Five Players Who Were Crucial in Alabama’s Return to the CFP
The Crimson Tide’s return to the College Football Playoff required a team effort, but here are some of the crucial players.
Alabama football returns to the College Football Playoff for the eighth time in ten years. Nick Saban has once again worked his coaching magic, possibly performing his best this season.
“They’re truly a team,” Saban stated following Alabama’s SEC Championship triumph. “Everybody is united. Everyone trusts and respects the organization and program’s beliefs and ideals, and they buy into them. They are all responsible for their own self-determination, so they may go perform their jobs.”
The No. 4 Crimson Tide (12-1) will face No. 1 Michigan (13-0) in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
While it has been a team effort and there are probably a dozen or more that could be highlighted, here are five of the key players that helped the 2023 Crimson Tide get back into position for another CFP run:
Jalen Milroe
First, let us address the most obvious issue. Even though football is a team sport, the quarterback’s performance determines much of a team’s success and failure. This year, Alabama had the same situation with Milroe. His development from the start of the season to the end has been nothing short of amazing.
Milroe’s progress is the primary reason Alabama has a chance to compete for a national championship.
“The transformation of Jalen Milroe at quarterback, to be productive, has been huge in terms of elevating the confidence of the entire offensive team,” Saban said in a statement.
His troubles against Texas, followed by a benching the following week at USF, have been widely documented. His development as a quarterback and leader, however, played a significant role in Alabama’s 11-game winning streak, which culminated in the SEC championship over then-No. 1 Georgia.
The Alabama quarterback has almost 2700 passing yards, almost 500 running yards, and 35 total touchdowns. Milroe began using his legs more during the LSU game and proceeded to incorporate that element into his game, making it even more difficult for opponents to figure out how to stop the Crimson Tide.
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