ARLINGTON, Texas -- The loss still stung. It burned Alabama so badly to be beaten in the College Football Playoff semifinals last year that the Crimson Tide was determined to handle its business differently this time around.
The players said they were more focused and promised to be more prepared, more precise in their execution and more relentless in their effort.
Nick Saban said he saw something in his team coming into the Cotton Bowl that he had never seen before. Michigan State said it was ready for a 15-round brawl, but the Tide knocked out the Spartans early on Thursday night like a nonconference cupcake.