What Does Alabama Have to Do to Avoid Another Playoff Letdown?

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It was his first interview following the whirlwind of the postseason banquet circuit, which culminated with winning college football’s highest honor, only Derrick Henry had already put it behind him.

Back at the University of Alabama, the junior running back only has three things on his mind this week: practicing, figuring out where he’s going to take his offensive linemen out to dinner to show his appreciation, and the next opponent.

“I really don’t want to talk about Heisman stuff,” he said to the first question asked. “I want to focus on what we need to do to get ready for Michigan State.”

With that, the tone was set for Alabama’s approach for the rest of the month, as it prepares to face Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31 with a spot in the national championship at stake.

Being the only one of the four teams to return from last year’s playoff gives it an obvious edge in familiarity, but the experience is also helping provide a sharpened focus. It’s not so much on winning, which is the obvious goal, but Alabama has the extra motivation of avoiding a repeat failure.

Butch Dill/Associated Press/Associated Press

“We certainly didn't do a good job last year,” head coach Nick Saban said. “I felt like our players did not approach the game like a playoff game. They approached it more like a bowl game, which was obviously not our intention, not what we tried to sell to them as far as what they needed to do.

“I think they felt a little entitled when they won the SEC championship and just didn't really want to … look, this is a new season. So when you get into a new season, what you've done in the past doesn't have anything to do with what you'll do moving forward. It's hard to carry the momentum of the season into a game that's three-four weeks from the last time you played. So the players need to refocus.”

While it’s easy for outsiders to claim that Saban is basically making excuses for getting thumped by Ohio State 42-35 at the end of last season, there’s definitely an element of truth to what he’s saying.

Alabama was favored to win the Sugar Bowl by more than a touchdown, and even though Ohio State was coming off a 59-0 victory over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship, for a month, all the Crimson Tide players heard was that they were facing a third-string quarterback.

Season	Opponent	Location	Score
2010	No. 18 Penn State	Tuscaloosa	W 24-3
2010	No. 9 Michigan State	Capital One Bowl	W 49-7
2011	No. 23 Penn State	State College	W 27-11
2012	No. 8 Michigan	Arlington, Texas	W 41-14
2014	No. 4 Ohio State	Sugar Bowl	L 42-35
2015	No. 20 Wisconsin	Arlington, Texas	W 35-17

Cardale Jones started fall practice as the Buckeyes’ third-string quarterback, moved up the depth chart when Braxton Miller sustained a season-ending shoulder injury and became the starter after J.T. Barrett went down with an injury.

So they prepared and approached the game as such. Some showed up to bowl practices having gained weight, while others were already concerned about other things like the upcoming NFL draft. Thanks to turnovers, Alabama jumped out to a 21-6 lead in the second quarter, but the Crimson Tide coaches already knew that they were in trouble.

Bill Haber/Associated Press/Associated Press

Alabama was getting pushed around on the lines. Players were missing tackles. The Buckeyes were winning the key plays that often decide games, like third downs.

Coming in, Alabama’s offense led the SEC and was second nationally in third-down efficiency, but it converted just 2-of-13 opportunities (in contrast, Ohio State was 10 of 18).

Quarterback Blake Sims had completed 71.8 percent of his passes on third downs without having any intercepted. He was 3-of-8 against the Buckeyes with two picks and gained just one first down through the air.

Alabama also had trouble with Jones’ size, speed and arm, as the big quarterback passed for 243 yards and ran for 43 more. Ohio State ended up tallying 537 total yards, with running back Ezekiel Elliott setting a Sugar Bowl record with 230 rushing, and averaging 11.5 yards per carry.

Although neither safety Landon Collins nor linebacker Reggie Ragland were on the field during Elliott’s decisive 85-yard touchdown, as both were nursing injuries on the sideline, the physical Crimson Tide uncharacteristically got beat at their own game.

That’s why in Tuscaloosa, last year’s playoff setback has the feel of a blowout loss, even though it was by just seven points. Alabama was embarrassed.

Now it’s strong motivation for a team that in the words of junior tight end O.J. Howard, one of those players who will soon have to make a decision on whether to leave early for the NFL: “I think everyone knows what’s at stake … I want to win a championship. I think everyone on our team does.” 

“It’s all about will and want to,” Ragland said. “It’s all about not wanting to get dominated.”

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer. Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.