Alabama continues preparations for New Year’s Eve playoff matchup vs. Michigan State

That means the Crimson Tide will likely need to throw the ball to win and going vertical to loosen up the Michigan State secondary could be the key to softening the rushing defense of the Spartans.

Not his size or style, mind you, but his number – 26. It’s just an edge that we have to play with that sets a tone for us. There’s been five teams in the last 15 years to go 14-0, two others that went 14-1 (including national champion Ohio State last season), but the Tigers have a shot at going to a place that no FBS team has gone before.

The Spartans have this wonderful rap video to watch before the big game, and luckily, so do you.

Harris has 45 rushes for 155 yards this season in a reserve role behind Heisman victor Derrick Henry. In that game on New Year’s Day, the Crimson Tide earned an impressive 49-7 victory over the Spartans. “But first we’ve got to get past this one and continue our journey”.

Which is why Thursday night’s game truly could be a dramatic legacy-changer.

“Whenever I’m compared to somebody, it’s usually these guys making fun of me”, Coker said of his teammates on Sunday. But then, I was like, ‘You know what? “If you want to play, come on”.

“We really don’t know what the coach is thinking”.

By the Ohio State game in late November, all were back.

Shepard is Baker Mayfield’s favorite target in the Sooners’ high-powered offense, coming into the Orange Bowl with 79 receptions for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Maybe the biggest play that doesn’t get as much recognition as it should is Cook’s 2-yard run on fourth-and-2 from the Iowa 5.

Smart said he reached out to first-year Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn, who was defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks through the Super Bowl last year, for guidance on how to split time between two important gigs. Henry produced 978 of those yards after contact, the most in the nation. McElwain was SEC coach of the year in his debut season at Florida, winning the East after returning to the league following a stint as Colorado State head coach.

“That’s the defensive line”, Calhoun said. “It’s a whole new thing for us”. I’m probably the closest to the other running backs than anyone else on the team. “A lot of guys from MI didn’t get offers from MI”.

“I’m happy for them”.

“There’s not a negative thing you can say about Alabama”, Smart continued. They won the Big Ten title game in 2013 and played in the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1988. I’m good with it, and I feel like they’re good with it. Any four of us can execute and make plays. “Do you want to play?”

Much like Alabama’s defensive front was expected to lead the Tide this season, the same can be said for Michigan State’s offensive line. Holmes ran for 535 yards and eight touchdowns and London had 489 yards and three touchdowns throughout the course of the season. But one of the things I didn’t want to be was a distraction to the team or anything like that. “I can still see guys in there crying”. “To not coach in this game, I couldn’t imagine”. We all can do everything. “We’re pretty resilient as a group. We’re all together. Being competitive and hungry is what keeps it going”.

Mac Lain plans to shave off the beard January 12 – the day after the national championship game. This guy has arm strength, he’s accurate, he anticipates passes really well. “You need to focus on what you can do to be the best player you can be, and that’s what we’re going to help you do”.

At this point, the Spartans are committed to finishing the season with a rotation because changing now isn’t worth the risk. “Then amidst all that, you’re trying to get in situation of giving anything away by who’s in the game”.

Yes, the Tigers will give the requisite “one game at a time” cliche going into Thursday’s College Football Playoff semifinal against Oklahoma.

Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett worked under Saban for two seasons with the Miami Dolphins.