Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide lost in a classic against Michigan in the Rose Bowl on Monday to get eliminated from the College Football Playoff. A few days later, Saban revealed the one thing the Wolverines did to fool the Tide in the game.
Saban joined “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday for his weekly appearance. During his appearance, he talked about what went wrong for Alabama against Michigan. The Crimson Tide head coach acknowledged that Michigan’s defensive line presented a problem for Bama’s offensive line. Moreover, Bama’s inability to pass protect impacted how they were able to play in the game; they called more rushing plays.
Saban also mentioned something he felt has gone overlooked: that Michigan’s offense utilized huddles, which was completely different from what Alabama was used to. Saban said that Michigan utilizing huddles made it tougher for Alabama’s defensive coaches to react/make defensive play calls based on the Wolverines’ offensive formations.
“One of the things that was a big difference in this game — which nobody ever talks about and it’s a very simple thing — and Chuck (Pagano) probably would agree with me on this one, is we’re in no-huddle. When you play a no-huddle team and you’re not going fast, which we didn’t go fast enough, then their signal caller is basically making calls to defend the formation and the alignment that you’re in,” Saban said.
“They’re the only team that we played all season that got in a huddle. So, you know, it used to be every team was in a huddle. So we play our first game of the season where we’re playing against a team that’s in a huddle. So you don’t have the advantage of seeing those formations until they come out of the huddle So, you gotta make calls, and that’s something that’s changed a lot in football. The simple concept of: do you huddle or go no-huddle? But it does affect the game in a way that most people wouldn’t even imagine.”
"We got to the point in the game where we didn't have a lot of confidence in throwing the ball because of our inability to protect..
Michigan is really well coached & they did a nice job of defending us" ~ Coach Saban#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/DBaxu1f9eO
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 4, 2024
Despite Alabama’s issues protecting Jalen Milroe, the Tide still led 20-13 in the fourth quarter before allowing Michigan to tie things and send it to overtime. In OT, Michigan scored a touchdown in two plays to take the lead. Then their defense stood strong and stuffed Milroe on 4th-and-goal to win the game.
Credit to Michigan’s coaching staff for making that small adjustment that had a big impact on the game.
