles in the Conference USA Championship Game. The defense was stifling, and Florida’s shaky offense had little hope of moving the ball except with the occasional big bomb that found friendly hands. In between, Florida ran eight plays for minus-7 yards, managing an offensive touchdown for the first time in two games with about five minutes to go in the game.

Henry came into the game as a Heisman favorite and certainly did nothing to hurt his chances with an MVP showing.

Florida injuries The injury bug bit the Gators throughout the game with numerous players sent to the sideline.

Alabama’s team goal remains the same: Win a national championship.

Alabama opened the scoring with a safety on a blocked punt as Tide linebacker Keith Holcombe’s block of Florida punter Johnny Townsend’s kick bounced through the back of the end zone for a safety to give the Tide a 2-0 lead in the first quarter.

The Gators managed only 3 yards of offense in the second and third quarters. Their only offensive score came on a 46-yard pass to C.J. Worton with about 5 minutes remaining, far too late to derail Alabama’s playoff hopes.

Redshirt freshman Christian Chapman threw for 203 yards and one touchdown in his first start for the Aztecs (10-3), who won their ninth straight game.

Watson’s 420 total yards and five total touchdowns set ACC championship game records and assures Clemson a spot in the College Football Playoff.

The Tide complemented its pound-and-ground offense with a couple of huge passing plays. Florida’s defense yielded 189 rushing yards to Derrick Henry. (For reasons that never made a lick of sense, bowl stats weren’t counted back then.) But Henry is terrific in his own right. It has the best unit against the run in the country.

Coker, who completed 18 of 26 passes for 204 yards, connected with Richard Mullaney from 9 yards early in the fourth quarter to pad the lead.

The defense turned in quite a performance for coordinator Kirby Smart, who is expected to be named head coach at Georgia in the next few days.

No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Michigan State will meet in the College Football Playoff at the Cotton Bowl.