Nick Saban calls 2023 'one of the most amazing seasons in Alabama football history'

Alabama fell to Michigan 27-20 in a back-and-forth Rose Bowl that ended up going all the way to overtime. But despite the loss, coach Nick Saban came away extremely proud of his team.

No, this Alabama team won’t win a national title. But the long-time Crimson Tide head coach is proud of the journey the team went on.

“One thing that I told them in the locker room after the game, this is one of the most amazing seasons in Alabama football history in terms of where this team came from, what they were able to accomplish and what they were able to do winning the SEC championship,” Nick Saban said after the game. “Really, really proud of this group.”

Ultimately Alabama took control of the game in the second half, only to watch that control slip away in the waning moments. Michigan made some clutch plays to tie it up, then Alabama was unable to strike back before overtime rolled around.

Once in overtime, the Wolverines had the momentum and were able to close the game out. But it took stopping the Crimson Tide on fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line to do so.

“Obviously we’re very disappointed about the outcome of the game,” Nick Saban said. “I don’t think we played great in the first half, but I was really, really proud of the way our players played in the second half. We just didn’t finish the last four minutes of the game like we’d like to, and we’re all very disappointed, and the players are disappointed as well.”

Still, Alabama did manage to win 12 games this season. And that included an SEC Championship Game win over a dominant Georgia team.

So there was plenty to be proud of, despite the loss in the College Football Playoff semifinal on Monday night.

“I just wish that I could have done more as a coach to help them be successful and help them finish,” Nick Saban said. “All we can do now is learn from the lessons that sometimes failings bring to us.”