"I think (Waddle) was 100 percent fast exploding, straight line," Saban said. "Had a difficult time cutting off of that foot and slowing down. Those are the two things, that decelerating and cutting off of that foot, were the two issues for him."

Nick Saban met with reporters through video conference this morning, just hours after Alabama dispatched Ohio State. Although Saban has coached six other national champions — including five more at Alabama — this team stood out as special to him.

It was DeVonta Smith, as understated as he was unstoppable. It was Najee Harris, walking with others for justice before leaping opponents.

Nick Saban now has seven national titles, which is a major college football record. He was tied with former Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, who had six in 1961-79.

This morning in a video conference with reporters, Alabama's DeVonta Smith said: "Just that the Heisman wasn't something that I came back for. I came back to get a degree and to win a national championship."

A season like no other culminated in a masterpiece for Alabama, four years after it began.

Here’s how we graded Alabama’s performance in the College Football Playoff national championship game.

True to form, Alabama won Monday’s College Football Playoff national championship game amid an offensive onslaught, burying Ohio State and cruising to a 52-24 win.

In a year in which COVID-19 dominated, Nick Saban pulled off his best coaching job as Alabama's head coach, guiding the Crimson Tide to an unbeaten season and another national title.

Jaylen Waddle ran several 40-yard sprints with the trainer overseeing his work. Waddle wore a black jersey with his No. 17 on the front and back.

Ten things to know about tonight's College Football Playoff national championship game.

"He has been able to practice to some degree," Saban said. "I think the biggest challenge is can he sustain in the game."

The Alabama men’s basketball team beat Auburn 94-90 at Auburn Arena on Saturday to raise its record to 4-0 in the SEC. The Crimson Tide outscored AU 5-0 in the final 2:15.

A victory Monday over Ohio State would give Nick Saban seven national championships, and that'll break him out of a tie with Paul "Bear" Bryant for the most in major college football history.

Auburn is scheduled to host Alabama on Saturday at 11 a.m. (ESPN2). A win would give the Tigers a much-needed confidence boost, but at this point, it appears Alabama has taken the mantle of the state’s best basketball team.

Alabama’s DeVonta Smith pulled in two more awards Thursday night.

As Nick Saban and Alabama continue the process while preparing for Monday’s game against Ohio State, here are some things the staff would do well to gain in its new offensive coordinator.

Once again, Alabama is going into its most important game with a coach on his way out, as offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will take over at Texas after Monday’s national championship game. This dynamic has plagued Alabama in previous years.

We should've seen this coming three years ago. We allowed the other sparkling objects in Alabama's offense to mesmerize us, instead of this Smith guy.

A substantial favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, Alabama's DeVonta Smith won the award tonight in a nationally televised ceremony.

Alabama and Ohio State have met only four times in their histories. All three of the meetings since 1986 have been settled by seven points or fewer.

Previous Alabama quarterbacks who've won the award are AJ McCarron (2013) and Jay Barker (1994).

Texas confirmed this afternoon that Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will be its new head football coach.

In Friday's 31-14 win over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals, Nick Saban himself drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. It came in the fourth quarter with the game essentially decided.

Najee Harris jumped over Notre Dame defensive back Nick McCloud on his way to a 53-yard run in Alabama's 31-14 win over the Irish on Friday.

The Fighting Irish defense did its best to cut off the deep ball, which forced Alabama to throw short. That worked, too, as Mac Jones threw four touchdown passes, including three to DeVonta Smith.

Without Mac Jones, Najee Harris and DeVonta Smith, Alabama might not have beaten Notre Dame, probably wouldn't have made the playoffs, and definitely wouldn't be undefeated.

No. 1 Alabama ran away from fourth-ranked Notre Dame 31-14 in the Rose Bowl on Friday, the first semifinal of the College Football Playoff, despite the Fighting Irish following their game plan perfectly.

Here’s how we graded Alabama’s performance in the College Football Playoff semifinal.

Here are the three most pivotal plays from Alabama’s win in the College Football Playoff semifinal.

Welcome to our live coverage of No. 1-ranked Alabama's College Football Playoff Semifinal against Notre Dame at AT&T Stadium. We'll have updates throughout the game. Please keep checking.

Nick Saban also added that his team hasn't had "any problems to this point," regarding COVID-19 testing. The team arrived in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday.

“I think what Smitty brings to the table, he's a very smart football player,” Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said. “He's a guy that understands the big picture, not just in one position or another."

One of the leaders of a No. 1-ranked Alabama football team that will play Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals (Friday at 3 p.m. in Arlington, Texas, on ESPN), Harris marches to the beat of his own drummer. 

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly believes this year's team matches up better with Alabama along the line of scrimmage than the team that lost to the Crimson Tide 42-14 in the BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 7, 2013.

Alabama has yet to face a 1,000-yard rusher this season. That will change in the College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 1.

Alabama claimed the SEC Offensive Player, Defensive Player and Coach of the Year awards Tuesday, as voted on by the league's coaches, released Tuesday.

“This is the best. This is the absolute best because I absolutely love this team,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said after his Crimson Tide defeated Florida in the SEC Championship Game.

Alabama and Notre Dame will meet at 3 p.m. in the College Football Playoff Semifinal in Arlington, Texas, followed by Ohio State and Clemson at 7 in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

Harris ended with 31 carries for 178 yards and two touchdowns while catching five passes for 67 yards and three more TDs.

If you can't score big, you can't win in the SEC. You no longer can hope your defense will carry the day. To win big, you have to do it on days when your defense is going to look at your offense and say, "Carry me," like a 4-year-old to his dad at the grocery store.

The trophy will be awarded to the nation’s best player Jan. 5. Don’t be surprised if three Alabama players finish in the Top 5.

Florida tested Alabama better than any opponent in its 10-game regular season, but not enough to topple the Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship Game. Alabama won the league title with a 52-46 win.

ATLANTA, Ga. — After weathering a third-quarter storm, Alabama regained control of the SEC Championship Game to beat Florida 52-46.

Check our live coverage of No. 1-ranked Alabama's SEC Championship Game appearance against Florida at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Alabama fell 73-71 to Western Kentucky on Saturday in Coleman Coliseum.

Nick Saban and Alabama are rolling along as usual. Better than usual, in fact. Considering the Tide has won five national titles in Saban's 14 seasons and played for two more, that's saying something.

Nick Saban: "If I thought that my presence here was not something that was a positive for the University of Alabama or with the program, with the players, then I'd say it would be time not to do it anymore."

“We identified the needs that we had in this class early on, I think we got some really good players at each of those positions,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said.

The list of Power 5 offers keeps growing for Anniston defensive back Antonio Kite.