No, nobody expected anything different. But teams do have to formally accept bowl invitations and on Monday, Alabama did exactly that – officially.
Both Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban and athletic director Bill Battle formally confirmed the Crimson Tide’s presence in the upcoming Peach Bowl, which also serves as one of two semifinal venues in the College Football Playoff this season.
Coach Saban formally accepting @AlabamaFTBL's invitation to the 49th annual #CFAPeachBowl. #RollTide pic.twitter.com/pg8gErNNFs
— ChickfilA Peach Bowl (@CFAPeachBowl) December 12, 2016
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl president and CEO Gary Stoken went to Tuscaloosa to hold a press conference with Saban and Battle, in which the the school formally accepted the invite to play against No.